Kid Crusader-Kavitha

The disputes between parents made our pre-teen Kavitha woke up from her bed. The quarrel between her middle-class parents was never ending story. She got ready for school and while eating her breakfast, she asked her mother, “Mmummyy have you packed my tiffin?”. To which her mother yelled, “I am having enough problems with your father, and you are burdening me with your stammering! Can’t you speak properly?”. Depressed, Kavitha cycled to school with a heavy heart after completed her boredom breakfast.

   At school everyone was mocking her ‘googoogood momornnning Kakakkvithaa’. Listening to the taunts of her mates, she walked with her bowed head to the classroom. Her seventh-class teachers exacerbated her pain by teasing and scolding her for every word she stammered. She suffered from abject humiliation. She tried her best to subjugate her stammering but in vain.

   The recess was even worse. Most of her classmates formed groupism and she always been an outcast. They always boasted about their fancy food by speaking in loud voices enough for her to hear. To make her mind even more worsen, there came smartphones. And these kids too distracted from their own lives and started living celebrities’ lives. They were so classists that they always shooed and illtreated Kavitha.

  One day in school, her English teacher gave an assignment on the history of dictionary. Kavitha wanted to refer some books from her school’s library. To her annoyance, her frenemies had already taken the books which she needed also they punctured her cycle tyre. Her bullies weren’t satisfied though. They peeped out of the car window and mockingly waved at her and teased,” walking is the best exercise to lose your fat. EEEnnnjoy wawawalking!” Kavitha should not take things lying down but as usual She gave them a cold shoulder and began to move in the opposite direction. She hit rock bottom.

   After a pace of walk, she spotted a plaque with a quote in a building. She and read it aloud, “Intelligence is the ability to solve problems you've never seen before”. The quote must be the harbinger of positivity in her life and Kavitha too felt the same. The words intrigued her, and the name “Library” was arched as if it was beckoning her to enter. As Kavitha entered and the lady affably introduced herself as a chief librarian named Fatima. In a lame stuttered voice, Kavitha asked her that she wanted to refer some books for her school assignment. Fatima replied to her the procedure. She referred some books from the reference section for an hour. After making the necessary requirements, she obtained her new library card and borrowed her first book “Lost for Words” to home.

  Kavitha returned home with a happy face and completed her assignment in time. Next day at school for her surprise she got an appreciation from her English madam for doing her excellent work. A glimmer of hope sprouted in her mind. She also felt the envious glances of some students falling on her for the very first time.

  She went to the library right after the school and thanked Fatima for guiding her to choose the perfect books. Fatima responded with her beautiful smile and said,” I hope you would again thank me if I suggest you some more interesting books which may change the way you see yourself.” Kavitha widened her eyes in surprise. Fatima gave the books listed below.

The Adventures of Abigail by Yolanda Boone Paperboy by Vince Vawter Stuttering is cool by Daniele Rossi.  At home Kavitha shut herself in her room and started reading journey. She spent at least 2 hours a day in reading various genre. She started delving into the books and prepared herself to fight tooth and nail with bully, peer pressure, social media myths, abuse, etc.

  After a couple of months, the books indeed taught Kavitha some strategies and boosted her confidence level. In school, she gave a befitting reply to her classist friends. In academics, she launched the culmination of all her hard work and ranked topper of the class. She engrossed herself in her improvement in all the ways. She went extra miles to prove herself in all the aspects. She made few friends too. She felt like she was privileged to venture from rags to riches.

  Kavitha became a kind of a school person nowadays. But she never forgot to go to the library and meet her mentor Fatima almost every day. She felt herself more beautiful and poised. In a similar vein, her parents comodulated themselves and became sensible. No doubt, again few parenting books and parenting counselling helped them out. Kavitha was on a cloud nine and she could be able to control stammering as well. She deserved to be loved herself unconditionally.