Sheenu never enjoyed riding bicycle. Her brand new bicycle was collecting rust in a garage. She rarely took it out and that too for small spins in the neighbourhood. So, when on one day, her parents announced that she will go to school on bicycle, it surprised Sheenu in a sad way. She pleaded with her parents to pay her school bus fees as usual, but they didn’t listen to her.
“You are old enough to ride a bicycle to school. All of your friends are doing the same.”
“Moreover, we will increase your pocket money from the chunk we save on your bus fees.”
Sheenu was crestfallen.
She rode to her school on the first day and on her way back; she saw a big brown furry bear. He was wearing the same red cap as hers. The bear came running towards her. “Is that my son’s cap you are wearing?” he asked.
“No,” Sheenu replied, wiping her sweaty forehead.
“Oh yes! I remember vividly, I brought this same cap yesterday and now it has gone missing?”
“No! It’s mine.” Sheenu cried and ran from the spot before the bear could pounce on her.
Sheenu was in tears when she reached home.
“What happened, dear?” her mom asked, looking concerned.
“I was attacked by a bear,” she said and narrated the whole incident.
“Why did you stop to talk to him?” Sheenu’s mother said in a cool voice.
Then Sheenu’s mother told her this-
Just raise your head high,
And watch the sky;
No bear, no deer,
Can cause you any fear,
Cos you are strong my dear;
Ride fast and strong,
And make them disappear.
On the second day, she rode her bicycle again and on her way back home; she saw a big chameleon. It was gigantic and green. Just as her cycle approached him, the chameleon changed colour to black, the same as her cycle’s tyre. Sheenu’s eyes popped out.
“What are you?” she asked with her eyes wide open.
At that very moment, the chameleon turned muddy, the same colour as Sheenu’s skin. Sheenu gulped loudly. Chameleon started laughing at her.
“You are such a wimpy kid.”
Sheenu hopped back on her bicycle and pedaled fast and strong.
The moment she reached home, she started crying.
“What happened, child?” Her mom asked.
“The chameleon made fun of me,” she said, and narrated the complete incident.
Her mom told her this-
Just raise your head high,
And watch the sky;
No chameleon, not even pokemon,
Will be the night to your dawn;
So do not fear,
Cos you are strong my dear;
Ride fast and strong,
And make them disappear.
The next day, she rode to school again on her bicycle. On her way back home, she found a fox. She had never seen a fox before, her interest was piqued. The fox came near her and said, “What a plump child you are!”
“What do you mean?” she asked innocently.
I mean, I have three children at home and you will make an excellent lunch for them.”
Sheenu’s jaw dropped and her palms started sweating. She kicked her pedal twice before jumping back on her bicycle and began riding.
The moment she reached home; she started crying again.
“What happened dear?” her mother asked with twisted brows.
“The fox tried to eat me.” Sheenu said and narrated the entire story.
Her mom told her this-
Just raise your head high,
And watch the sky;
No fox, no ox,
Can make you hide in a box;
Do not fear,
Cos you are strong my dear;
Ride fast and strong,
And make them disappear.
The next day at school, Sheenu’s class teacher gave them their maths paper. Sheenu had scored a whopping forty out of fifty. She had the second best score in class. She was on cloud nine and felt like reaching home as fast as she could.
When she reached home, her mother asked. “What strange animal did you meet today?” Sheenu was surprised. She didn’t see anyone that day.
“I was riding so fast in excitement, I must have missed them mom,” she replied
The next day, during the school’s closing time, Sheenu met with her friend Rita, who used to take off fifteen minutes earlier than Sheenu every day. “Rita,” Sheenu said, catching up to her. “Why don’t I cycle alongside you today?”
“Ok” Rita said,“But I usually stop at a place for fifteen minutes every day.”
“What place?” Sheenu asked, interested.
“You will see,” replied Rita.
Rita took Sheenu on an entirely different route and stopped in front of a bakery. They both went inside. In the bakery, Sheenu saw so many flavoured cookies and cakes that her mouth started watering. Rita ordered a cake slice for herself. Sheenu stood there for a while. Her pocket was also heavy with all the extra pocket money that she was getting. She finally ordered a blueberry cake.It melted in her mouth, and tasted like heaven.
When she reached home that day, she was feeling happy and content. Her mom came close to her and said, “Sheenu, since you were complaining so much about cycling last week, your dad and I decided to start your bus again.”
“No! Mom!” Sheenu cried jumping up from the sofa.
“Why?” her mom asked.
“Because my bus doesn’t take me to places where my cycle does?”
“What do you mean?” Sheenu’s mom asked, totally confused.
“Today on my way back home, I lost path and ended up in a wonderland. There were cakes and cookies of every flavour…” Sheenu spoke for a long-long time.
By: CHANDNI BISHT
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