Random reminder

Press, 13 August 1980, Page 24

Random reminder

THE MYSTIC EAST

In the early 19205, when the world and her children were not as sophisticated as they are now, some of those children, especially those in the more isolated areas, were often at a loss to find their own amusements. There was a family of boys, in the boredom of a deep winter, playing in front of a blazing log fire who, tired of their usual game, fell to throwing their marbles (made of sterner stuff in those days) into the glowing embers. They then made wagers on the first one to shoot back on to the wide stone hearth. That is, until their parents found out what was happening. This, unfortunately, was not until the smallest member had lost his balance and sat on one of the red hot marbles. Too young to even name the deadly missile, he roared with rage and pain, “The naboo did it.” . ! The phrase became a family saying, |

I for whenever the question was asked ; “Who did that?” the answer was i invariably, "The naboo did it.” > Though time passed, the scar, i lengthening over his growing years, still remained on the tenderer part of ■ the young man’s anatomy. Came the i outbreak of World War Two, and the marble victim, among the first to volunteer, duly passed through all the form-filling procedures to finally reach the varied indignities of the medical test of fitness to defend his country. s “Any distinguishing marks?” He confessed he had, and revealed ; his childhood scar to the bored M. 0., who duly noted its situation, and was interested enough to ask “What did that?” . „ The answer came automatically to the young recruit’s lips: “The naboo did it.” I "Oh,” said the M.O. “And when [were you in India?”