The puzzle
“Please give me some money.” a little homeless orphan asked.
‘Go and work somewhere’ was what he received.
What could he do at the age of five? Only begging could keep him alive. Thirst and hunger were his knowledge and wisdom. He roamed the pavements of the great busy road expecting a generous tip to buy some bread. He saw a flashy woman walking with her little daughter and went to her begging for a coin.
She flinched “Keep away you filthy thing!”
He drew back in fear. The little girl turned to stare at him. His big dirty shirt dangled down to his feet. He looked like a little man without legs. His long tousled hair crowded around his thin shoulders making up for the missing collar.
The little girl asked “Mama, why is he like that?”
The woman said “He is suffering because he didn’t listen to his mother.”
The boy was puzzled ‘My mother died when I was born. That was why I couldn’t listen to her talk. But how did this woman find out that my mother is dead?’
Annie’s advantage
Little Annie completed kindergarten and arrived at the big school to begin first grade.
Her parents introduced it “This is a wonderful school.”
Annie observed it, comparing it to the fair, park, playground...
“Hello Annie.” a cheerful teacher smiled “I am Miss. Susan.”
Annie said “Hello Miss.”
“She has exceptional poise.” the teacher whispered to Annie’s parents “Stay in the waiting room.”
Ten minutes flew by.
“Your girl is bawling the ceiling down.” a harassed attendant led Annie’s parents out, ignoring their anxious questions.
The broken parents saw Miss Susan comforting whimpering Annie.
Annie cried “I don’t want this school! My best friends, Freddie, Susie and Tony are not here!”
Annie’s mother said “They were her classmates at kindergarten.”
Miss Susan asked them to take her home and talk to her.
Annie came swearing all the way that her best friends wouldn’t go to any school without her. Her father made some quick calls and learnt that the three musketeers had joined three different schools.
He tried to reason with Annie “Choose one. You can’t study in three schools.”
“I want all my best friends in my class.” Annie ran to the playground in the hot sun.
Excited Freddie, Susie and Tony came from different directions.
Stout Freddie beat his chest “I’m the strongest boy in my class!”
Lanky Tony’s hand shot up “I’m the tallest boy in my class!”
Freckled Susie stroked her red hair “I’m the beautifullest girl in my class!”
Annie was disgusted. How could they dump friendship like used paper cups? She went home and announced “I don’t want those three fools in my school!”
Annie returned to the new school. Her parents were elated when Miss Susan praised her conduct. That evening, Annie went to the playground and told the former friends who were still basking in their newfound glory “In my class, there’s a boy who is the tallest, strongest and most beautiful!”
“Is he stronger than me?” Freddie’s voice crackled with doubt.
“If he gives you a kick, all your bones will break!” Annie crushed his eminence.
Tony’s gaze climbed the lamppost “Is this fella taller than me?”
“You’re only as big as his legs!”
Tony’s pride crashed on the ground.
Susie stammered “Is he is beautifuller than… than... me?”
“You look like a dustbin before him!”
Dream world hurled Susie back on earth. The demoralized three helplessly eyed each other. Annie looked up at the sky, tapping a March rhythm with her feet.
Susie stung “Okay! He is great. What are you in your class?”
“I’m his best friend.” Annie left them scorching with envy.
The finishing touch
Pencil poised on pad, the little boy sat beside his dog “Brownie, dad told me to make a list of things I need. What do I need?”
The dog ran and fetched his damaged shoes.
He wrote “New shoes.”
The dog rolled a broken drum.
“New drum.”
The dog unearthed a torn ball from a boggling heap.
“New ball.”
He held up the list “Is that all Brownie?”
The yapping dog licked his face.
He wiped his face and added the final item “A new talking doggie. My old one is a dumb fool. I get licked every time. I’m sick of it.”