Page 98 - English Class 06

The bomb told the boy that it had to reach the airplane and get to the war field to

destroy a town that looked just like the one where the boy lived. The boy answered that he
could not help the bomb free itself because he did not like what the bomb did.

Then, the bomb proposed a deal. “If you help me get out of this mud, I will fulfil three
wishes made by you. Remember, I have much power!”

The boy stopped to think for a moment and finally answered, “All right.”
But to be sure, he insisted that the bomb would have to promise, declare upon oath and

give its word of honour that it would not go to the war field. Furthermore, the bomb had to
sign under all this on a paper, where it would all be written down by the boy.

The boy rushed home and came back with a small shovel he used for playing with sand
when he went to the beach. Besides, he brought the belt with which his dog was tied.

For several hours, the boy dug around the bomb. When he had managed to dig it out, he
quickly tied the belt to its nose with a knot that an uncle who was a sailor had taught him.
Then he told the bomb, “Well, bomb, now walk!”

shovel : spade-like device to dig the earth
commotion : disturbance

enormous : very big
ample : enough

In the town, a commotion began when they saw such a small child carrying the
enormous bomb tied to a string. The boy showed the bomb the old houses, the sick people
and the men and women who did not know how to read or write. Eventually, they stopped

under an old tree on a hill from where the entire town could be seen.

The boy asked the bomb to fulfil the three wishes he had made : First, that all the
families be provided with good, ample and cheap houses. Second, that the people would
not die of diseases that could be cured. Third, that all would learn to read and write.

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