Out, Fit!

They didn't realise that 'dress code - festive' meant different things to different people.

So, when the contingent from India turned up in sarees for the women and dhoti-kurtas for the men, the organisers of the carnival were flummoxed. They couldn't change the events now, but how could the let the Indians compete? Those clothes weren't meant for three-legged ice skating (two people with an ankle each tied together), or any of the climbing events! Even making snowmen and other easy stuff would probably be difficult in those outfits!

"We have to announce the first activity," Jessie whispered to Elle. "Everyone is here and this is the time we've announced we'll start."

"But how will the Indian couples ski down those slopes?" Elle hissed back. "I know they're artificial slopes, but they're tough all the same."

Jessie took the mic from Elle and switched it on. "Ladies, Gentlemen, Children, Furry and Feathered Friends," she announced. "Thank you for being here. Now, our first activity is the couples ski race. All the couples wishing to participate, please line up there. There are two slopes, so two couples compete at a time and we clock them. At the end, the two couples with the fastest time ski-off in the final."

There was a rush to get to the starting line. Three Indian couples, complete with inappropriate garments, were among the would-be contestants.

The first two couples climbed to the starting point. They weren't from India, and they were wearing jeans and jackets. Elle didn't expect any problems there.

Was she ever wrong.

Husband #1's ski-pole got tangled up in Wife #1's belt, and they would've had a nasty fall except that the safety team spotted the problem on time and got there to steady them, untangle the pole and set them back on course. By that time Couple #2 had reached the bottom, but Couple #1 wanted a re-match. After ten minutes of arguing, Couples #3 and #4 took to the slopes. One of them was from India. The woman hitched up her saree and the man hitched up his dhoti and they glided swiftly down in record time.

There were no further problems with the ski event and the Indian couple came in second to the Swiss couple.

The three-legged ice-skating saw many spills. Some of the couples who fell got up and continued, some gave up. One Indian couple did have a bit of a spill, but they managed to finish the race. It was a jeaned-and-jacketed couple that wound up with two twisted ankles and needed the doctor.

Finally, the events were done with and it was time for the feast.

The sports equipment was cleared, and replaced with long tables and chairs. The food was served.

"We told the chefs to make it really hot, this being winter!" Jessie announced.

But 'hot' means different things to different people.

Only the Indians could eat the food served!!

The moral of the story is - look in the dictionary for all the meanings of a word before you organise a winter carnival.