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The Holiday

By Hema Rao; Illustrations by Sudheer Nath

Hooty owl was puzzled. No one had come to the jungle school. "Maybe the little ones are late," thought the teacher. "I'll wait for a little while longer."

Hooty owl did not know that her students had decided to miss school. They had started out for school but then changed their minds.

``I am NOT going to school. I hate it," said Squeaky squirrel.

"I'm feeling lazy and so I'm NOT going to school," said Hoppy rabbit .

"I am NOT going to school because I cannot bear to sit still even for a minute," said Jumpy monkey.

``My friends are not going to school so I, too, am NOT going," squeaked Squealy mouse.

`S-a-m-e here," said Croaky frog. "If the others are not going, I am also NOT hopping to school."

"And I want to chase a worm I spotted some time ago so I am NOT flying to school," sang Chirpy sparrow.

``I woke up late so I have decided NOT to crawl to school," said Slowy snail.

``But I am going to school," said Wily turtle, and he started off at a slow and relaxed pace. He liked school. It was fun learning about things he didn't know.

Slowly Wily turtle made his way to school and saw Hooty owl the teacher waiting patiently for her pupils.

"Good morning, Ma'am!" said Wily turtle.

"A very good morning to you too," replied Hooty. "Where are the others?"

"They must be on their way, Ma'am," said the little turtle.

But no one came. So Hooty owl shared many secrets with Wily turtle, like why the sky was blue, and also why each of the animals looked different and had special habits of eating and catching food. The teacher had decided that she would test her bunking students the next day.

At that very moment the truant students were were sitting under a huge shady tree merrily digging into their tiffin boxes.

Hoppy rabbit bit into a juicy carrot and cabbage rolls.

Squeaky squirrel crunched hard walnuts.

Jumpy monkey gorged bananas.

Squealy mouse munched grains.

Croaky frog gobbled up all the flies nearby.

Slowy snail ate soft leaves.

And Chirpy sparrow ate the early worm he had finally caught in the morning.

They were so busy laughing at their jokes that they did not realise it wastime to go home! Then they saw Wily turtle and that meant school was over. They, too, decided to return to their homes. None of them saw the worried look on Wily's face.

The little turtle was a bit worried. Hooty Ma'am had looked grim at the end of theclass! Maybe he should bunk school the next day!

"So what did you do today, oh Wise One?" mocked Hoppy rabbit.

"Your thinking power HAS grown today," giggled Jumpy monkey. "Make wayfor the B-I-I-G one!"

"Ask us any question and we will show you that there is no need to go toschool. We know everything!" boasted Squeaky squirrel. "Nobody learns from boring speeches."