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STORY TIME: You’re never too young to be brave
Nine-year-old Obaid lived with his parents and three-year-old brother in a three room flat. Most of the parents in the block would habitually leave their younger children in the care of the older ones when they were at work or on an errand. It was, however, a friendly locality where helpful neighbours would help keep a watchful eye on each other’s kids whenever the adults were not around. Three doors away from Obaid’s flat lived a family with three children aged seven, six and three. Obaid often played with the eldest daughter, Fatimah, who was his classmate.
One morning, Fatimah’s mother had to go to the market to buy some vegetables. Since the youngest was still sleeping, she told Fatimah to keep an eye on her two younger sisters. Tired of reading, Fatimah decided to play with the new lantern, which her father had brought for her. She got hold of a box of matches from the kitchen table and lit the lantern. Just then a strong wind blew and caused her books, which were lying on the floor, to catch fire. Very soon, it began to spread. Fatimah panicked and quickly grabbed her six-year-old sister and ran out of the house to escape the fire.
At that time, Obaid was doing his homework at home. His parents had gone to work. He heard Fatimah screaming and knocking at his door. When he opened the door, the hysterical Fatimah told him about the fire and that her youngest sister was still sleeping in the house. The boy with his presence of mind told them to stay in his flat while he rushed into the burning house to rescue the other sister.
Inside the flat, the little girl was crying. The smoke had awakened her. Obaid carried her safely out of the flat and back into his own house. After that, he quickly ran to knock at the rest of his neighbours’ doors to make them aware of the fire. Luckily, Mr and Mrs Fahad, his next-door neighbours, were still at home. As the fire was still in a manageable state, Mr Fahad and his wife, together with three other neighbours, succeeded in putting it out.
When Fatimah’s mother returned from the market, she was shocked at the state of her house. However, she was relieved that all her children, thanks to Obaid, were safe and sound. The neighbourhood soon heard the story of the brave little boy. His parents were very proud of him but they also reprimanded him for risking his life when he could have got help from the other adults. Obaid explained that he had heard Fatimah’s sister crying in the house and was afraid that it might be too late to rescue the girl if he had waited for his neighbours to come. In any case, all ended well. To show her appreciation to the brave little boy, Fatimah’s mother bought him a new pair of sport shoes.
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