THE EGGNOG

Skip and Chip, they fall in love. Together, they decide to build themselves a home. So day and night they work hard, for in love, they wanted to rise and not fall. 

So they build a home made of wood, brick and stone. And inside, they filled it with warmth, cookies and lots of eggnog to put them to sleep. But the longer they stayed inside, they weren’t quick to realise, there’s a terrible snow storm brewing on the outside. Colder and colder it got outside, but they didn’t sigh, they were warm inside. 

There was but one little thorn. Every time they opened their front door, in blew the storm. So Skip would hear the neighbour’s cat calling to be let in, but if she did, in with the cat came a cold cold draft. Chip likes to buy fresh greens, but by the time he got back in, the greens were frozen beans. 

They enjoyed a good party, oh they loved their friends to come over. But when they opened their front door to let more in, the cold cold draft would come and stay within. They would light a fire, but to feel the warmth, it would take at times even a whole hour! 

‘’What shall we do about the cold?,’’ Skip ponders aloud. ‘’Maybe we should go out no more?’’ A shiver runs down her spine and she shakes away that ridiculous thought. 

‘’Let’s build a zone, from the front door, a buffer zone before one can make their way to the core.’’, suggests Chip. 

‘’Hmmm…intriguing… a buffer zone where all storms are welcome, but settle before it reaches the door that leads you to the core.’’ Skip nods approvingly. 

So they set out to design, a perfect buffer to transition from a state of cold to warm. As they tried and tested, fitted and moulded, this little buffer zone that would keep them warm. Night and day they worked, heads down and focus first. 

And then came the day, the buffer zone was ready. A momentous task, but once complete, it brought then a huge smile and a sense of relief. They stood there, at the end of the hall, looking at the main door, a twinkle in their eye. 

‘’Shall we give it a go?’’, asked Skip, excitement in her voice. 

‘’Let us! We shall walk out and back in, no fear of the cold!’’ Chip throws his fist in the sky. 

Hands intertwined and brimming with excitement, they walk over and open the front door. 

And there they stood, stunned and awed. The storm! The storm! It was gone!!! Bright blue skies and the sun so warm, smiled back at then, as though saying, ‘’look who came back while you were too busy to see!’’

Shocked and in disbelief, they stay stunned, unable to speak. 

Skip finally let’s put at first, a whimper, then a cry. ‘’ I’m happy, I truly am. I had never so much wished for the sun and the bright blue sky. But all that work, all that effort, what to do? A beautiful buffer zone, to trap all the cold, but now there is none left to trouble us anymore!’’

Chip bites his lip, holds back a tear. Then he gathers up all his will and repeats, ‘’All that work, all that effort, what’s the point?’’

They stand at their door, looking outside - poofy white clouds, like ships in the sky, their thoughts get on board and sail away, until they see it move further and further, up, up and away. All that remains is the warmth of sunshine and the smile it teasingly claims. 

‘’Oh well, it’s warmth we desired, and it’s warmth we got.’’, Skip accepts and prepares to move on. 

‘’And ofcourse, the sun too was once gone. We can never know when the storm will be back on. The work will not be wasted, for we are all just seasons under the sun.’’ Chip affirms. 

So they go back inside to cozy up and enjoy a cup of very cold and very delicious eggnog. With a super strong kick of rum. 

*I tried some egg nog for the first time yesterday. I always thought it would taste eggy, but it did not. I wish I could describe its taste but I’m too busy getting drunk while gulping it down!

If you’re in goa around Easter or Christmas, don’t forget to drop in at Padaria Prazeres and try their eggnog. What’s even better, they have a deep fried apple pie with custard too!