Page 1
THERE was a girl named Valliammai who was called Valli for short. She was eight
years old and very curious about things. Her favourite pastime was standing in
the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street
outside. There were no playmates of her own age on her street, and this was about all
she had to do. But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable
as any of the elaborate games otherchildren played. Watching the street gave
her many new unusual experiences.
Page 2
THERE was a girl named Valliammai who was called Valli for short. She was eight
years old and very curious about things. Her favourite pastime was standing in
the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street
outside. There were no playmates of her own age on her street, and this was about all
she had to do. But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable
as any of the elaborate games otherchildren played. Watching the street gave
her many new unusual experiences. The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. It passed through her street each hour, once going to the town and once coming back.
The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of unending
joy for Valli. Hai!!, bus !!!, I want to ride
on that bus at
least once
Page 3
THERE was a girl named Valliammai who was called Valli for short. She was eight
years old and very curious about things. Her favourite pastime was standing in
the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street
outside. There were no playmates of her own age on her street, and this was about all
she had to do. But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable
as any of the elaborate games otherchildren played. Watching the street gave
her many new unusual experiences. The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. It passed through her street each hour, once going to the town and once coming back.
The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of unending
joy for Valli. Hai!!, bus !!!, I want to ride
on that bus at
least once Valli would stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus when it stopped
at the street corner. Their faces would kindle in her longings, dreams, and hopes. If
one of her friends happened to ride the bus and tried to describe the sights of the town to her, Valli would be too jealous to listen Hey, Today I
went to the
town. How nice
it is! Big
buildings ,shops
lot of people! Proud!
Proud! Hey, I went to the
town today. How
nice it is! Big buildings!,
shops,lot of people!
Page 4
THERE was a girl named Valliammai who was called Valli for short. She was eight
years old and very curious about things. Her favourite pastime was standing in
the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street
outside. There were no playmates of her own age on her street, and this was about all
she had to do. But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable
as any of the elaborate games otherchildren played. Watching the street gave
her many new unusual experiences. The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. It passed through her street each hour, once going to the town and once coming back.
The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of unending
joy for Valli. Hai!!, bus !!!, I want to ride
on that bus at
least once Valli would stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus when it stopped
at the street corner. Their faces would kindle in her longings, dreams, and hopes. If
one of her friends happened to ride the bus and tried to describe the sights of the town to her, Valli would be too jealous to listen Hey, Today I
went to the
town. How nice
it is! Big
buildings ,shops
lot of people! Proud!
Proud! Hey, I went to the
town today. How
nice it is! Big buildings!,
shops,lot of people! Over many days and months Valli listened carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus, and she also asked a few discreet questions here and
there. This way she picked up various small details about the bus journey. How far is
the town? Six miles
from here. What is
the fare
one way? Thirty paise one
way which is
almost nothing
at all. How much
time will it
take to
reach the
town? Fortyfive
minutes
Page 5
THERE was a girl named Valliammai who was called Valli for short. She was eight
years old and very curious about things. Her favourite pastime was standing in
the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street
outside. There were no playmates of her own age on her street, and this was about all
she had to do. But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable
as any of the elaborate games otherchildren played. Watching the street gave
her many new unusual experiences. The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. It passed through her street each hour, once going to the town and once coming back.
The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of unending
joy for Valli. Hai!!, bus !!!, I want to ride
on that bus at
least once Valli would stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus when it stopped
at the street corner. Their faces would kindle in her longings, dreams, and hopes. If
one of her friends happened to ride the bus and tried to describe the sights of the town to her, Valli would be too jealous to listen Hey, Today I
went to the
town. How nice
it is! Big
buildings ,shops
lot of people! Proud!
Proud! Hey, I went to the
town today. How
nice it is! Big buildings!,
shops,lot of people! Over many days and months Valli listened carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus, and she also asked a few discreet questions here and
there. This way she picked up various small details about the bus journey. How far is
the town? Six miles
from here. What is
the fare
one way? Thirty paise one
way which is
almost nothing
at all. How much
time will it
take to
reach the
town? Fortyfive
minutes On and on went her thoughts as she calculated and recalculated, planned and replanned. Thirty paise
one way! My
God! it is a
fortune! I’ll take the
1o’clock bus
and return
home by about
two forty five. I’ll save
sixty paise
and will
not get
down
from the
bus.
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