Shamli and Tali

Written by: Mina Nazari

Once upon a time, there was a boy, Jamal living in a green village far from the city. Jamal had a boy, Tawab. Jamal loved Tawab very much.

Once Jamal caught a cold and the doctor prescribed him some medicines.

When he went to sleep, he dreamt that two microbes, Shamli and Tali were in his mouth. Jamal asked them what are they doing in his mouth. The microbes replied that they are happy to find their food in his mouth. Jamal said that he doesn’t like their dirty faces and wanted them to leave his mouth but the microbes denied and said that they would never go.

The next morning, when Jamal woke up, he saw his mouth in a mirror, and when he saw no microbe in his mouth, he became happy. Jamal was also suffering from fever and sore throat and he was sneezing too.

When he went to sleep again, he saw the microbes again in his mouth. He pushed them out from his mouth. The microbes said that they found another good place for their living. Jamal asked about their new living place but the microbes did not reply.

Jamal saw that the microbes entered into Tawab’s mouth. Jamal became very sad.

When Jamal woke up, he saw that Tawab was sick and his father took him to the doctor. The doctor prescribed him some medicines.

When Tawab came back home from the doctor, Jamal saw that Tawab had used a facemask. Jamal asked his father about the illness of Tawab. His father replied that doctor said that the microbes of cold, fever, and throat sore transferred by sneezing and coughing from a sick person to a healthy one. He added that Jamal's illness has transferred to Tawab and the doctor advised him to wear a facemask to avoid the transfer of virus and microbes.

Jamal understood his mistake and he was always wearing a facemask afterward.