Off The Cuff: A wry look at life

The cutting edge of competition. Best exemplified in the playing fields. Cases of sportspersons burning out before reaching their peak, some resorting to steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. Because winning has become more important than just taking part. Living up to people's expectations, game after game, so difficult and demanding.

However, attending a sports day function at a school is an entirely different experience, bringing a smile to the faces of even the most cynical. The children's unbridled enthusiasm, spontaneity and unmasked emotions truly a joy to watch. Even more delightful to observe are the youngest schoolgoers, the kindergarten kids. Taking part in simple competitions. Having the time of their lives.

Teachers' carefully imparted instructions clearly forgotten in the excitement of the moment. A glimpse of one's parents more important than the race to be run. Tiny tots standing still in mid-competition, having suddenly recognised a beloved parent in the sea of faces. The race to the finish not as important as the reassuring sight of parents.

One such incident springs to mind in this context. A school function. A four-year-old nephew taking part in one of the many innovative games. In this particular one, the children had to run a certain distance as fast as their legs could carry them to reach a line where plastic bottles of soft drinks were arranged. On reaching this point, they had to pick up a bottle and gulp down the contents. Then run with bottle in hand to the finishing line.

Proud parents stacked the stands, spilling over to the edge of the ground, cameras in hand. Over-excited parents and children contributing to the general confusion. The parents of this four-year-old rushing from work to watch their son taking part in his first school function.

As the race was about to begin, one could see proud parents trying to identify their offspsring in the line up. A difficult task with so many identically dressed children. But these were determined parents. After deciding that the tenth figure from the left or the twelfth from the right was their child, parents' fond gazes fixed upon those tiny shadows. Oohed and aahed over the minuscule figures. Distance obviously lending enchantment.

But the foci of all this attention had other things on their minds. Their eyes were riveted on their teacher at the far end. Waiting for Get Set, Ready, Go.

As the words were spoken and the whistle blown, tiny legs churned wildly in a mad scramble to be first off the mark. Soon the soft drinks were within sipping distance. Tiny hands stretching out to grab the bottles and start gulping. For some, the excitement was simply too much. Haste made waste. Racing ahead minus the bottle. Legs pumping again, leaving half empty bottles in the rush to reach their teachers who were vociferously egging them on. All the tiny participants, except for one lone straggler.

Soon the attention shifted focus. Spectators' gazes fixed on this figure. Followed by spontaneous peals of laughter. One of these competitors had suddenly realised that winning wasn't important at all. Was clever enough to recognise a golden opportunity. No parents in view to control one's liquid intake. Make hay while the sun shines clearly his guiding principle. And so this wise child made himself comfortable.

After first gathering together all the half-finished bottles. Then he sat down to serious business. Started emptying all the discarded bottles. Down his throat.

Occasionally looking up from his thirst-quenching task to dispassionately view his classmates racing to the finishing line. Wondering what all the sense of urgency was about.

As far as he was concerned, he had had the best deal of all. So he sat there, sipping slowly, savouring every drop. While two faces in the crowd registered horror and embarrassment. Only to be jolted to reality later by a four-year-old proudly announcing, "Mama, I didn't waste anything!"