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Weird, But Okay

by Sanjidu Shaheed (Class-X)
I sometimes wonder — wh at is the good of being a human being? There re so many creatures that could be human, but why me? Couldn't 1 be one of those free animals, who never have to do homework, say yes. sir . my pleasure, ma'am' hundreds of times everyday? It s Just hard luck that I’m a human, not an animal If I were an animal. I would not have to study this grammar now. I would not have to be kept In school for history today and I would not have failed in that trigonometry test yesterday If only I could be a bird! How I wish that my wish could come true!
Hey. what s happening? I can't sit at my desk any longer. My body Is changing! My eyes are getting farther from each other, as if they’re approaching towards the sides of my face! Oh my goodness! I've grown feathers! I m not a human any more. I'm a bird! How did that happen? Has come true! Hurray! that's what 1 wanted many, many times In my life! Now that I'm a bird I'll do any thing I like and do nothing I don t like I won t wake up when mother tells me to. I'll stay awake as long as I want to. Tony. Tony", oh no. there's mother now. So what. I don't have to answer her. Til just peep tn the kitchen to see why she's calling. Oh. Just what I Suessed. she's piled those ishes for me to dry them. O well. 1 don't have to. now that I have wings. I'll just fly away and let her do the dishdrying stuff.
Ah! It's such a pleasure flying In the sky! Much, much better than an aeroplane. Now wait a minute, where should 1 fly? I'll lust go left and come to the park. Ohl It's so peaceful In the park. I'll sit here and hop and sing and sing and hop all the day long. What's that loud noise? Has the Third World War started so soon? Oh no. I know it now. why. it's my stomach growling, my very own stomach! Now 1 remember. I haven't eaten anything since last night and all that fly Ing and singing and hopping has made me extremely hungry But where can 1 find some food? Hey. look at that — that kind boy has spread the pop corn, as if he knew I am hun E Huh? What's happened?
popcorn's gone! Why. that big bird has finished it already! Never mind. 1'11 drink some water from that lake. Ooops, the bank of the lake is so slippery. Hl slip and drown if 1 try
to gel a drink from the lake Maybe being a bird Is not such a swell Idea If I were human. I only had to say. "Hey. mom. I m hungry!" and there would be food before me in no time at all Oh. well. I can t quit so east!). "When the going gets tough the tough get going" — so the saying. But I honestly think It (would be bette* if I were an ant. I wouldn't be so hungry or thirsty all the time and Id need so little food and drink. So. being an ant Is the best. 1 guess! How I wish I were an ant. instead of a bird!
Hey! What's the matter now? I feel so queer all of a sudden. I feel, as If I'm having six legs, my body Is shrinking! I've turned into an ant! How! That's marvellous! I'm becoming anything I wish to become! Now that I'm an ant. there’s not a single worry in the world Tra La La l-a La the world Is a beautiful paradise! HEY. Look Out. Mister! D’you want to SQUASH ME WITH YOUR SHOE? I guess I spoke too soon. Being an ant Is not so comfortable after all! Why. I was nearly stamped flat! I’m so small that no one notices me. So the world's become a dangerous place for me! Ahl that naughty girl's planning to catch me. If she catches me. she'll surely kill me. I ll hide In the bush. I was right! That girl s now telling her friend that It would be nice to tear my legs apart. Imagine that! How cruel! Oh well. 1 can't blame her. Even I treated the ants the same way when 1 was human. I guess, all humans do so. So. the ant must feel very miserable. Now that I'm an ant I'm anxious about the safety of my life. I'm lucky, I’m still alive. I would not have to worry so much, if I were something huge. None could kill me so easily if I’m big like... like a .... a tree! Yes. that’s the answer to my problem. I'll be a tree. So. I'll wish again to be a tree. I wish to be a tree. 1 wish to be a tree. I wish to be a tr...
Oooh. Just what I guessed! Why. I've become a young, beautiful, fir tree! I can look at myself at the crystal clear water of the lake and do 1 look beautiful! I guess, being a tree is the best at last I've nothing much to do. I'll look at myself and listen to the passers-by all day long. I'll listen to what those two men say.
"Hey. Bill, what a beautiful, young, fir tree!" "Yes. John. I
admit. It's the most beautiful one I've seen all day "
Oh. how nice, those men are praising me for my beauty. 1 knew It's nice to be a fir tree I'll listen to what they're saying now.
"Sav Bill, let s start chop ping the tree It s the perfect tree for timber "
"Yes. I'll start sawing right now ’
Hey. did they say that about me? No, no. it can't be. Oh. no. but it CAN be. Because there they are coming to chop me right now Oh. the saw and axe are so sharp and dangerous looking I'll shout and beg to them to keep me alive Please Don't Chop Me. Nice Human. Please Don t! Hey. they haven’t heard me. Of course Im,not actually creating any sound, now that I m a tree! Oh, that s going to be so painful.
Aaaaaaali! Wha what s happening"’ Its so dark Oh. I understand. I’ve been dream Ing! Phew, what a nightmare My heart s still thumping ! can still see that axe. Razor-sharp and so shlney Oh. I have to admit, this nightmare has taught me a good lesson. I now really realise, being human Is not so bad. It's certainly better than being anything else Yes. being a human is sometimes boring, tearful and tiresome. I don't deny that. But all the same. It's weird, but okay.