Everyone
was present to get their progress report card. They were in their classroom
waiting for their turn to come. At last the teacher called out, “Little Baba
come and take your Progress Report”.
Little Baba
rushed out of his chair with his dimple-faced smile and stretched out his hand.
He took the card and back to his seat opened and saw his performance of the
year dancing before his eyes.
English, he
looked and wondered why he did not get the pass marks. He thought hard and
found that the essays he had learnt by heart did not come in the test. For Grammar,
he had simply heard the voice of his heart and written down as he liked.
Comprehension, he did not bother to attempt the answers for he did not read the
paragraph.
History
marks were miserable. He knew the history of his family – grandma, great
grandpa, pa, mama, sister, but never bothered to concentrate on the text book.
Geography
was no better. No like for maps and atlas and about the area that covered the
different states in his own country. Just threw flukes and that was where he
was caught unaware by the teacher in giving him marks.
Science was
something he thought he liked for he liked the speed of Jupiter more than other
things. Nothing else interested him. But no flying marks here either.
Social
Studies was his favourite subject but he did not fare well in this too. How he
loved to go to huts and share a meal with those poor ladies was his main aim.
But the teacher was rude not to give him pass marks.
Mathematics
was compulsory so had to do it otherwise would have kept it aside.
Moral Science was something he liked like the skipping rope game. He did not like
this subject for he felt how moral could go with science.
In the end
he read, “Promoted on trial”.
Teacher’s
remark: “Try to do better next time or you’ll have to repeat in the same class
again."
Little Baba
was not at all disheartened with his report card. He held hands with friend
Diggy and with cute little hops from one leg to another he took out two
lollipops, handed one to his friend and both of them sucked their lollipops on
their way home.