Hurray for Harold Lloyd

‘I was at the market with Ahmad and Little Bint. There was such a hold-up we were stuck at the exit gate for almost an hour before we could get out. But Abida sent me a text message that she couldn’t wait any longer because she had somewhere else to go.’ Ummi explained.‘I don’t recall […]

‘I was at the market with Ahmad and Little Bint. There was such a hold-up we were stuck at the exit gate for almost an hour before we could get out. But Abida sent me a text message that she couldn’t wait any longer because she had somewhere else to go.’ Ummi explained.
‘I don’t recall seeing her before, was she ever here?’ I asked.
‘No, I don’t think so. She’s a new friend I met at the University.’
Ummi replied.
‘But where is she from, I mean where are her parents from?’ I enquired.
‘Mummy, you’ve never asked where my friends were from before. What is happening now, did she do anything wrong?’ Ummi asked with concern.
‘No, on the contrary she did something commendable. Instead of watching the TV, she opened her handbag and brought out a book to read. At the rate people of your generation have become TV addicts, it’s refreshing to meet someone who would rather read a book.’ I answered.
‘So what is the problem Mummy? Because I’m sure there is something behind your ‘where is she from?’ Ummi asked, with a persuasive smile.
‘Well it’s more like the way she looks. She had on this giant and ancient pair of glasses. They are so masculine and not in the least decorative. In fact it’s not something I will expect any female to wear, let alone a young, pretty university student. I sat there after serving her some snacks and felt really tempted to ask her why she should be wearing those really ugly specs but I resisted the temptation. And I only did that because I wondered whether they had some sentimental value, whether maybe she inherited them from a loving grandfather and might be offended by my comment.’ I explained.
‘Thank God you didn’t say anything Mummy, you would have embarrassed me.’ Ummi replied, with exaggerated relief. ‘Those glasses are the rave of the moment, they are the latest designer collection. They are called nerdicks and are also very expensive because they are mostly Rayban. You have no idea how cool she feels wearing them, if you had said a word, it will go down on record that you have no sense of fashion.’ Ummi added.
‘What are saying Ummi? Are we really talking about the same thing? Do you mean that the hideous, rounded, thick-framed, black, ancient and unattractive spectacles I saw on your friend are the  latest fashion, some expensive designer pieces or are you just pulling my legs?’ I demanded.
‘No, Mummy that is what they are. As horrible as they may seem to you, to us that is fashion. It is the latest trend. And only those who can afford to actually dare to use them.’ She answered.
‘But I thought fashion was about looking good. How can someone look so old and even masculine and still think she looks good?’ I wondered aloud.
‘That is because the fashion of the moment says so Mummy.’ Ummi replied smiling.
‘And you say this crazy fashion even has a name?’ I asked.
‘Yes, the glasses are called nerdicks, derived from the root word nerd, which means overly serious, bookish student. The designers coined the name and decided to make it a fashion item. And now it’s the hottest thing around.’ She explained, eruditely.
‘In my days it will no doubt be called Harold Lloyd. When we were young university girls like you are now, we couldn’t stand suitors who used thick, rounded, black glasses, like your friend’s. We used to joke behind their backs by saying who does that Harold Lloyd think he is? In fact the thicker the frames, the more blind we think the suitor is. And today, of all things, Harold Lloyd glasses are the in-thing among young women? I just can’t understand fashion.’ I declared.
‘Accept it Bint, it’s a generational thing.’ Tahir said, walking towards us from the dining area.
‘Oh, you got me scared. I had no idea you were there.’ I answered looking back at him.
‘I’ve been here since Ummi’s return, I was just coming down the stairs when you opened the door for her. I heard all your conversation, and the simple truth is that it’s a generational issue. What appeals to her generation may not appeal to yours. So don’t stay glued to your views that the specs are old, ugly and masculine. Just say this is how you see them.’ He advised, joining me on the settee in the parlour.
‘But surely we are agreed that something fashionable should make you look beautiful. How can something that makes you look several years older enhance your looks?’ I insisted.
‘But beauty is in the eye of the beholder Bint. How do you know that they don’t find the new look beautiful among themselves?’ Tahir asked.
‘No, Tahir, even you don’t believe that a young lady who looks like she inherited Harold Lloyd’s ancient specs can look beautiful.’ I argued.
‘Why not? It depends on my definition of beauty. If she meets that definition, I am sure to find her so.’ He replied.
‘So Harold Lloyd was a man who used glasses? I thought he was a designer.’ Ummi asked.
‘No, he was a comedian whose trademark was his pair of glasses and a smile. He had the exact same spectacles as your friend and existed in the days of black and white, silent movies. In those days they had no fashion designers. All they had were people who made things that others needed to use. His film’s theme song is ‘Hurray for Harold Lloyd …. A pair of glasses and a smile’ I sang and we all laughed.
‘But you know fashion goes around and comes around, and not only among clothes and accessories but even among cars and other vehicles. So accept that someone remembered your comedian and decided to pay him a fashion tribute by resurrecting his specs.’ Tahir offered.
‘But almost a century after? I mean I know trends make a come-back after three decades or so, like we had 60s back in the 90s. But Mr Lloyd acted about a century ago. Even my generation was surprised to see that movies were once filmed voiceless because they had not invented the microphone then. But to go all the way back to resurrect that fashion is going really far.’ I countered.
‘So by ‘black and white, silent movies’ you meant the films had no voice at all? How then do you know what they were trying to say?’ Ummi asked, perplexed.
‘You just follow their antics and guess what they are saying. But there is a voice over at some points in the film telling you what is happening. Oh those films are hilarious.’ I said, smiling at the memory.
‘Yes they are but you are still confirming what I said Bint. You see Ummi can’t imagine a film in black and white, let alone one without speech. And here you are saying how hilarious they were. In the same way you can’t see beauty in a young lady wearing her pair of nerdicks, but here is Ummi thinking the world of them. It’s all in the generation.
In fact you two reminded me of when I had my pride of Afro hair on campus. I went home for the holidays thinking the world revolved around my hair but my father took one look at me and sent me to the barbers. That was it. To him my cool look was akin to madness.’ He recalled, smiling.
‘Yes you have a point there Tahir, but if you should ever need eye glasses Ummi, go for something slim and feminine. I am certain I will have a heart attack if you step into this house looking like your friend Abida. I just can’t accept that those glasses are beautiful, whatever generation I belong to.’ I concluded.