|
|
|
Story Time: Mr Curious
In a small house, there lived a small family. Grandpa Batoota, Mr Batoota, Mrs Batoota and young Batoota. There was nothing very peculiar about the family. Everyone was normal except young Batoota. He was such a curious child, always asking Why, When, Where, What, Who, Which and more. His struggle to find answers continued endlessly.
One day he awoke and went outside to take a morning walk. A red apple fell from the tree and he asked himself ‘Why did the apple fall?’ Then he answered the query himself ‘Perhaps it was too weak.’ Then his eyes caught his neighbour’s apples which were green in colour and he asked himself ‘Why are Mrs Asghar’s apples green and ours red?’ He took an apple from Mrs Asghar’s garden and tasted it. He then answered the question himself once again: ‘Perhaps her apples are tastier than ours.’ ‘But why do apples taste like apples? I mean they could taste like fish.’ And so began his never ending curiosity.
“Where is every body?” He inquired.
Suddenly he heard the sound of hammering from the garage in the backyard where his father did some construction work. The room was locked from inside. He banged the door. “Who is in there? Is this you grandpa?”
“Yes grandson, it’s me.” Replied an old shaky voice. “What are you doing in there? Let me in too. I want to see what you are hammering at?”
“No, grandson! Not now. I’ll tell you later.” Grandpa started hammering louder to avoid his grandson’s queries.
Young Batoota went inside the house wondering what grandpa might be doing in the garage. He felt hungry and headed towards the kitchen. On his way he saw his father wearing an apron and he stopped.
“Why are you wearing an apron, father? Is mother not home? Where is mother?” He demanded an explanation.
“Oh! Your mother is in the neighbourhood.”
“But then why are you wearing the apron? Wow! What’s this smell?” Young Batoota smelled something delicious. “What’s cooking in the kitchen, father?”
“Oh, son! This is not an apron. It’s just a prevention, I get too dirty while doing construction work so I decided to wear this cloth around my waist. Nothing is cooking in the kitchen. I was just heating some metals. So you must be off now. You have no business here. Now shoo.”
He locked the kitchen door behind young Batoota who left with a question mark on his face. “What’s going on here?” He shook his head. He heard a car stop at his house and his mother stepped out. “Why did mother need a car to go into the neighbourhood?” He ran outside to ask her. He saw his friends coming out of the car too. “What are all my friends doing here?” He was a little upset now. “Mother, where were you? Why have you brought all my friends here? What’s the occasion? What’s happening here?”
“Oh, Oh! Stop it now. I’ll explain. Now come inside.”
Now he knew why father wore an apron and the kitchen was filled with delicious aroma and why mother went into the neighbourhood in a car.
He also figured out what grandpa was doing in the garage. He was busy fixing the bicycle he made for Batoota on his birthday.
The birthday party was great and everyone, specially young Batoota had a great time. Now for once he did not seem curious.
|
|
|
|
