Column

Tales from the locker room

Good Morning. Recently I had to come to terms with the fact that my son is growing up, maturing and evolving into a young adult.

This became increasingly clear when he made the announcement that he could no longer be going by his birth given name, instead he wished to be called ‘Power Man’, a local super hero who has to work long hours. Here let me clarify that Power Man has nothing to do with a powerful Union minister of the same name who also is a local super hero. But with a far more distinguished sense of dressing.

Junior Power Man’s duties include the usual stuff on the roster such as help good overcome evil, unless of course evil is far too large and big built and also at all times keeps one eye on saving the environment.
Now, this is not merely done by limiting the influence of Bollywood mixes around the world, but involves my son’s routines shutting off all appliances that are on. This obviously is good when one shuts down overworked geysers, acs, lights and fans. Not so good when he shuts down pace makers, tread mills and engines of moving cars in traffic.

As part of the training procedure, my son insisted we go to a real live super hero for training. When I naturally suggested my mother, whose survived 40 years of marriage, he instead plumped for a seven-foot four-inch man who unashamedly goes by the name of the Great Khali.

Now, the last guy I knew who insisted on being called Great was an English King called Alfred who died 1600 years ago, last Wednesday. So I didn’t think too much of Mr Khali’s (great or not) attitude. With 40 kids screaming his name, and thumping their chests in tribute, I was disappointed with Mr Khali. He seemed, er...well quite Khali, to be frank. Actually he appeared to be like a giant oak tree, only less animated.
Disappointed we left the auditorium with me vowing to accompany my son only when he’s of the age to idolise Pamela Anderson. Actually come to think of it when that happens 15-20 years from now, Pamela will probably be looking a lot like the ...er.....Great Khali.