A Boy Who Wants To Go Out

Somu was a bright active boy of about five years of age who lived on a large farm. However he was always running out to play with the animals or to watch his father working in the fields. His mother tried all sorts of tricks to keep him indoors especially during the hot afternoons, but to no avail.

If his mother put on cartoons for him, he would pretend to fall off to sleep. Then as his mother's attention got diverted elsewhere, he would be out in a trice. If his brother tried to play with him, he would sulk on losing or worse still, howl for hours.

The worst was during meal times. The entire household had to be sent in all directions to look for Somu and haul him home, kicking and screaming in protest at having his playtime shortened.

One day after a particularly trying time with him, she gave him a lollipop hoping to calm him down. She told him to finish it indoors before going out. But the minute she got busy with her chores, Somu ran out to the nearby pond and sat down under the big mango tree. Happily, he sucked on his candy and watched the ducks swimming on the pond.

Suddenly, a monkey sitting on the tree swung down and snatched the lollipop from Somu. Frightened, Somu ran home crying. His mother hugged him and gave him another lollipop.

This time he sat quietly near his brother and decided that he would always obey his mother.