Friends, credit is due for the first paragraph of this story to my nine-year-old daughter who is delighted by this series and is also the illustrator for the same.
“It’s a clear blue sky,” said the little girl’s mother, looking up.
“Yes!” the little girl replied, but did not bother to look up herself. She was holding her mother’s hand tightly. It was all sweaty. The little girl was worried. She had learnt the tables well and could write the alphabets too. But would she remember all of it in a ‘stranger’ school? Mother always told her not to talk to strangers. She wondered why mother and father had twisted the rule for the ‘stranger’ school? Probably because it was so big and famous.
Mother had often spoken to her about it, and told her how as a young girl she too had desired to study there. But they were a big family and so she was sent off to another school along with her siblings. But she so wanted the little girl to go to this one.
“There we are!” said mother pointing to a giant black gate. Everything in the school was so big, unlike the little kindergarten where she went to have fun and study too.
As they entered through the gate, the little girl felt a butterfly fluttering its wings inside her tummy. Was she hungry? She was not sure.
They walked up a cobbled path that led to a beautiful garden with colourful flowers. It was indeed a big school! The butterfly fluttered its wings again. Before she could tell her mother that she was probably hungry or something was wrong with her tummy, the little girl was led to the other end of the garden where on a white cane back chair sat an old woman dressed in pure white, with a blue headgear. Was she a teacher? The principal? Maybe. But teachers in kindergarten didn’t wear white skirts and blue veils. The principal there always wore a sari.
“Wish your teacher little one!” the little girl’s mother looked at her, like she always did when the neighbours came over and the little girl forgot to greet them. She was about to do so but just then her eyes fell on her friend from kindergarten sitting right next to the teacher. Hurrah! She had a companion. The little girl smiled and waved at her friend. Her plump, red cheeks made her eyes almost disappear every time she smiled. The friend waved back at her.
“She’ll be fine,” said the teacher and the little girl’s mother walked away. The little girl watched her leave with misty eyes.
“Sit down,” the teacher said, picking up a picture book from the table. The little girl tried to talk to her friend, but the latter put her finger on her lips and simply nodded from right to left. They were not only class fellows but neighbours too. The little girl admired the flowers on her friend’s dress. She hoped she too had worn something similar and not the blue dungarees her mother so loved.
Her friend seemed to be jumping out of her seat. She was trying to peep into the book. Had the little girl missed something?
“Which of you can tell me the colour of the sky?”
‘It’s a clear blue sky,’ the little girl heard her mother’s voice in her head.
“Blue,” the two girls shouted in unison as they tittered together. The little girl waited to say the tables. But the teacher only wanted to know the colour of the grass and of her back chair. She then asked them to leave. The little girl was disappointed…no tables! She had spent a long time trying to memorize them. But she was happy it was over and got up quickly while her friend first chose to say ‘thank you’.
The little girl was confused. Should she also thank the teacher?
“You must,” mother had always told her. But wasn’t it too late now?
“Thank you!” she mumbled to herself.
That evening all the neighbours gathered at the little girl’s house. They always did when something big happened. The men sat in the parlour with her father while the women sat with her mother, trying to comfort her. The little girl’s mother had been crying. Her father had brought home the sad news that the little girl had not been given admission in the ‘stranger’ school unlike her friend who would now be studying there.
Both the girls ran around the garden while the elders mulled over the situation. The little girl also wondered why the school had not liked her. Could it have been the ‘thank you’ or the ‘good morning’? Because she did know about the blue sky!
Tears veiled her eyes too as she saw her mother cry. She wished the teacher had liked her…but secretly she felt relieved.
She loved the kindergarten. It didn’t have a beautiful garden but she knew all the children there and she also liked the principal in a sari. She looked at her friend. She would miss her though, she thought.
That night the little girl heard her parents talk. Her mother was sure she wouldn’t give up until the school gave admission to her daughter.
The little girl wasn’t quite pleased to hear that. She felt a butterfly fluttering its wings in her little tummy again. She wondered what made schools choose some children and not the others. She thought of memorizing the tables once again but soon fell asleep.
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To read the previous post in this series visit here
What a beautiful story! I remembered my first day at school. I had cried with all my heart out.
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To start with, the illustration is fantastic… I don’t have much to say – just everything about the story touched my heart… The innocence of a child is so wonderfully painted by you…
“She wondered what made schools choose some children and not the others.”
Hard but true. I always loved whatever you write. This hit the nail hard. Thanks for writing.
such a beautiful story! You have written the child’s perspective so well. I loved the way you showed her nervousness!
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Lovely start to the challenge. I had read this post earlier but was unable to comment from my phone. I absolutely abhor this admission process, hence as a parent I strongly feel we should help our children understand the value of rejections also because the system will not change but we can surely prepare our kids to face the hurdles of life. Love the picture by your daughter.
Thank you Vartika. Admissions are a difficult time for parents and children alike. With the education sector becoming demanding day by day.
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Such a beautiful story and I must say, a kick ass banner for this post too! Also, I do feel sad that she wasn’t given admission 🙁
Thankyou. I’m glad you had fun reading.
I cant wait to read your next now
Thank you. Hope you visit again.
Lovely writing style Sonia. Looking forward to what happens next. My school was also a convent and this story made me reminiscent of those days.
Oh then I’m sure you could identify well. Thank you!
Very well crafted and emotions are very well expressed. How a little mind could understand why few are admitted and few are not, even butterflies are fluttering in my stomach .
Thank you for reading
Innocent, pure and feels so real! I am quite sure this might cast a little light on what goes through the minds of all the kids when we “deposit” them in schools.
I hope so. Thank you!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the post throughout. My heart goes out to the little one when she hears what her Mom’s viewpoint. Looking forward to all the posts. I loved the illustrations as well.
Thank you Chinmayee.
So sweet, and loved that you added the image drawn by your daughter. Wish there was no pressure on kids to get admitted in schools.
Oh, yes! Thank you Leha.
I have heard about your series and it is really cute. Reminds me of my childhood and the nuns at the convent.
So glad you liked it Madhu ji.
You have written it so well, and this illustration by your daughter is cherry on the cake 🙂
Thank you.
It’s a lovely story, Sonia. Would love to read the next episodes as well. And the illustration too 🙂 Kudos to the little one.
Thank you so much for appreciating. She will be glad to know.
loved the story, sonia! the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. she has all your talent in her <3
How sweet of you Samarpita. Thank you!💐💐
This brought back memories of A2Z last year where I wrote about my experiences related to Tuneer’s school admissions. It breaks my heart how we make machines out of children by assessing them so early. Beautiful theme,Sonia. Look forward to reading more.
I thought of you while writing this. Though of course the little girl moves on to other stories later, but this one particularly made me think of you.
Loved this one! Feels like reliving childhood.
Thank you. So glad!
Thank you.
Beautifully expressed. A 6 year old does feel anxious while changing schools and moving to a bigger set up. You have so well shared the current admission scenario as well. I loved the illustrations.
I am glad Aesha you enjoyed reading the chapters and made an effort to read all three posts. Thank you so much!
Beautifully penned , we should also consider how a child feels when we change thier school and surrounding.
Yes, it is indeed a great battle for them. Thank you for being here.
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That’s a lovely illustration and such a beautiful story. I can understand the mother’s anguish and the child’s desire to stay in familiar surroundings, as well as the awkwardness at being in the big, ‘stranger’ school!
So glad you enjoyed reading Sinjini
It’s sad that kids need to go through this.Great that your daughter is illustrating these stories.
Thank you Amrita💐💐
Wow so this is a mother daughter combo series!!
Totally sweet.
Loving them.
Thank you
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Beautifully narrated an innocent little girl’s tale ! Really it feels pity about those kids whom parents make pressure on them to fulfill their broken dreams, saddest part little souls have no clue why they got rejected…not to surprise this is the story of our surroundings! Looking forward to read next part in series.
Thank you Archana
I see I have missed on a few really good posts in my absence. Hope to catch up soon.
I was wondering who the illustrator was! I hope to find out more about why the little girl failed what was apparently an entrance exam.
She could never find out Liz!
Such a puzzlement! It must have been something completely inconsequential.
Actually, now that I think of it. It’s mostly inconsequential. Population issues. So many children vying for a single seat Liz. Nobody’s fault really but everybody is responsible, you see.
What a lovely story! Very well written and thoughtful. And the little illustrator has done a fabulous job!
Thank you Tarang
Can’t wait to read what happens next.
Also I have to add the illustrator has done an exceptional job.
That is an adorable illustration, Sonia. As for your story, I have seen so many parents go through this and do this to their children. Loved the read .
Thank you Mayuri
This was such a sweet start, Sonia. I could relate to it, changing schools every couple of years.
I did suspect the illustrator was your daughter. Quite a talented young lady. Those eyes…
Thank you Ritu💐💐
That’s a lovely illustration, very talented little girl. Loved the freshness of the post and somehow I could see myself too in it. I remembered my big school and also the principal. Looking forward to read all your posts.
Thank you Rashi. I’m sure so many of us will connect as I move along.
amazing theme Sonia and your post has remined me first day of my school. looking forward what happen next.
Glad Surbhi. Thank you 💐💐
That’s a good start to your series.
Seriously when you write about how parents prepare kids to talk to these school strangers has become a mission now. And then the celebration of nursery admission, so much pressure on kids I feel and parents have also made it as a status symbol. Look forward to reading the next story.
You caught the pulse Pragun.
Ohh this is so sweet, the little girl’s butterflies fluttered into my heart. I am so eager to know whether she gets into the school.
Lovely illustrations by your daughter, Sonia. Very talented 😊
Thank you. Let us see as we move along.
Ah my heart goes out to the little girl ..she’s happy at her little kindergarten but alas mom thinks other way !!
Yes. Parents mostly think differently, don’t they?
Interesting story. I guess I have to check the previous ones to know more about it. 🙂
Thank you!
This brought back many memories for you too. I studied in a convent school and I was nodding along as you described the principal. They never wore sarees in my school too
Oh yes! We are a gang then.
Oh, you too? 🙂
I love the illustrations
Oh… I so love your theme for this event… This story takes me back to my childhood memory too! With all that description of the big school… Where everything seemed gigantic in size… And the admission process… That principal!
Looking forward to all your posts in the series of the little girl 🙂
Thank you Ira. I hope you find this simple series delightful.