“Once upon a time in a land far far away...” As a child, those words always made me break into a smile, for they meant the beginning of a new story, of a journey that let me escape to a land of adventure. And that’s why, when story teller Sandhya Ruban starts with these exact words at Tea, Tarts and Tales, an event organised by Eloquens and Adoniya Academy, I grin and listen wide-eyed along with a bunch of enthusiastic children. The story for the session is Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree , a perennial favourite.
Since it’s a tea party and there’s a dress code, little girls walk in all dainty in their frilly, floral-printed frocks and lacy hats. The boys, far fewer in number, look dapper in formals, with their hair neatly brushed back. The décor at the venue is all pink and white, and the young audience, excitedly clamber onto the seats that have their names around three tables.
“The idea is to introduce children to a bit of old-world charm. Teach them manners, and there will be a lot of ‘please’s and ‘thank you’s all around,” says Sandhya who has been a storyteller for four years now. Blyton has been her favourite ever since she stumbled upon the author’s books, as a five-year-old, at the Dasaprakash library that was once on Poonamallee High Road.
“Children in India read these books but don't really know what scones are, or what a tea party is. Through this event we are trying to recreate those flavours,” she adds.
The menu for the evening lists snacks named after the characters in the books. There’s Silky’s sandwich, Pop tarts, Moonface cupcakes, Beth’s cones with Frannie’s strawberry jam and Saucepan Man’s tea.
After narrating a few chapters of the book and introducing the four to 12-year-olds to the fascinating world of Joe, Beth, Frannie, goblins, gnomes and magic lands it’s time for the much-awaited tea party to start.
Sandwiches arrive followed by scones. “So this is what a scone is,” exclaims one of the children, as she reaches out for butter with her grimy hands, but Sandhya stops her. “Use the knife to cut it and then slather some jam and butter,” she instructs. Meanwhile, another little girl looks perplexed and squeals, “Why do I have a kaththi in my hand?”
Tarts, nuggets and cupcakes, and second helpings follow. And now for some flavoured tea. Four-year-old Divya takes a sip shuts her eyes and jolts her head trying to get used to the new flavour. “I have never had tea before. This tastes just like strawberry,” she announces, delighted. Five-year-old Raunak, who’s sitting beside her, takes a sip from his cup of tea and says, “I am glad I made friends with you, little girl. We should meet again for tea.” And thus the young brigade make plans to turn up for the next tea party in December.
