Anjali was very excited because today was Picnic Day at her school. She woke up a little earlier than usual and got ready. She packed all the items on her list in her small pink bag.
Sneaking from her mother's eyes, she wore the expensive earrings that her mother had given her on her tenth birthday.
She was eager to show them to her friends. Her mother called her for breakfast, but she rushed to the bus stand, pretending she was late for the picnic. She saw a few of her friends at the stand.
Smiling and feeling proud of her earrings, she walked towards the stand and started chit-chatting with them. Her friend, Nandita, noticed the earrings. She said, "Wow, Anjali! They are so beautiful. They must be expensive!" Anjali lifted her head up and, in a very deliberate tone, answered: "Yes, these are very expensive; my mother gifted them to me on my birthday." All other friends gathered around her and admired her earrings. The bus came, and all the friends went to school.
At school, Anjali's beautiful earrings were the morning topic among her friends. The teacher asked all students to gather and go to their respective buses for the picnic trip. All students headed for their respective buses, and their picnic trip started.
The picnic location was a beautiful garden, "Millennium Park". As the bus reached the destination, all the students yelled with joy and rushed out of the bus towards the garden. They all settled into suitable places and began playing games in groups. After lunch break, as all of them started playing again, Reena asked Anjali, "Where is one of your earrings?" To her utter surprise, Anjali found one earring missing. She was shocked and confused. She started looking for it, and her friends helped her too. But the effort become useless as the earring was not found. Anjali started to cry as she knew that her mother will punish her for this loss badly.
The teacher was reported about the missing earring. She called Anjali and explained why bringing expensive jewelry to a picnic was not a good idea.
At school, Anjali's beautiful earrings were the morning topic among her friends. The teacher asked all students to gather and go to their respective buses for the picnic trip. All students headed for their respective buses, and their picnic trip started.
The picnic location was a beautiful garden, "Millennium Park". As the bus reached the destination, all the students yelled with joy and rushed out of the bus towards the garden. They all settled into suitable places and began playing games in groups. After lunch break, as all of them started playing again, Reena asked Anjali, "Where is one of your earrings?" To her utter surprise, Anjali found one earring missing. She was shocked and confused. She started looking for it, and her friends helped her too. But the effort become useless as the earring was not found. Anjali started to cry as she knew that her mother will punish her for this loss badly.
The teacher was reported about the missing earring. She called Anjali and explained why bringing expensive jewelry to a picnic was not a good idea.
Anjali's picnic was spoiled because of her own carelessness. She regretted losing her earrings and was afraid of her mother's reaction to the issue.
The picnic went on as scheduled, and all the students boarded the buses. All were very happy and excited; they yelled and sang songs on the way back, but only Anjali was quiet and sad. She was getting more scared as the distance to her house grew shorter.
The picnic went on as scheduled, and all the students boarded the buses. All were very happy and excited; they yelled and sang songs on the way back, but only Anjali was quiet and sad. She was getting more scared as the distance to her house grew shorter.
The bus stopped at the stand. Anjali, along with her friends, got down and started walking towards her house. She rang the bell and her mother opened the door. As she entered, she held her mother and cried very badly. Confused and anxious, her mother questioned her about this behavior. Anjali was sobbing. She said, "Mother, I lost my gold earring. I had worn it in the morning to show it to my friends. I am really sorry." Her mother was shocked and angry to hear this. She scolded her, " How could you do such a thing, Anjali? Such a careless attitude. You did not even ask me? " Hearing this, Anjali saw her mother as if feeling guilty of her mistake. Her mother went inside and, with an angry face show her the pair of the same earrings. Anjali was shocked. Her mother smiled and said, " I thought you might be tempted to wear the earrings, so I kept an imitation pair in your drawer. I hope you have learned a good lesson from your mistake and you will not repeat it again. " Anjali hugged her mother and promised not to do such a thing again.
