The Golden Coconut Tree

“coconut heads”

As young very active boys who had not reached their teens, it was not surprising that hunger would be our constant companion. It had to be a tapeworm or some physically challenging syndrome that caused us to be ever so hungry even after we had just eaten a dozen “mandazis” or two dozen “matufas”.

The target of our most recent hunger was the coconut tree just outside the garage to the old St. Joseph’s Convent School…you know, the old School with spiral steel stairways, one for boys and the other for girls.

My brother (who must still be climbing coconut trees in heaven), was to climb this particular tree late in the afternoon after school was out and when there was no one around to interfere with our plans.  My brother was to climb the coconut tree and remove, one by one, these gorgeous golden forbidden fruit and throw it down to the mules (meaning us) who in turn ran down to the beach, dug a hole in the sand and covered the evidence which was to be tackled with greater comfort once we were away from the crime scene.  What had not been factored into this plan was that the other mule (who I shall call Scott ….. not his name, in case he is running for political office somewhere in the world and does not want his name tarnished) was much faster than I was.  As it turned out, after our sixth coconut run each, we both found ourselves looking up the tree together hopeful that my brother would hurry the process.

Before we knew it, an “Askari”(policeman) slowly crept up on us, the mules, and held us firmly by our necks.  Eustace was ordered down from the tree.

 “Shooka!”(Get Down) yelled the Askari, but Eustace was not to be outwitted by the Askari,

 “Sitaki”, ( I Will Not) shouted Eustace as though he owned the tree. 

“Nitatupa mave…shooka upesi>”(I Will Throw A Rock At You…Get Down Quickly) yelled  the Askari. 

Eustace knew that he had to do something creative.  He crept down slowly and unsurely until he came in line with the Askari’s head.  He leaped over the Askari much to his surprise and dashed away as though his life depended on it. There was no way that the Askari could chase him with us in tow.   The Askari still held on to Scott and me who were now in tears and very contrite. 

We were marched through Shangani in tow to the police station.  Very fortunately, my Mom and Scott’s Mom were walking up Shangani doing their Legion of Mary work.  To their shock and dismay they noticed that we were in trouble.  They approached the Askari and asked him what we had done.  When this was explained to our irate parents, the Askari (who really believed that his job was to serve and protect) let us go on the assumption that we would be taken to our respective homes and given the appropriate punishment.  I really do not know how Scott felt, but I would have preferred going to prison rather than face the measures that my mother had in mind for me.

But we were not to be outdone.  Hunger is a terrible thing.  Both Scott and I dashed down to the beach where we had buried our coconuts.  Before we got there, Eustace was already on his third coconut and looked as though another three would not hurt. 

When I was last in Zanzibar, I made it a point of visiting this coconut tree but with age my appetite has since diminished.  The coconuts are still golden but I have yet to learn how to climb a tree.