An Extra Story

"What is Extra, Momie?" you ask. As if Extra were a person. As I butter our toasts, I pause. Why yes, indeed, Extra is. Not one, but an army of many. Since you obediently had your hot chocolate and buttered toast, I do owe you a story. You must be in your yellow walled, flower stuck, inscriptions within, classroom now, trying to repeat Baa-Baa Blacksheep and confused about where else you heard of the word. I can well visualize the disturbance giving away to relief as you successfully locate Momie's tapping on the keyboard and all the stories that Blacksheep stores. You must be dying to tell Rishika that your momie knows a Baa-Baa Blacksheep. When you return in the afternoon and into my arms after your change, over-eager to share with me your treasure hunts of the day, I will tell you who Extra is:

'What is your name?'

'Aa, Sir.'

'Aa? Are you sure it ain't just A?'

'Sure, Sir. Twenty-six of us are the bastard siblings of the pure-breed A to Z family. Sad, Sir, and unknown too, but true.'

'Of what use are you?'

'None, Sir, as you have correctly concluded. A to Z are too full of themselves to allow anyone else to frame words with. As I speak, I know how hard Nn and Rr are trying to be heard too, Sir, nagging and repetitive that they are, and I assure you Sir, it is not too bad a thing after all. Everyone has a right to be heard you would agree, wouldn't you now, Sir? Look at your extreme kindness yourself. It is exemplary that you choose not to overlook.'

'Go on. Tell me something more about your kind then. And stop the Sir. You can call me Extra. I know a thing or two about the more not always being the merrier.'

'How did you manage then, Extra?'

'Well, everything about me is premium you see. Double the joy, triple the sorrow. I just mastered the trick to decieve.'

'We tried too. We hid behind the dancing star, in queues resembling similar steps. In short, for every star, we became a shadow.'

'Eh, eh. Mistake. Grave mistake. A shadow, Aa, is seen. Invisibility should be your instinctive right to live.'

'I am sorry, I didn't quite get you there.'

'Why, lemme try with an example. You know the Daughter right? This morning, she asked Momie who Extra is. She saw the word scream at her from the cheese box laid out in front of her. Yet, she could not see the 20% sitting pretty on the bar of goodness. It was all the complete same thing to her -- cheese -- which her Momie told her not to have today.'

'I see.'

'You have done a good work so long. Oo has infact been very intelligently accomodative, featuring in good and food, without letting anyone to get to the others' throat. The key thus is to invisibly slip in, and continue living. Someday, an Extra-nice person might decide to discover you, you never know!'

'Thank you, Extra. Thank you from Aa to Zz.'

You are too tiny to understand moral, child. It is difficult and tiring. But should you remember one thing from this story momie made you this morning after you went to school, it should be the flavour. Savouring a fine flavour is an art, love. Likewise, awakening our sensibilities too. Keep in mind that extra is essential too. Your naps are extra nice because I love looking at how you fall asleep, not a care really, about Extra. They learnt it quick and well!