Highly Commended Story - The Old Man’s Blessings

“The Old Man’s Blessings” by Aarya Patel, Shree Vallabh Sanskar Dham's Shreemati Shobhaben Pratapbhai School, India, is the Highly Commended story in the sub-junior category of the second biannual Short Story Contest 2018.

Aarya Patel, from Class II is a student of Shree Vallabh Sanskar Dham’s Smt. S.P. Patel Day Boarding School, Pardi, Valsad. She is a passionate reader and likes to read lots of books such as storybooks, science magazines and sometimes books of famous sports persons also. Some of her favourite activities are dancing and doing drawing. She likes to participate in acting competitions.

The Old Man’s Blessings

Many years ago, at the foot of the big mountain the Himalaya, there was a village named Rampur. Different types of people like poor, rich, young, old and children lived there.

One day, an old man came to the village with a land cart. He had many little things like toys, bangles, earrings, combs and tumblers to sell. There were all kinds of toys like cars, Barbie, teddy bear, kitchen set for the children. All the children were happy to see him, crowded around him and bought whatever they wanted. Some boys bought car, teddy bear and some girls bought bangles, earrings.

One little girl, Champa was standing in one corner looking at them because she had no money. She also wanted to buy something but she knew her father did not have money to give her. So she looked at all the children and smiled at their happiness.

At that time, a little boy named Ram saw her and wondered why she was standing there alone? He whispered to his friends and they all went to her and said, “Why don’t you select something for you Champa?” She kept quiet as she could not tell them that she had no money. But Ram pulled her hand, took her to the old man and told her to buy a toy which she likes from those all. “Don’t worry about the money. We all have extra money. We will collect money and give it to the old man,” said the boys.

All the children collected the money and told Champa to give to the old man. She was very happy and the old man was also very happy because he heard Ram’s words. The old man called all the children and told ”"If you are always such good friends when you grow up. Nobody in the village will be poor. This is an old man’s blessings for you.” And do you know, his blessings came true! Since that day nobody was poor in Rampur.

Moral: Help each other and always being good friends.