Kid Stuff

[Asalbanoo]

Hi mates
We can put here childish poems , lullibies ,stories and everything related to children.
I hope you dear friends wellcome this idea and you help me too.
So , now I begin with some poems.

[Asalbanoo]

Alexander the Great - is part of the past
Just found in storybooks for he’s no more
But little Alexander Gazeley - is the future
For he’s just leaving 3 and crossing into 4

Up ahead there are still lots of dragons
And beautiful maidens to be saved
New worlds that he will conquer
It’s just the beginning of his parade

He is not afraid of doom and gloom
For he has no idea of what they mean
And he will shrug off all adversity
With the cheekiest grin you’ve ever seen

With determination – plus his two brothers
He’ll replicate King Arthur and the Lady of the Lake
But before he begins his arduous holy quest
He must blow out the candles on his Cake

For Grandad says enjoy each and every birthday
For once past - they will never come again
Plus to go off on a quest leaving cake behind
A boy would have to be – insane

[Asalbanoo]

Dad’s ABCs For Raising His Children

A is for à Appreciate your children.
B is for à Believe in your children.
C is for à Challenge your children.
D is for à Discipline your children.
E is for à Encourage your children.
F is for à Feel your children’s hurts.
G is for à Give your children lots of love.
H is for à Hear your children talking to you.
I is for à Initiate conversations with your children.
J is for à Just Be with your children at times.
K is for à Keep your children’s confidence.
L is for à Learn from your children.
M is for à Make your children your friends.
N is for à Never ignore your children.
O is for à Open your eyes to your children.
P is for à Patience when your children need correction.
Q is for à Question your children’s decisions at times.
R is for à Remember your children’s important things.
S is for à Show your children the right way.
T is for à Teach you children respect.
U is for à Understand your children’s needs at all times.
V is for à Value your children.
W is for à Worry about your children when they are out of sight.
X is for à Expect your children to obey you.
Y is for à Yearn for the very best in your children.
Z is for à Zealously teach your children Christian ways.

[Asalbanoo]

I must profess that arrogance in others is my pet foe
But they don’t realize that their manner afflicts me so
For example - if I’m quizzed about a topic I don’t know
It doesn’t mean I’m stupid – I don’t know!

There are things about which I’m expert
I can expound because - I know
I can be amazingly knowledgeable and astute
When my personal subject’s on the go

It doesn’t really matter what’s the topic
But its hard to make people understand
Just because at times I prefer not to stand and gossip
It doesn’t mean - I’m the most stupid in the land

And if sometimes I don’t wish to make a comment
They shouldn’t sneer - and imply my IQ is quite low
I’m sick of uncouth people - one day I’ll up and tell them so
Because EVERYTHING is easy – once you know

[Asalbanoo]

I have a spectacular Chinese Garden
And you’re invited to take a look
But to highlight every aspect
I would need to write a book

For it covers many acres
And is enclosed by a fence two miles long
It’s really my private Shangri-La
Where I can wander all day long

It has so many types of tree
Both broad leaf and evergreen
In Autumn it is stunning with it’s reds and golds
Plus every shade and colour in-between

In summer the heavy scent of roses
Mingles with the breeze and permeates the air
And the hum of bees and dragon flies
Is therapeutic and washes away all care

There are several lakes and moon bridges
With a pagoda roofed pavilion to shelter from the Sun
Yes - When I am in my Chinese garden
Me and my God are one

There are bird songs in abundance
As they call out to their mates
The skylark and the nightingale
Are sounds you cannot imitate

The spring is really something special
As the crocuses and daffodils are suddenly all around
Heralding the end of Winter
And you realize that God has come to town

Yet I also enjoy the winter
With the comforting soft white calm of the snow
The lakes frozen hard and motionless
And the swans all busy searching for another place to go

Yes my garden is spectacular
It’s a paradise regardless of the season
But there are times when it contains a treasure
For a very different reason

For at weekends the tranquility is shattered
By the most precious sight of all
As across the lawn I hear a child shout
Hi Grandpa!. . . lets play ball !

[Asalbanoo]

Runaway Child, don’t have to take it anymore

Runaway Child, just walk out of that door

Runaway Child, no more chances to take

Runaway Child, it’s your choice to make

Runaway Child, aren’t you sick and tired of the pain

Runaway Child, here there’s nothing to gain

Runaway Child, you get treated like dirt

Runaway Child, get away from the hurt

Runaway Child, here it’s no use

Runaway Child, get away from the abuse

Runaway Child, you don’t have 9 lives

Runaway Child, take that step or dive

Runaway Child, why are you still there

Runaway Child, how much pain can you bear

Runaway Child, you don’t have to say goodbye

Runaway Child, say goodbye, when they DIE!

[Asalbanoo]

I must profess that arrogance in others is my pet foe
But they don’t realize that their manner afflicts me so
For example - if I’m quizzed about a topic I don’t know
It doesn’t mean I’m stupid – I don’t know!

There are things about which I’m expert
I can expound because - I know
I can be amazingly knowledgeable and astute
When my personal subject’s on the go

It doesn’t really matter what’s the topic
But its hard to make people understand
Just because at times I prefer not to stand and gossip
It doesn’t mean - I’m the most stupid in the land

And if sometimes I don’t wish to make a comment
They shouldn’t sneer - and imply my IQ is quite low
I’m sick of uncouth people - one day I’ll up and tell them so
Because EVERYTHING is easy – once you know

[Asalbanoo]

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were a most unlikely pair
The Walrus with his tusks and whiskers
The Chippy with hat - and a pencil in his hair

The reason they were compatible
And they are famous for all time
Is because they were made the topic
Of a celebrated little rhyme

The Walrus had a wholesome look
And the Carpenter was wiry - and quite fit
They nattered as they strolled along
With amazing guile and wit

Had they been visually similar
They wouldn’t have been so funny
And the publishers of their antics
Wouldn’t have made much money

[Asalbanoo]

The wisest comment that was ever made
Was not made by a man – but Rat !
Deep in thought and contemplation
As there on a river bank with Mole he sat

To live on the river is just ‘ultra glorious’
It’s the one thing that will get my vote -
‘There is nothing half so much worth doing
As messing around in a boat’

Although Mole didn’t realize it instinctively
The significance of what was said
But he saw no point to argue and agreed
And gratuitously nodded his head

And that is where their friendship started
Just conversing and lolling in Rat’s blue boat
Yes a sunny day on the river is blissful
And unquestionably gets my vote

Gliding gently down the river
With a picnic basket at your feet
The river is so - enjoyably silent
That you can hear the stuff you eat

Yes munching sandwiches with your buddy
Extolling each other as you go along
It’s a rapturous euphorically intoxicating sensation
Its enough to make a Mole break into song

Yes ‘just messing about on the river’
Rat’s words are indelible in my mind
And in these days of motorways and airports
There is surly no better way to unwind

[Asalbanoo]

Messy Kappu
Kappu maharaj sat on the bed
Clothes soiled in yellow mess
Playing with a plastic ball
He wasn't bothered about it all.

Mamma took him in her arms
Felt his bottoms with her palm
"Kappuji, what did you do?
Let's quickly get you a panty new."

Jumbo House
Quick, quick, quick
Lay a brick, brick, brick
Make it stick stick stick.

You know whose house it is?
Of Jumbo the kid, kid, kid
That’s why it’s so big, big, big.

Do you know what will happen IF
even one brick comes loose - and
Jumbo trips on that brick?

Jumbo will take apart every
brick, brick, brick
He’ll make it quick, quick, quick!

So, no trick, trick, trick
Let’s lay a brick, brick, brick
And make it stick, stick, stick!

[B]The Cat and the Cartoon[/B
]The mouse in the movie came out of the hole
The cat watching the TV gave a low growl
There were no more mice in the house
She had seen to that
Cartoons are so cruel,
the tabby thought
Why should they make me dream of
the meals I no more have?

[Asalbanoo]

Cypress Street
I took a stroll down Cypress Street
The hot sidewalk beneath my feet.

The one thing that stood out the most
Where trees once stood there were lamppost.

I’d never seen so much concrete
No Cypress left on Cypress Street.

According to my Great Aunt Gem
There used to be a lot of them.

They cut them down. They took their wood
A treeless street is plum no good!

Just like a treeless neighborhood
So tell the Mayor next time they meet...
To change the name to Lamppost Street!

Milk! Milk! Milk!
Morning, afternoon, evening, night
Kappu wants milk all the time
He drinks six bottles in a day
And always feels contented and gay.

Bananas and biscuits mashed in milk
Are things that Kappu loves to drink
As soon as he finishes drinking a bowl
His mommy gives a kiss on his nose.

The Squeaky Squirrel
Squeaky squirrel is a little sad
His bushy tail is looking bad
Once it was a shiny one
Then someone used it
As a baby’s bottlebrush!

But he likes the baby
So he’s no longer sad
The baby’s mother has
promised him a good bath!

[Asalbanoo]

Can you wiggle your nose? I can.
Can you touch your toes? I can.
Can you blink your eyes? I can.
Can you jump up high? I can.

Can you wave your hands above your head,
While your feet dance down below?
Can you do these things that help you grow?

Can you hop in place? I can.
Can you make a nice face? I can.
Can you tap your toe? I can.
Can you get down low? I can.

Can you wave your hands above your head,
While your feet dance down below?
Can you do these things, now sit down slow.

I can!

[Asalbanoo]

Sometimes when I'm supposed to be quiet
And I'm trying to be perfectly still
The strangest feeling comes over me
It's kind of itchy, kind of twitchy.

There's an itch on my head
An itch on my nose
An itch on my elbow
An itch on my toes
An itch on my lip
An itch on my hip
Until the teacher says, "Stop!"

Sometimes when I'm supposed to be quiet
And I'm trying to be perfectly still
The strangest feeling comes over me
It's kind of itchy, kind of twitchy.

There's an itch on my tongue
An itch on my chin
An itch on my tummy
Near my belly button
An itch on my hair
An itch in the air
Until the teacher says, "Stop!"

Sometimes when I'm supposed to be quiet
And I'm trying to be perfectly still
The strangest feeling comes over me
It's kind of itchy, kind of twitchy.

There's an itch on my neck
An itch on my shin
An itch on my foot
That's tickling
An itch on my ear
An itch on my knee
Until the teacher says, "Stop!"


Sometimes when I'm supposed to be quiet
And I'm trying to be perfectly still
The strangest feeling comes over me.

[Asalbanoo]

Put my hand on my head,
What have I here?
This is my head thinker
Oh, Mama dear
Head thinker, head thinker
Inky dinkey doo,
That's what they taught me in school.

Put my hand on my eyes,
What have I here?
These are my eye-lookers
Oh, Mama dear
Eye-lookers, head-thinker
Inky dinkey doo,
That's what they taught me in school.

Put my hand on my nose,
What have I here?
This is my nose smeller
Oh, Mama dear
Nose smeller, eye-lookers, head-thinker
Inky dinkey doo,
That's what they taught me in school.

Put my hand on my mouth,
What have I here?
This is my mouth taster
Oh, Mama dear
Mouth taster, nose smeller, eye-lookers, head-thinker
Inky dinkey doo,
That's what they taught me in school.

Put my hand on my hand,
What have I here?
This is my hand toucher
Oh, Mama dear
Hand toucher, mouth taster, nose smeller, eye-lookers, head-thinker
Inky dinkey doo,
That's what they taught me in school.

[Asalbanoo]

I find one I feel lucky
I flip 'em up for fun
Who's on my penny?
Abraham Lincoln
Who's on my penny?
Abraham Lincoln

My Dad feeds parking meters
I buy bubble gum
Who's on my nickel?
Thomas Jefferson
Who's on my nickel?
Thomas Jefferson.

Chorus: Jingle jangle, money money
Lots of things to buy.
Jingle jangle, money money
Tell me why oh why
Heads have heads, but tails don't have a tail.
Heads have heads, but tails don't have a tail.

The father of our country
President number one
Who's on my quarter?
George Washington
Who's on my quarter?
Geroge Washington

Money slips thru my fingers
I attach it to my belt.
Who's on my dime?
Franklin Roosevelt
Who's on my dime?
Franklin Roosevelt

Chorus

When Jackie was First Lady
He died tragically
Who's on my half dollar?
John F. Kennedy
Who's on my half dollar?
John F. Kennedy

Chorus
Tag: Heads have heads but tails don't have
A penny is a penny, a dollar is a dollar
Trade a Susan Anthony for an Eisenhower
Heads have heads but tails don't have a tail
Heads have heads but tails don't have...
Take two Toms, five Abrahams, one George,
a John, a Franklin
And trade 'em for a Bill?

[Asalbanoo]

Dream Angus

by George Churchill

Can you no hush your weepin'?
All the wee lambs are sleepin'.
Birdies are nestlin', nestlin' taegether,
Dream Angus is hurtlin' through the heather.

Dreams to sell, fine dreams to sell,
Angus is coming with dreams to sell.
Hush now wee bairnie and sleep without fear,
For Angus will bring you a dream, my dear.

Sweet the lavrock sings at morn,
Heraldin' in a bright new dawn.
Wee lambs, they coorie doon taegether
Alang with their ewies in the heather.

Dreams to sell, fine dreams to sell,
Angus is coming with dreams to sell.
Hush now wee bairnie and sleep without fear,
For Angus will bring you a dream, my dear.

[Asalbanoo]

Baby, Baby, Naughty Baby

Anonymous

Baby, baby, naughty baby
Hush, you squalling thing, I say
Peace this moment, peace, or maybe
Bonaparte will pass this way.

Baby, baby, he's a giant
Tall and black as Monmouth steeple
And he breakfasts, dines and suppers
Every day on naughty people.

Baby, baby, if he hears you
As he gallops past the house
Limb from limb at once he'll tear you
Just as pussy tears a mouse

And he'll beat you, beat you, beat you
And he'll beat you all to pap
And he'll eat you, eat you, eat you
Every morsel snap snap snap!

[Asalbanoo]

Cradle Song

by William Blake (from Songs of Experience)

Sleep, sleep, beauty bright,
Dreaming in the joys of night;
Sleep, sleep; in thy sleep
Little sorrows sit and weep

Sweet babe, in thy face
Soft desires I can trace,
Secret joys and secret smiles,
Little pretty infant wiles.

As thy softest limbs I feel
Smiles as of the morning steal
O'er thy cheek, and o'er thy breast
Where the little heart doth rest.

O the cunning wiles that creep
In thy little heart asleep!
When thy little heart doth wake,
Then the dreadful night shall break.

[Asalbanoo]

Chorus:
Move fast, move slow
Move fast, move slow
All around the world you can see things go --
Fast and slow

Clap, clap, clap your hands as fast as you can
Clap, clap, clap your hands as slow as you can

Tap, tap, tap your knees as fast as you can
Tap, tap, tap your knees as slow as you can

Shake, shake, shake your hips as fast as you can
Shake, shake, shake your hips as slow as you can

Chorus:
Move fast, move slow
Move fast, move slow
All around the world you can see things go --
Fast and slow

Bend, bend, bend your knees as fast as you can
Bend, bend, bend your knees as slow as you can

Swim, swim, swim as fast as you can
Swim, swim, swim as slow as you can

Run, run, run as fast as you can
Run, run, run as slow as you can

[Asalbanoo]

Once upon a time there was a clever chubby lamb. This lamb was very mischievous. One day that he had gone to the field with the herd, he began playing around and running here and there until he got tired and sat and fell sleep.


When he woke up, he noticed that he is very far away from the herd.
Suddenly he heard a horrifying sound and found a wolf in front of him.

The wolf was slobbering and said “ wow, what a delicious meal.”
The little lamb noticed that if he doesn’t think fast the wolf will eat him.
So he said “ Mr. wolf before eating me fulfill my wish first.”

The wolf was surprised and said “ what wish?”
The lamb said “ I have a nice voice and I like singing, before being eatenlet me sing first.”


The wolf thought that there is no problem and listen to the lamb sing and then I eat him. The wolf let the lamb sing.
The lamb started to sing and he made ba ba noises so much that the herd’s dog heard his voice and started running toward him.

The wolf saw that the dog is running toward him and with a hungry stomach stared to run away.
With this thought the lamb saved his own life.

[Asalbanoo]

Just how popular was Mini? Very. Every year, her classmates voted her as the favourite student. She was easy to get along with and great company. The number of friends she had by far outnumbered those of anyone else in her group.

One day the 10-year-old was caught yakkety-yakking in the class and ordered to stay back as punishment. Staying back meant doing something 'useful', like helping in the garden or library after school.

Now the school in which Mini studied had a rule of sorts. Once a month, you could interchange your punishment schedule with someone else. If you had something else to do the day you were punished, you could ask a friend to stand in for you. Of course, you had to return the favour, but in that same month itself. Otherwise the favour cancelled itself out.

So the students who stayed back for others and wanted the favour repaid, found ways to be punished that very month.

As it happened, on that day a very dear aunt was visiting Mini on her way back to America. That afternoon was the only chance Mini had of seeing her for another five years.

Mini needed someone to stand in for her. That was a problem though - it was the last day of the month. So anyone who helped her, would do so out of friendship's sake alone.

She sought out Preeti, her 'best' friend. "Oh no Mini, I can't," Preeti said. "I have to coach my brother for his nursery entrance test. The kid just can't seem to get into any decent school." And she spent a good deal of time telling Mini of her brother's problems.

"Mohit, will you stay back for me?" Mini asked another friend who was dribbling a ball in the playground. She knew he often just hung around after school.

"To help the librarian? I wish you'd told me earlier. I have to go to a relative's house with my father. Some other day perhaps," and with that Mohit fled.

By now, Mini was beginning to doubt if even one of her friends would agree to stay. But she tried again. Three more friends and each one refused.

Of course, no one said "no" outright. Mini was a great pal, after all. But each had a 'reason' why they couldn't take her place that afternoon, and if only it were some other day...

So, after school Mini stayed back to help the librarian, Ms Mathur. And, when the remote Ms Mathur found her crying after everyone had left, it was she who surprised Mini by allowing her to leave to meet her aunt.

"Some popularity I have," Mini murmured to herself, as she went home. "I may have many friends, but in reality I have none."

[Asalbanoo]

Alone i lay on a wooden raft
Alone i stay in the dark
Alone i pray to survive
Alone i may not survive

Alone i look out the sea
Alone i wake up on the sea
Alone i seek out for help
Alone i may not survive

Alone i eat my dry food
Alone i drink the salty water
Alone i sit in the cold
Alone i may not survive

Alone, yes, alone i stare at the storm
Alone, yes, alone i live on the sea
Alone, yes, alone i wait for the rescue boat
Alone, yes, alone i may not survive

Alone, yes, alone i pray to be safe
Alone, yes, alone i call out for help
Alone, yes, alone i get on the boat
Alone, yes, alone i was rescued

Alone, yes, alone i lived on sea for months
Alone, yes, alone i walk ashore unaided
Alone, yes, alone i continue to hold the
Guinness World Record for survival at sea

[earnofnet]

great topice :d

[Asalbanoo]

There is a dark chasm
between your hand and mine -

a distance
I cannot yet fathom
without falling
into the descent of darkness.

Oh, how I longed to follow you,
to stay beside you on the journey -
but it was not meant to be;

the denial left a jagged ache,
no matter how heartfelt the prayers
I uttered faithfully.

I cursed the shadows
that took you

until I saw you
ascend into the light.

I knew then

I could not fail you again -
I had to stay here,
on the far side of the sun,

until the bridge was built
that would allow me to safely cross,

until my path was prepared,
spread upon the glistening horizon

where you wait,
in silence.

[Asalbanoo]

Half the world lives,
Half the world makes,
Half the world gives
While the other half takes.

Half the world hates,
Half the world runs away,
Half the world's late,
Half the world praises the day.

Half the world is,
Half the world was,
Half the world thinks,
Half the world does.

Half the world lies,
Half the world burns,
Half the world cries
While the other half turns.

Half the world cares,
Half the world weeps,
Half the world shares,
Half the world keeps.

Half the world sings,
Half the world laughs,
Half the world brings,
Half the world tries to be the other half.

[Asalbanoo]

gotta go to work
work work work wok work work work work work work work
gotta go to work
work work work work work work work work work work work
12697566846748857455848
work work work work work
gotta go to work
work work work work wok work
136498368574934
gotta go to work
repeatedly, until u want to stop
By: Ashley jones

[Asalbanoo]

Winter is Dis
For the Safeway girl

Winter is discontent
Winter is unrequited love
Winter is in my heart forever
Winter is goes into spring
Winter is
Winter is my heart
Winter is the dart
You threw at me, Erline

[Asalbanoo]

Wine by the fire on a cold winter night a Gelid concordant. The snows of winter has fallen; and the
Winds are decrescent
Wildlife are
Indefatigable
In
Winter-land
Wine by the fire on a cold winter night. Monumental snows are glaciated; and the
Valleys below are elongated
In an alabaster,
Powdery
Splendor.
Engaging winter, where polar bears are denning
And accumbented in a long
Winter sleep. Winter's prelusory; for the translucent amber,
Gild, of autumn to a dulcify
In their joining. As we dine epicurean, in the comforts of clover;
And bonivant on tasty
Wines.
Wine by the fire on a cold winter night as we
Amorously commingle as one in A fervent that's
Second to None And the taste of
Wine by the fire on a cold winter
Night.

[Asalbanoo]

It makes you healthy,
It gives you energy,
An apple or a guava
An orange or a papaya
Eat a fruit everyday
But don’t throw the seeds away.

Here’s a simple thing you can do
You could tell all your friends too!
Plant the seed in the soil
(It doesn’t take much time or toil)
Pour a little water there
A young shoot will soon appear.

In time it’ll become a big tree -
Which gives so much to you and me!
This way there’ll be forests again
Green and clean our earth will remain.

Grow trees this easy way -
And its fun too, I say!
So eat a fruit every day
But remember --
Don’t throw the seeds away.

[Asalbanoo]

part:1

Where's Manbhavan?" Nitya cried. Her pudgy face showed great surprise.

"Where is Manbhavan?" repeated Bhavna, peering into Nitya's cupboard. The cardboard box in which he lived was wide open - and - absolutely empty! Bhavna gingerly picked up the blouses and skirts that lay arranged in neat piles on the shelf and poked around them with a hesitant finger. "Hmm - he's not here, that's for sure," she said.

"My cupboard was shut!" Nitya cried indignantly. "Someone stole him - or, deliberately let him go. I'm going to report it!"

"Wait a minute," Bhavna interrupted at once. "I don't think you can."

Nitya stared at her, then sighed - a long whooshy sound like air escaping from a balloon. "You're right," she said gloomily, "I can't, can I?" she sounded close to tears.

The rules were quite clear - no pets in the hostel. There was no way that Nitya could actually begin an official search for Manbhavan.

"Who could have been that mean to take him away from me?" she wailed. "Everyone knows how much I love him!" She tugged distractedly at the springy curls flopping onto her forehead. Her cheeks, that were so soft and looked just like pudding that one felt like pushing a finger right through, now drooped sadly.

"I was just wondering," Bhavna said thoughtfully, screwing up her pointy little face. "Could it be...?" she paused hesitantly.

To put matters straight - Manbhavan was a frog. Originally Nitya had acquired him for a rather 'ugh' reason. She wanted to dissect him. She knew this was what people did to find out about more about a frog's insides - something she was quite curious about after learning all about amphibians in the Biology class.

"After all, I intend to be a scientist," she had told Bhavna. "I should know what the inside of a frog looks like!"

But Bhavna had shrieked. The sound, which was as loud and piercing as the whistle of a train on a silent, sleepless night, had shaken Nitya.

"No, you're not!" Bhavna screamed. "I mean you're not going to cut up the poor, little creature!"

For a moment Nitya gaped at her - the poor girl was still in a state of shock. She'd never realised that Bhavna could shriek that loudly! Then Nitya had peeked at Manbhavan again. He was flopping about in the paper bag in which she'd captured him. There was something appealing about his large, popping eyes - something sad and soulful.

Suddenly Nitya underwent a change of heart. "We-ell," she said, "suppose I keep him..and..just study him? How about that?" "You can't do that! You know you're not allowed to keep animals in the dorm," Bhavna said firmly. "You know the rules: No pets AT ALL!"

Nitya's lower lip stuck out in a stubborn pout. She declared, "Then I definitely am going to keep him!" When Nitya sported that expression Bhavna knew there was no way you could make her budge an inch!

[Asalbanoo]

part2:

But Bhavna still tried, of course. "How are you going to keep a frog in the dorm?" she asked. "You'll be caught in no time. Even if he is not discovered, somebody's bound to snitch."

A hard, straight frown appeared between Nitya's bushy eyebrows. "We'll see about that," she said.

Bhavna's heart sank. For all her soft, pudding-y looks Nitya could be a terror when provoked. Actually, most of the girls were a little scared of her. Hardly anyone would dare to take her on by objecting to the frog or even risk going behind her back to snitch.

But Bhavna tried to reason with her again. "How and where will you keep him?" she asked.

"I'll find a way," was Nitya's instant reply.

Yes, that was the trouble with Nitya - she always found a way!

Sure enough, she found a cardboard box, lined it with paper napkins and made a bed for Manbhavan. She even kept a basin full of water near her cupboard so he could have a swim when he wanted. And, of course, there were plenty of flies around, so feeding him was not a problem!

Actually, the girls took to Manbhavan right away. He did have a fairly good personality for a frog. And apart from his alarming habit of hopping around suddenly - which made some of the girls hop too - there was nothing objectionable about him. "Just a reflex action," as the dorm prefect Punita explained, when she found herself jumping. "We're not scared of frogs, are we?"

"Certainly not!" everyone chorused back. "Imagine being scared of a little frog in this day and age!"

"He's quite a sweetheart, actually," Nandita said in her soft, flute-like voice. She named him Manbhavan. "Because he's won our hearts," she said. The dorm poet, Nandita, often read her creations aloud to the other girls on Saturday afternoons when they lounged about feasting on toothpaste sandwiches, a delicacy that Nitya (who else?) had discovered. Washed down with Swadishta, a delectable concoction made up of poppins dissolved in water, the snack and drink added a peculiar zing to those lazy afternoons.

And further add the thrilling experience of listening to Nandita's sometimes sad and sometimes funny poetry that was quite unlike any that they were forced to study in their English literature class.

"Is he going to turn into a prince?" Mithu had asked one day about Manbhavan, the frog. She was the youngest of the group of twelve girls who shared the dorm and she still missed the fairy tales her mother used to read out to her at bedtime. She had requested the other girls to read out fairy tales to her at night, but they always refused, saying, "Grow up, kid, you're not in kindergarten any longer!"

In reply to Mithu's question about Manbhavan turning into a prince some day, Nitya's prompt reply was: "Yes, that's why I've kept him!"

Everyone roared with laughter, of course, because Mithu's eyes grew so wide!

[Asalbanoo]

by Mary Essberger

Inky-Pinky-Pooh was a very little kitten, and he lived in a very large house. It was a very grand house, too, but when a new cook arrived one day things began to be bad for poor Inky-Pink.

For the new Cook did not like animals at all. She rarely remembered to put out any food for Inky-Pink, and there were never nice tit-bits left over as there had been in the old cook's time. And Inky-Pink-Pooh was never allowed to sit by the kitchen fire nowadays.

One day poor Inky-Pink was very hungry indeed. He had had nothing to eat for over two days.

At first he tried mewing gently, and rubbing himself against Cook's legs. But when she smacked him and pushed him away each time, he realised that that was no use!

So he sat beside his plate very quietly and hoped that that would remind Cook and soften her hard heart! But it did not seem to have any effect, and she merely scowled at him whenever she looked his way. Poor Inky-Pink, he felt very miserable. He not only felt more and more lonely and miserable, but more and more hungry, too.

So, when one day he suddenly noticed that Cook had left the larder door ajar, he slipped in quietly when she was not looking.

It was the most wonderful place he'd ever been in, and quite took his breath away! For a while he was lost in admiration just looking at the lovely plate of fresh liver, the pheasant hanging from a hook in the ceiling, the chicken and the ham... But, most beautiful of all was a plate of shiny, silvery fish lying there on a plate. It was just begging to be eaten, and it was on the lowest shelf of all!

He purred happily to himself, "Oh my whiskers and paddy-paws, what a be-au-ti-ful piece of fish...!!!!" But just as Inky-Pink was dragging the fish off the plate, Cook came back into the larder and caught Inky-Pink... To say that she was angry would be an understatement... She was furious!

Poor Inky-Pink was in disgrace!

He was smacked, and he was scolded, and then he was tied up to the leg of the table by a piece of string, so that he could not get into the larder again when Cook was not looking! It was all most humiliating!

And when a cheeky little mouse came by and grinned at him and said, "Good dog! Good dog! What a pretty lead you've got!" poor Inky-Pinky-Pooh felt that insult could go no further. He was very, very indignant indeed!

But the little mouse (whose name, by the way, was Twinkletoes) was really a kind-hearted little mouse, and when he saw how upset the little kitten was, and how thin and hungry-looking he seemed to be, he was sorry and asked what the trouble was. When Inky-Pink told him, Twinkletoes nodded his head and said, "I know! I know This new Cook never leaves even a crumb about... and as for cheese, oh!, my whiskers and twinkletoes, I've almost forgotten what it smells like! I can understand how hungry you must be!"

Then he said, "I know a house, not very far from here, where they love animals, and always have plenty of food for them - crumbs each day for the birds, and milk for the hedgehogs each night. I'm sure they would spare a little food for us. And I know the little girl has been wanting a kitten for a long, long time... I've never heard her ask for a mouse, but I have heard her asking for a kitten..."

So Inky-Piny-Pooh said, "I wonder if she would like me? I'm sure Cook doesn't want me, and I would so much like to have someone to love me and cuddle me and care for me!"

Then Twinkletoes had an idea. "If you will meet me tonight," he said, "when the moon is up, and you have been let off that - er - piece of string, I will show you the house and then you can think about it for a day or two and see if you feel you'd like to live there... it's a much smaller house than this big, grand house of yours" he added, apologetically.

This seemed an excellent notion, so they agreed to meet at twelve o'clock midnight that very night. And, as Cook had never bothered to untie Inky-Pinky-Pooh, even by midnight, Twinkletoes came back for him and gnawed through the piece of string and set him free!

Just as the clock was striking twelve, Inky-Pinky-Pooh and Twinkletoes set off for their walk.

The moon was like a big silver penny shining up in the sky, and the ground was covered with snow. Inky-Pink and Twinkletoes walked carefully along the tops of the garden walls, and over the roofs, all through the town until they came to the house Twinkletoes had mentioned.

It was quite a little house, with only quite a little garden round it, not at all like the big house and garden where Inky-Pink lived. But it looked warm, and pretty, and very 'homey'.

Inky-Pink liked the 'smell' of the house very much indeed, but he did wonder what it looked like inside. He could not go in and out of the little mouseholes like Twinkletoes could, and all the curtains were drawn at the windows, so there was no way for him to be able to see inside.

He stood and thought for a minute. "I wonder," he said to Twinkletoes, "If I could see anything if I look down the chimney?"

So he climbed up on to the top of the chimney-pot and balanced there carefully while he tried to see down it, and Twinkletoes stood at the foot of the chimney-pot and asked anxiously, "Can you see anything? Can you see anything?"

And then, suddenly, there was the most awful squealing and screeching as Inky-Pinky-Pooh lost his balance and fell right down into the chimney, and Twinkletoes could only see Inky-Pink's tail waving frantically about in the air for a second before it, too, vanished completely down the chimney-pot! Then Twinkletoes heard a dull, muffled 'thud', and Inky-Pink's "Miaow!" from far away down inside the chimney-stack.

"Oh my goodness!" exclaimed Twinkletoes in consternation, "Oh my Blue Cheese and Gorgonzola! Whatever has happened to poor Inky-Pink?"

You may well ask what had happened to poor Inky-Pink! He was asking himself!

"Oh my whiskers and paddy-paws!" he exclaimed, as soon as he was in a fit state to exclaim anything at all, "Wherever am I?"

He looked around and saw that he had fallen on to a lovely white hearth-rug in a pretty, comfy-looking room. In one corner there stood a little tree that glinted with silver and was crowned with a big golden star. Inky-Pink thought he had never seen anything so lovely in his life!

And as he looked he saw something else too... his beautiful white coat was quite, quite black, from all the soot he had collected on it as he came down the chimney!

It was while he was staring at himself in dismay that he heard the door of the room open and the light was suddenly switched on!

Standing in the doorway was a little girl in a pretty blue night-gown, and behind her, hastily pulling on their warm dressing-gowns, were a lady and a gentleman! They all stared at the little black object sitting in the middle of the white hearth-rug. Then the little girl cried out, "Oh, Mummy! Daddy! Look! It's a dear little kitten! Father Christmas has brought me a kitten just like the one I've always wanted, only he is black instead of white. What a lovely, lovely Christmas present!"

Inky-Pink was never quite certain just what the little girl meant by 'Christmas present,' but there wasn't time to puzzle it out!

The lady, whose name was 'Mummy', said he was a poor little stray and he looked half-starved, poor mite, and he must have a bath and good warm meal; and the gentleman (whose name was 'Daddy') said he would make him a box to sleep in, and went off to see about it. And Mummy and the little girl, whose name was Marilyn, washed Inky-Pink in warm soapy water (which he did not like very much!) and then gave him some lovely warm milk to drink (which he did like, very much indeed!)

And the next day (which they all told him was a specially important day called 'Christmas Day') he was given a lovely red bow to wear around his neck, and as much warm milk to drink as ever he wanted, and he was allowed to curl up on the white hearth-rug in front of the glowing fire, where he purred and purred and purred with sheer contentment, until he sounded like an aeroplane out of sight!

And it seemed to him that in that house all days were Christmas Day, for everyone was always kind to him, and there was always plenty to eat and drink, and warm fires to sit by...

And every night, when the humans had gone to bed, Twinkletoes would creep out of the little hole he had found and made into his own little home, and he and Inky-Pink would sit together by the hearth and tell each other what they had being doing all the day. And Twinkletoes would sigh with happiness and say, "What a lucky night it was when you fell down this chimney, Inky-Pink!"

And Inky-Pinky-Pooh would purr and say, "Yes... and wasn't it a lucky day when Cook tied me to the table leg! For if she had not done that, then you would not have come by and spoken to me, and we would never have set out that night to look for this house, and then I would never have been able to climb up the chimney-pot to try to see down it...!"

And they would both sit there looking onto the glowing red heart of the fire and feel that they were the luckiest little animals in the whole, big, world!

[Asalbanoo]

Maxwell put up his hand and waited for his teacher, Mrs. Gilbert, to notice him.

"Do you have a question, Maxwell?" she asked.

"It's more like a problem," Maxwell said. "I lost my tooth."

Maxwell stood up and held out his hand to show his class his baby tooth.

"Congratulations," Mrs. Gilbert said. Then she asked the class if anyone had any advice for Maxwell. Keiko put up her hand first. Keiko was from Japan.

"Is it an upper or a lower tooth?" Keiko asked.

"A lower tooth," Maxwell said. He opened his mouth and showed the class the empty spot in the bottom of his mouth.

"You should throw your baby tooth over the roof of your house," Keiko said.

"Why should I do that?" Maxwell said.

"Because then your new adult tooth will grow properly. When you lose an upper tooth you should put it under the floor."

Mrs. Gilbert thought this was a good idea, but Frida disagreed. Frida was from Austria.

"You shouldn't throw your baby tooth away, Maxwell. You should keep it and give it to your mother," Frida said.

"Why should I do that?" asked Maxwell.

"She will make it into a necklace for you to wear."

Jorge shook his head and put up his hand. He had some different advice for Maxwell. Jorge was from Mexico.

"You should take your tooth home. Then you should put it under your pillow when you go to sleep," Jorge said.

"Why should I do that?" Maxwell said.

"Because then the tooth mouse will come. He will keep your tooth and pay you with good luck. Sometimes the tooth mouse even brings a small toy."

Maxwell liked Jorge's advice the best. Mrs. Gilbert gave him a box to keep his tooth in. She didn't want him to lose his tooth again.

"Whatever you decide, you should show your mother your tooth when you get home," Mrs. Gilbert said.

When Maxwell got home he showed his mother the empty spot in his mouth. Then he opened the box and showed her his tooth.

"Congratulations! What are you going to do with your tooth, Maxwell?" his mother asked.

"I'm going to put it under my pillow," he said. And he did.

When Maxwell woke up the next morning he looked under his pillow. The tooth was gone. In its place, Maxwell found a one dollar bill. He also found a letter. This is what the letter said:
Dear Maxwell,
Congratulations! You lost your first tooth. I will keep it forever. You should buy something nice for yourself with this money.
Love,
The Tooth Fairy
"I should tell my class about the tooth fairy," Maxwell thought. "Everyone should lose a tooth!"

[Asalbanoo]

I dreamed I was riding a zebra
with curly pink hair on his head
and when I woke up in the morning
that zebra was there in my bed.

I rode into school on my zebra.
It caused all the teachers to scream.
But then I was slightly embarrassed
to find it was still just a dream.

I woke up again in my bedroom,
and saw with relief and a laugh
I don't have a pink-headed zebra.
I guess I'll just ride the giraffe.
--Kenn Nesbitt

[Asalbanoo]

I have my hair
brush, brush, brush
ouch!
brush, brush, brush,
ouch!
I hate you hair!
ou, ou, ou, ou, ou,
not a problem
ou!I have my hair
brush, brush, brush
ouch!
brush, brush, brush,
ouch!
I hate you hair!
ou, ou, ou, ou, ou,
not a problem
ou!
you are mean hair!
ou!
what is that for?
ouchI have my hair
brush, brush, brush
ouch!
brush, brush, brush,
ouch!
I hate you hair!
ou, ou, ou, ou, ou,
not a problem
ou!
you are mean hair!
ou!
what is that for?
ouchI have my hair
brush, brush, brush
ouch!
brush, brush, brush,
ouch!
I hate you hair!
ou, ou, ou, ou, ou,
not a problem
ou!
you are mean hair!
ou!
what is that for?
ouch
you are mean hair!
ou!
what is that for?
ouch