This book is dedicated to my late Dad Mr A.I Somanader. My Dad is portrayed as Grandpa Ivan in this story.  The facts about his sporting and academic achievements and  are based on reliable information and records.

I am grateful to my uncle, one of my Dad's older brothers Mr S.W Somanader for editing this book.

Once a upon time there were two sisters named Doreen and Lisa. They were close in age to each other and were the best friends. They lived in a beautiful house which had a swimming pool at the back. On very hot days the girls loved jumping into the pool with their Dad. 

Both their grandmothers lived in Sydney Australia. Sadly, both their grandfathers had entered eternal rest before the girls were born, hence the girls had never got to meet them. They had only seen them in photographs and had of course heard about them from their parents.

                                It was school holidays and there was a slight drizzle outside. The girls were indoors playing board games.

 Suddenly Doreen peeped out of the window. “Hey Lisa!” she cried, “The sun is out, and the rain has stopped. Let’s go outside and blow some bubbles”.

“Great idea,” said Lisa. “Let’s ask Mummy”

“Mummy can we please go outside and blow bubbles” asked Doreen.

“That’s fine”,said Mummy. “Please make sure stay in the enclosed area”

“We sure will” nodded both girls in unison. 

The girls picked up their bubble blowing wands and were about to head out when Lisa had a sudden hunch that she might need her magic wand. Doreen gave her sister a quizzical look which Lisa returned with a mischievous wink.

Soon the girls were blowing bubbles. 

They enjoyed holding their bubble wands up with bubbles so that sunlight sparkled on it made it look like a rainbow bubble. 

They even blew double bubbles and triple bubbles which they were really excited about. Some bubbles stuck to the ground or leaves of plants and lasted for quite a few minutes. The girls heard the thud of bat and ball coming from next door. “Looks it seems our next-door neighbours are playing cricket” remarked Lisa to her sister.

“That’s right” said Doreen standing on tiptop and peeping over the fence. “Our Grandpa Ivan, I have heard, was a feared leg spin bowler. Do you remember the souvenirs  and newspaper articles Mummy showed us about his fearsome performances with the cricket ball in his hands? What a pity no one had a smartphone to take videos in those days……”

It would have been a great video to watch!!

“Yes, that’s right, said Lisa. “Grandpa Ivan studied in north Sri Lanka in St John’s College Jaffna. Each year they used to play a cricket match with another leading Institution called Jaffna Central and the match was called the ‘Battle of the North.’  I do wish we could have seen him play. I would have cheered myself hoarse every time Grandpa Ivan got a wicket.”

Saying so, and as if making a wish Lisa picked up her magic wand and waved it in the air three times, mumbling the words “Abracadabra Alagazem” almost under her breath. Much to the amazement of the two girls a pretty Fairy dressed in green appeared. 

Abracadabra 

Alagazem!!

“Hello, I am Fairy Green. How can I help you?” she asked. The girls were spellbound and were speechless. Then Doreen found her voice.

She explained that their Grandpa Ivan had played cricket for his school in his young days more than six decades ago. We have heard from our Mum that he was an excellent sportsman and was a fearsome spin bowler of his time. We were just wishing that it would be thrilling if we could watch one of many matches, where spun the ball almost unplay ably against his opponents!

“I might be able to help” said Fairy Green. “I will have to take you back to Fairy Land with me and then we can step into a time machine and try our luck.”

“That sounds a fantastic idea” said Doreen but we need to be back in time for lunch.

“Don’t worry “assured Fairy Green. “A day in Fairyland is like a few minutes in the human world”.  She asked the girls to close their eyes and then touched them with the tip of her wand. When the girls opened their eyes, they found themselves in Fairyland where there were many fairies of all the colours of the rainbow. 

Fairy Green, then took them to a vehicle which looked like a mini coach. “This is our Time Machine” she said.  She opened the door and ask the girls to hop in and take their seats. The Fairy. then, took them before a huge computer screen and asked the girls to tell her whatever details they knew about a cricket match in which their grandpa played.