When little Siridasa saw men and women in the village carrying heavy bags full of new clothes, firecrackers, sweetmeats and bottles of coconut oil, he knew that they were getting ready for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival. He waited near the kadulla (stile) waiting for the arrival of his father.
Odd jobs
Siridasa’s father –Simon – had no permanent job. He did all kinds of odd jobs suchas plucking coconuts, painting houses of rich men, and looking after large estates as a watcher. However, he could not earn much to maintain his wife – Kamala – and his son –Siridasa – and daughter – Latha.
Kamala asked Siridasa several times why he was waiting at the kadulla. “I’m waiting for my father,” he said. After having his meals Siridasa was back at the kadulla. He waited there for several hours but there was no sign of his father.
Latha was making kom pittu with sand and water. She was happy with what she was doing. She never asked for new clothes or shoes. She knew that her parents were poor people. Siridasa, however, was quite different. He asked for new clothes, firecrackers and a toy car for the New Year. He always thought that his father would bring everything he wanted.
The New Year was fast approaching but there was no signs of Simon’s arrival. Kamala had no way of contacting Simon as she did not have a telephone.
She could not even send a letter as nobody knew where Simon was working.
Unknown to his family, Simon was on his way home. He had to walk miles and miles because there were no buses in remote villages. He did not have enough money to buy anything for his wife and two children. He walked with a heavy heart. After some time, he thought of taking a rest under a Nuga tree. Simon fell asleep.
When he heard a rustle in the tree he woke and looked up. The bright light on top of the tree looked like a halo. He was so scared that he knelt before the tree and worshipped it.
A bag of goodies
“I know you are an honest man trying to make ends meet. But with this New Year Festival your life will change. I have left a bag full of goodies behind the Nuga tree.
Take it and go home but don’t try to open it on the way.” He heard a deep voice but did not see anyone. He picked up the heavy bag and started his journey.
He reached home around midnight and knocked on the door. As nobody opened the door he knocked again and again.
At last, Kamala got up and opened the door cautiously. Simon gave her the heavy bag and asked her not to open it till New Year’s day.
On New Year’s day Simon opened the bag surprising everybody. The bag had everything they desired: new clothes, shoes, sweetmeats, firecrackers and toys.
Kamala distributed diamond-shaped kiribath (milk rice) and lunumiris (a mixture of chillies, salt and a sprinkling of lime juice) to everybody.
There was a small box full of gold coins. It was meant for Simon. There was a note in the box which read: “Use the money to buy a land and cultivate it.”
Within a few years Simon became the proud owner of a paddy field and a comfortable house.
