My knotty8217; past

I retain no distinct impression of my earliest encounter with the necktie. In all likelihood it must have come off a few days prior to my fo...

I retain no distinct impression of my earliest encounter with the necktie. In all likelihood it must have come off a few days prior to my formally entering upon school life. Perhaps, of a warm April afternoon, when ma lovingly rigged out her puppet in his new school uniform to see if any stitch, crease or fold were out of place 8230; And I? Did I then hop to the dresser to admire the result? I think not; for as a child I was given to seeking appreciation in my mother8217;s smile.

Also indistinct is my recollection of that great morning when, with the school bag trailing behind and accompanied by my parents, I first stepped over the threshold of my allotted classroom. Did I tearfully protest of them leaving me in this strange world, which I did not belong to? Did I run after them as they faltered one last time at the threshold? This, again, I know not, but if I did, I am sure it was my necktie that, of all things, first offered to wipe away the tears that had filled my eyes and even if it did not, I should like to be told by them, as know better that it was in this manner that my long and cherished association with the loop began!

My first necktie, the regulation one, was a blue-and-white stripes, ready-knotted affair that had to be buckled on at the nape. I remember it was a long time before I could master the skills required to the attachment of this accessory and still longer before I could tuck it8217;s bands neatly behind the collar.

Not surprisingly then, the very first use that I put my tie to, engaged it8217;s tip rather than the knot8230; I began with a determined chewing of its lowest extremity. Chew, chew, chew, only an appropriately timed whack could temporarily suspend the necktie ! and my mauling of it. I am of the firm opinion that this chewing arose from a want of more interesting company and no sooner did such bright hums appear, my teeth let go of the tie!

Together we discovered that the tie could be revolved around the neck and that turned through a hundred-and-eighty degrees, it became a choti plait! Next, someone came up with the brilliant idea that inserting a long pencil through it8217;s lower fold can stiffen the tie enough for it to be raised or lowered at will. This brought about a remarkable improvement in our routine haathi-haathi.

You might not agree with me when I say that there is nothing like a wet nylon necktie to dab away the heat in May but such, indeed, is the case 8211; scores of wet ties returning to the classroom after a scorching lunch-break will bear testimony to my claim. However, to add the required pinch of salt, I must say that, as a fan, the necktie is totally ineffective and that dry, clinging, sweat-inducing school ties are a major factor behind the enormous success of Nycil.

With time I grew up; with me, my necktie! Come class four and I bid goodbye to my loyal ready-tied. This early shift placed me at an advantage relative to my classmates who, when they did make the change a couple of years later, were still unable to knot a knot or, in other words, tie a tie. As a result, I have had the pleasure of assisting some of the prettiest lassies ever seen and also that of obliging sundry specimens of the male species.

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Looking back, I find that the necktie has been a constant companion through all my ventures: When I was learning to have my tiffin unaided, my tie partook of the goodies in equal measure. When I started using the fountain-pen, my tie bore the evidence for the world to see. Likewise, following my introduction to water colours, my tie could have put any highbrow8217;s palette to shame 8211; such was the variety of hues it reflected.

Perhaps the only time it sided with another was during a brawl I had 8230;. distasteful memory. Such was my dependence on this knotty appendage that reaching school without it would inevitably draw the most direful consequences like picking fallen leaves!

Perhaps the most cherished phase of my association with the necktie is that of the last couple of years spent of school 8211; when marking time at the head of several hundreds I could feel my tie tapping away against the steel of my belt8230;Five years and more it has been since I passed out of school yet, to this day, my tie remains hanging in it8217;s accustomed corner8230; somehow I have never found it in me to part with it.