My Sister, the Soldier Chapter Notes | English Class 4 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

This chapter tells the story of a young girl whose sister, Darlene, decides to join the army. The story shows how Darlene makes this big choice to build a better future and how her family feels about it. It talks about the hard work she does in training and the time she spends away from home, especially when she goes to a war zone. The family waits for her and feels worried but also proud. In the end, Darlene comes back home, making everyone very happy. This story helps us understand the life of a soldier and how it affects their family.

Key Points

This story is about Darlene, the narrator's sister, who chooses to join the army at eighteen.

• She wants a career and a college education, which the army will help her get.
• Her mother is worried about the dangers, but Darlene promises to be careful.
• Training is tough, with early mornings and lots of practice.
• Darlene goes to a war zone in Iraq and stays in touch with emails.
• The family waits for her return, feeling anxious during the war news.
• She comes back home on New Year's Eve, bringing joy to the family.

Explanation

Darlene, who is eighteen, decides to join the army because she wants a good career instead of a part-time job. She believes the army will pay for her college education after her service. Her mother is scared because she thinks it might be dangerous, especially if there is a war. The narrator thinks women don’t fight on the front lines, so it might be safer. 

Darlene promises to be very careful, but her mother still feels worried. After three months of training, Darlene feels happy with her decision. The training starts early at five in the morning and includes hard work like drilling and learning new skills. She makes friends with other soldiers in her group and supports them.

Later, Darlene’s unit is sent to Iraq, a place the narrator learns about online. Before leaving, Darlene buys a computer and teaches her family to send emails. The family sends her messages every day, and she replies when she can, talking about the hot weather and nice local people. She wears heavy, protective clothes and assures her family she is being careful. 

They wait for her to come back in September, but she has to stay longer. The family grows more worried as months pass, especially with scary war news. The mother sends Christmas gifts, hoping Darlene returns, but she doesn’t. Finally, on New Year's Eve, Darlene surprises them by coming home, turning their sadness into happiness.

Message

The story teaches us about courage and the importance of family. Darlene shows bravery by joining the army to build her future, even though it is hard. It also shows how families miss and worry about their loved ones who are far away. In the end, the happy reunion reminds us that love and waiting can bring joy after tough times.

New Words with Meanings

• Challenging: Something that is hard to do.
• Reconsider: To think about something again.
• Community College: A college for people from the local area.
• Cautious: Being very careful.
• Assurance: A promise that makes someone feel better.
• Demanding: Needing a lot of effort and patience.
• Drilled: Practiced something many times.
• Occupied: Being busy or engaged.
• Recruit: A new soldier who just joined.
• Platoon: A small group of soldiers.
• Concerned: Feeling worried about something.
• Dispatched: Sent something off.
• Uniquely: In an unusual way.