Crazy over Cricket -Annie Besant Jon
The Khanna household was busy as a beehive. Everyone was getting ready to go watch an India-Australia cricket match at the city stadium. Papa Khanna had called in sick at work, Mama was furiously making sandwiches and snacks to take along, Nikhil was getting his face painted with the tricolour by Abdul, and Nisha was busy disapproving.
“Papa,” the seven-year-old Nisha said, ambling into her parents’ bedroom where her father was carefully shaving before the mirror.
“Not now, sweetheart,” he replied. “I’m busy getting ready for the big game. We should get there early so we can get to our seats on time.”
Nisha shook her head. “Mama,” she called out to her mother, skipping into the kitchen.
“Not now, Nisha,” she replied, fishing out onion pakodas from the kadai. “I’m cooking.”
“Nikhil,” Nisha said, going to her older brother’s room, “I have something to tell you.”
“Please, go away,” shooed Nikhil. “Can’t you see I’m busy?” he grunted before turning to his friend to discuss India’s chances of winning the match.
Nisha pursed her lips and wondered when she should spill the beans. She had stumbled upon a secret that morning.
“Hmmm….” she had said to herself resolving to bide her time before spilling the beans.
Now everyone was ready to go. Papa was wearing his Sachin Tendulkar tee-shirt. Mama was wearing her best kurta, neatly starched. Nikhil looked like a tribal she had seen on the Discovery channel. Abdul looked like his twin. And they all were staring at Nisha.
“Sweetheart, why aren’t you ready?” her Papa asked.
“Oh, come on, Papa,” Nikhil said impatiently. “Let’s go! If she doesn’t want to come, leave her behind.”
“Don’t you want to come?” Mama asked her.
A grin spread across Nisha’s face as she shook her head and pointed to the calendar. It said June and not July.
Suddenly everybody realised they had got the date of the match wrong! They were a month early for the match!
“Groan,” said Papa as he hurried to call his office.
“Sigh,” said Mama as she thought of all the extra food she had made.
“Aargh,” said Nikhil as he thought of how much he wanted to strangle his little sister.
Nisha was stumped. She believed she had done them all a favour!
Teacher’s Corner
An indoor gym is the perfect thing for your class if playspace is limited. Here is what you can install for some indoor acrobatics.
1. Rope ladders dangling from the ceiling.
2. A trampoline.
3. Trapeze bars to hang from.
4. A wall covered with iron handles placed equidistant (for climbing).
5. A springy mattress for somersaults and cartwheels.
“If you train hard, you’ll not only be hard, you’ll be hard to beat.” Herschel Walker
