By Manoshi De Silva
Kevin went to the supermarket with his mother and younger brother Shevin, to buy some groceries. Their mother made Shevin sit in the baby seat of the shopping cart. Then she went to select some fruits and vegetables.
"Amma, I'll go to the biscuit section with Malla," said Kevin pushing the shopping cart with his little brother in it, towards the biscuit aisle. "Now, don't be naughty! Be careful with Malla," shouted his mother but Kevin didn't stop to listen.
"Ayya, push faster," shouted Shevin so Kevin pushed the shopping cart while running as fast as he could. "Wheee..." screamed Shevin as Kevin giggled, "We are flying! We are flying!" The shopping cart knocked against an old lady who was choosing a packet of milk powder. She dropped the packet and stared at the children looking very annoyed.
"Children, please be careful," said the elderly lady, touching her hand which had been hit quite hard by the shopping cart. "This is not a play-ground!" But Kevin didn't even stop to say sorry, or ask her if she was okay. He turned and pushed the shopping cart in the opposite direction, again as fast as he could.
The shopping cart slid through the aisles as Kevin pushed it. When it picked up speed Kevin kept one foot on it and hung on to the handle. Shevin was shouting and laughing. "You two better stop that before you hurt someone or wound yourselves," shouted a gentleman who had to jump to a side with his shopping basket, trying to avoid the fast moving shopping cart.
The two boys laughed at him as if it was a joke. "People are just jealous because they can't do this," said Kevin. "Faster! Faster!" prompted Shevin. "We are in a racing-car going faster than lightning," shouted Kevin, "and no one can stop us!" The shopping cart went so fast that suddenly Kevin realized he couldn't stop it or slow down.
There was a huge pile of discounted canned goods placed in the middle of the supermarket. The tins were stacked like a pyramid. The shopping cart headed straight towards it. Kevin panicked and tried to stop it by dragging his foot on the ground. But he had no control of it any more.
The shopping cart crashed into the tins. The tins got thrown all over, making a very loud noise. The shopping cart fell to a side along with Malla, and Kevin also fell down on top of some tins. The sound was like an explosion. Everyone at the supermarket came running to the scene.
It was not fun and games anymore. The little boy howled and cried, as he had been hit pretty badly. Kevin got up but he was also in pain. There were smashed tins scattered all around them. Kevin's mother came running and picked up Shevin to check if he was okay. Then she checked Kevin. They both had small scrapes and cuts.
"I told them this would happen," said the gentleman who had warned them earlier. The people around stared at the two boys and their mother in shock and displeasure. The children's mother looked worried and embarrassed at the same time. "You should have kept an eye on them or at least taught them how to behave in public places," blamed the elderly lady and everyone else nodded in agreement.
After she paid for the damaged tins and the other items, the children were taken by their mother to a nearby hospital. The small cuts and bruises on both of them were treated. Luckily the boys were not badly injured.
They came back home with their mother. "What have you got to say?" asked Kevin's mother looking very disappointed at him. "I told you several times not to be naughty and to look after Malla," reminded his mother. "And this is what happened!"
"I am so sorry, Amma," said Kevin, looking at the plasters on his little brother’s hands and legs. "I am also so sorry that you got scolded by everyone and had to pay a fine for the damaged tins. I should have listened to you and behaved well!" Kevin knew that his father would also be very unhappy when he heard about this. "I know I have been naughty before but this time I learned my lesson!"
"Putha, you must always be careful about your safety and also the safety of others. Malla or you could have been badly hurt. Or you could have hurt someone else badly," explained Kevin's mother. "When you are out at a place like a park, you can play freely. But you must understand that you can't behave in the same way when you are at public places like supermarkets, religious places or hospitals!" Kevin nodded agreeing to what his mother said.
"There is a time and place for everything and you must always remember that! Also as Malla's big brother, you must think about his safety too, because he's still too small to understand," said Kevin's mother holding both children close. "When a naughty act causes bad results like this, it's not fun anymore, right?" She asked Kevin.
"I understand Amma. I love Malla a lot and I don't want him to get hurt. I also don't want anyone else to get hurt. I shouldn’t behave in a manner that makes people blame you and Thaththa for my naughty behaviour. I know I could have hurt Malla badly and even hurt myself or someone else. I will behave more responsibly in the future. I promise," said Kevin, giving both his mother and brother a hug.
