Potato: Assagao’s Toy Thief
The circumstances in which I met Potato were unusual. Pandemic, lockdown, and all sorts of nasties were in the air when I decided to visit a friend. There I met Potato, laying on his bundle of stolen spoils. Potato belongs to my friend’s neighbour, and every other passerby, I would soon learn! Potato’s owner is a lovely lady who got held up in Italy during the lockdown. Hence, Potato is now under the benevolent custody of my Dumbledore-looking friend. When Potato is not mysteriously disappearing in the afternoons and reappearing with stolen toys, he makes the best companion. Always beside you, he understands boundaries like no other and knows exactly whom to bark at. I imagine him sitting in the sun right now, patiently awaiting your attention.
My friend lives in a tiny village not far from the beach. You could witness just about anything in Assagao, like orange frogs, green snakes, stubborn cows, wild boars, pink pigs, wild cats with collars and bells. The living and the ruins, nothing conformed in this little village, and yet everything was in sync. The fish-man, poi man, milkman, and vegetable ladies all make their timely visits, and every dog knows not to bark at them. All rights for barking are reserved for the rare sighting of FedEx men. The foliage is of every colour, and at night you could imagine you were sitting and sipping a nightcap inside a bottle of perfume. No French brand could replicate the scents from the trees growing straight and strong. The village held people who had traveled far and wide yet found home within its sanctuary. It loves and gives back to the people who preserve its sanctity and consciously enjoy its bounty. However, we still did not know which kids were missing their toys!
Potato and I had formed a morning ritual, and this is how it might have started. I was Working from Home, and my daily workday seemed like an odd activity whilst the monsoon world bloomed in shades of green and grey. My laptop frequently lost its way! I had come to believe I needed a bit of an escape before I plunged into my pay. On one such morning, I picked up my freshly brewed coffee and decided to take a walk behind the little hut. Potato casually follows me. We silently make our way through the narrow alley towards the back of the house. Somewhere in the corner rests a boar that catches Potato’s attention, but he is bent on being a good dog. So, he carefully watches me find a place to sit, behind the old well, sniffs around for a while, then one step, two steps, Potato sets off!
Vast fields of green lay at the back of the house, behind the old well. Full of birds, bees, and boars, yet Potato obediently always stayed by the front of the house. This turned out to be a mutual escape. And so, it happened, every morning you could find us there. While I sat with a bowl of papaya or coffee, potato ran with the wind in his ears and mud on his feet. I would look up and catch a little whitetail on the top of the grass. Sometimes, I would lose him completely and panic about the trouble we would both get into if he got stung or bitten. Or worse, should this wild boar he chases every morning lose its shit, we would both be done.
However, I soon came to believe that even the boar looked forward to seeing him every morning. I called it the Potato and Pumba Sessions! I also remember getting a little jealous one evening when I heard someone call out to him. I saw him run to greet this couple on their evening run, and they had treats for him. But of course, everyone loves Potato, and everyone he passed by had a treat for him!
The only naughty act you will ever catch Potato in is his toy stealing activity! He makes a little nest with odd toys and sleeps on it. I think his favourite toy is some kid’s green frog! The little jealousy I had felt then, makes me feel good today, as I sit on my couch in the city and think of this lovely dog covered in potatoes of all shapes and sizes. I know that he is loved and cared for by the friendly people of the village.
If you are ever crossing a quaint white chapel on Assagao road, you might find him tirelessly chasing scooters or inviting other dogs to the garden parties that he hosts as frequently as you head out. You must try calling out to him. Oh! And do not forget a good doggy always deserves a treat. Especially Potato, the toy thief!
