The Girl in the Meadow

Early one morning Samar set out to spend the day at her favorite place with a dear friend who lived there.

As she started on her way, she met the Teevee Tots who lived next door.

“Hi Samar”, they said.

“I am watching movies on the downstairs TV”, said the younger Tot.

“I am playing video games on the upstairs TV”, said the eldest Tot.

“Later on, we will go to the store to buy more movies and video games”, they said.

“Come spend the day with us”.

“Thank you”, said Samar, “ but I am spending the day at my favorite place with a friend who lives there”.

Next she met the Toy Twins who lived a few houses down.

“Hi Samar”, they said.

“I am playing with my new dolls”, said one twin.

“I am playing with my toy tanks and guns”, said the other twin.

“Later on, we will go to the store to buy more toys”, they said.

“Come spend the day with us”.

“Thank you”, said Samar, “ but I am spending the day at my favorite place with a friend who lives there”.

Farther down, Samar met Lil’ Kid Candy.

“Hi Samar”, she said.

“I have lots of candies and cookies and chips and soda”.

“Later today, I will go to the store to buy more candies”, she said.

“Come spend the day with me”.

“Thank you”, said Samar, “ but I am spending the day at my favorite place with a friend who lives there”.

After a long walk, Samar at last, reached her favorite place. It was a peaceful meadow with trees and bushes and soft, green grass. Near one corner of the meadow stood Samar’s friend: a tall, shady tree. She had called it her “Best Friend Tree” ever since she had first seen it.

Samar sat under the tree and wrote short stories and poems in her diary. She read her favorite books. She drew the clouds and the sky in her drawing book. She made a postcard for her grandmother, who lived now among the clouds above.

She ran fun races amid the trees, touching the flowers in her swift path. And after she had won her races, she sat under her tree, and ate ripe raspberries.



A few days later Samar once again set out to her favorite place and her tree.

Once again she met the Teevee Tots next door. Again they asked her to join them as they watched TV and movies, and played video games.

Again, Samar politely said No. But before she moved on, Samar added: “Why don’t you come with me to my favorite place? I know you will like it”.

“Can we bring a small TV with us? We don’t go anywhere without it!”

“You can, if you want to”, said Samar.

The Tots, with their beloved small TV, set out with Samar.

Next they met the Toy Twins who again asked Samar to join them as they played with their new toys.

“Why don’t you come with me to my favorite place? I know you will like it”, she added.

“Can we bring our toys? We don’t go anywhere without them!”

“You can, if you want to”, said Samar.

The Twins, laden with toys, soon set out with Samar.

Finally they met Lil’ Kid Candy who asked Samar to join her as she ate candies and snacks.

And again, Samar said: “Why don’t you come with me to my favorite place. I know you will like it”.

“Can I bring some cookies and lollipops and some chocolate bars? I don’t go anywhere without them!”

“You can, if you want to”, said Samar.

And Lil’ Kid Candy, with a sackful of sweet snacks, also joined Samar and the others.

After a long walk, the children finally reached the meadow. At first, Samar’s friends did not know what to do. They quietly followed Samar as she walked towards her tree. Slowly they began to touch and smell the flowers. They gazed at the clouds drifting gently above them. Next they sat around Samar’s tree and listened to her read. Then they took turns reading books and writing poems. Their beloved things lay forgotten in one corner. They sang and drew the clouds and ran fun races. And when all of them had won the races, they sat under Samar’s tree, and ate ripe raspberries.



Many, many years later, Samar started out one morning for her favorite place and her best friend tree. With her was her little granddaughter, Jhanavi.

They reached the meadow after a long while, for Samar walked slowly now. They sat under Samar’s tree. Jhanavi drew the clouds and Samar made postcards for her mother and father, who lived now among the clouds.

With them were scores of other people: Samar’s friends from long ago, and their friends, and their friend’s friends. There they lingered, drawing clouds, reading books, making postcards, running races.

And in the soft evening light, Samar saw the little girl who many, many years ago read, drew, wrote, ran races, and ate ripe raspberries under her tree in the meadow. She closed her eyes on the memory and smiled.

THE END