Truth or Tall Tale? Introduction and post#001

Introduction:

As most elderly people do, I enjoy reminiscing about my past. I also enjoy telling made-up stories.

My posts under this heading will never tell you which is which...you make up your own mind - that should be half the fun! :)

I'll start off with a rather tame story.

Post#001

I grew up in Arusha, a town in what used to be called Tanganyika. My father being a typical ambitious Greek, became very involved in the Greek Community and when the British Governor, Sir Edward Twining, decided to visit our town and the Greek Community Hall, my father made the arrangements for Greek and English songs to be sung, a small play (I took part as an eight year old and sang 'Show me the way to go home' - as it has been throughout history, it is useful having a father in charge).

The front row of the audience was the Governor, his wife, my father and mother and other officials. Sitting exactly behind the Governor was my grandfather, myself, brothers and so on. While various officials gave their boring (to us, at least) speeches, I started chatting with my grandfather in a whisper. He loved to tease and tell tall stories, and this is the one he told me at that time:

Last time I was in the jungle searching for rubies, I was getting despondent, for I could not find any sign of any kind of precious jewels. One morning I got up extra early and went behind some bushes, about two hundred yards from the camp. I crouched and waited for nature to take its course.

While I waited, I picked up a twig to scratch some soil loose so as to spread it over my mess when I've finished and guess what happened! As I scratched, I saw the bright colour of rubies stuck in a rock. I was so excited that I rushed off for a shovel, cleared the area and digging down I saw many more rubies, even a pigeon blood ruby!

I ordered the camp to pack up and carry everything to our Landrover as I covered my discovery, marking it with a few rocks. To recover my balance, I went for a walk.

I reached a river and as I walked alongside it, I was already working out how useful the river was going to be to my mining operation, once I've registered my claim. I heard a noise and turning, I saw a lion coming towards me. Stupid me, I'd fogotten to carry my rifle!

Luckily I saw that a tree has fallen over, bridging the river, so I climbed onto the rotting tree trunk and walked across the river. As I stood close to the center, I saw a leopard was watching me from the other bank. Next thing I knew, both animals climb onto the tree trunk.

I interrupted, to ask, "Did you jump into the river?"

"No," he replied, "I thought of it, but when I looked down, I saw a number of crocodiles watching me from underneath and they looked very hungry."

"How did you escape?"

I noticed the governor turn to hear the answer (as I'm certain my grandfather did). He told me, "I didn't, I died and they shared me amongst them."

I was not impressed by his silly story, but the governor turned to ask my grandfather, "What about the rubies? Did you register your claim?"

My grandfather shook his head. "I've spent weeks searching, I can't find the area and despite digging all over, not one ruby has been seen."

Chuckling, the governor returned his attention to the speech. I saw my father give my grandfather an angry, frustrated look. I dearly loved my father, still do, but his look and the interest of the governor in the story, it made my day, which is why I still remember it nearly seventy years later.

Image (Tanzania ruby): http://www.minerals.net