The Curve

   Written by: Najia Nijat

First Lane:

Nadira and Nazir are playing snow in the alley. Nazir likes snows and wants to eat it. Nadira prevents him and says that the snow is contaminated but Nazir does not accept and takes some snow to eat it. Meanwhile, peddler sees him and prevents him from eating it. The peddler and says that eating snow is harmful to health. Nazir asks about the harms of the snow.

The peddler turns on the talking box. Khadeeja, a resident of Maidan-Wardak province says: “once I had eaten snow and it made me sick. I was suffering from throat soar. My mother took me to the doctor. The doctor said that eating snow, causes some illnesses. The doctor gave some medicines and got my health back.”

Nadia, a fourth-grade student says: “I hade eaten snow and became ill. I was suffering from throat soar, fever and cough. The doctor prescribed some injections.”

Peddler turns off the talking box and asks Nazir if he knows about the disadvantage of the snow.

Nazir says that eating snow causes them throat sore. Nadira says that it causes cold and cough. Peddler says that eating snow also causes other illnesses like pneumonia and stomach ache too. Nadia and Nazir promise that they would never eat snow. peddler appreciate them.

Nadira says to the peddler that she has learned a new joke. Peddler asks to tell it. Nadira says the following joke: “a chicken was angry with his mother and climbed on the wall and called to a cat: “cat! Come and eat me.”  

The peddler likes the joke, and he goes to the next alley.

Second Lane:

Leeda and Qadir are in the alley. Qadir is trying to make a kite but he could not. Peddler comes and they welcome him. Leeda asks the peddler that why Qadir could not make the kite. Peddler asks Qadir to keep one bamboo stick curve and the other straight.

Leeda asks about the curve. Peddler says that when someone bents something like a bamboo stick and it gets the sheep of a new moon, this shape is called a curve.

Qadir says that the rainbow is also a curve. Leeda says that the shape of the sickle is also curved. Peddler gives a notebook and a pen to each of them and asks them to write the names of curved materials and he goes to the other alley.

Third Lane:

Tahira and Mirwais are in the alley but do not know what to play. Peddler arrives and the children warmly welcome him. Peddler asks them about their business. Mirwais says that they want to play but they do know what to play.

Peddler asks them to play telling puzzle to each other.

Tahira asks the peddler to tell them a puzzle. Peddler tells the following puzzle and he asks the children to find the correct answer: “grandfather is in the air but his beard on the earth.”

Mirwais says that the answer is cotton but the peddler does not accept. Tahira says that it might be the rain. Peddler does not accept. Mirwais says that he found the correct answer which is snow.

Peddler accepts the answer and after giving some gifts to the children, he goes home.