Page 44 - English Class 06

It was raining and I was in no mood to study. So, as soon as I saw my Maths tutor coming

with an umbrella, I ran to my mother and said, “Mama, I’m having an acute headache and I
do not want to study today.”

The servant entered the room and declared the arrival of the tutor. Mother looked at me
and asked the servant to send him back. Mother went out and after about a minute I got
hold of Grandmother and said, “Grannie, do tell me a story.”

I had to ask this many times. Grannie went on reading her book and took no notice. At
last, Grannie said to me, “Child, don’t bother. Wait till I’ve finished my book.” But, I
persisted, “Grannie, do tell me a story.”

At last, Grannie put down the book and said, “O.K. Let us begin.”

acute : extremely sharp Do you hear stories from your granny?
persisted : continue to exist

As soon as Grannie agreed, I rushed and got hold of her hand and dancing with delight,
dragged her inside my mosquito net on to the bed. I clutched hold of the bolster with both

hands in my excitement and jumped up and down with joy and when I had got a little
quieter, said, “Now Grannie, let’s have the story!” dragged : pulled

Grannie went on, “Once there was a king and the king had a queen.” That was good to
begin with. He had only one queen.

It is usual for kings in fairy stories to be extravagant in queens. And whenever we hear
that there are two queens, our hearts begin to sink. One is sure to be unhappy. But, in
Grannie’s story, that danger was past. He had only one queen.

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