Chapter 3 Under the Gueva Tree

There was a Gueva tree on the other side of the house almost at the back.Fabian,Francis and their sister used to play under that tree,for the was an old rotting Austin made car parked for years below it.It was no more in service.

Apparently it belonged to their late grandfather, it was beyond repair and left there to waste.Those days cars had no auto-starter,in order to start the car it seem the car had to be anchored with a crooked iron rod.The seats were all gone accept the steering wheel.The broken down engine was still intact.

Fabian was always at the driver's seat pretending to drive while brother Francis was always the one anchoring the starter.

One day Francis got fed up and told Fabian off,"Why must I always me the anchor man and not you.?"

"No.no",claimed Fabian"because I am smarter than you,that why?".

"You shut up","I am just as smart",replied Francis."And I would not anchor for you".

Seeing Francis was adamant and refused to bulge,he relented and gave way to his brother's demand."Alright,I let you be the driver for one time only'.

So Francis took over the wheel and Fabian anchored the old junk.No sooner had he anchored the old car.Francis began to steer the wheel as if driving and making a lot of noise as if the the engine was on.

"GrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrGrrrrrrrrrrrrGrgrrrrrrrrrrrr",he began shouting louder and louder as if he was driving very fast.Fabian getting fed up struck the bonnet with a loud bang.Saying,"Okay,car break down","Come down".

"No,I would not,you cheat". yelled Francis.Francis shouting attracted their grandmother who came to his aid.

"Tell me,who is bullying you?Is it that naughty brother of yours",she was carrying a cane as she came.

Fabian seeing this,ran away,with Francis and sister laughing at him..

The gueva tree not only provided shade for the old junk but also produced fruits,gueva ,hard fruits like apple.Both outer layer of whitish fresh can be eaten only difference was the inner cored had plenty of seeds.

Once Francis noticed a ripe fruit up the tree and he pointed it to Fabian.Without any hesitation Fabian jumped on to it climbing the gueva tree as fast as he could like a monkey.He got the fruit in his hand within seconds with his brother demanding a share of it.

The elder brother refused'"I got it first,why should I share with you".
"But I saw it first"retorded Francis."You must give it to me or else I call granny to cane you".
Just then the grandmother was coming towards the tree.Fabian on top of tree could not escaped in time so he surrendered meekly to his brother's demand.
"Nah,here is the fruit",said Fabian as he gave Francis the fruit,"But you have to leave at least half for me,okay?".
"Oh,no,never,I will not give you even one little bite".replied Francis as he received the fruit,making funny gestures at Fabian.Well,he could not do anything to his brother so he just kept quiet.
"Ah,that is a good boy,sharing with your brother first",said the grandmother.

Fabian could not do anything but as the grandmother turned away he tried imitating the way the grandmother spoke.Francis and sister laughed at his funny gestures.Those were the days of growing up.