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stories about people who turned into animals, and ghosts who lived in trees, and beans
that jumped and stones that wept – and in turn Rakesh would read to him from the

newspaper, Grandfather’s eyesight being rather weak. Rakesh found the newspaper very
dull – especially after the stories – but Grandfather wanted all the news…

They knew it was spring when the wild duck flew north again, to Siberia. Early in the
morning, when he got up to chop wood and light a fire, Rakesh saw the V–shaped
formation streaming northward, the calls of the birds carrying clearly through the thin
mountain air.

One morning in the garden he bent to pick up what he thought was a small twig and

found to his surprise that it was well rooted. He stared at it for a moment, then ran to
fetch Grandfather, calling, ‘Dada, come and look, the cherry tree has come up!’ ‘What
cherry tree?’ asked Grandfather, who had forgotten about it. ‘The seed we planted last
year – look, it’s come up!’ Rakesh went down on his haunches, while Grandfather bent

almost double and peered down at the tiny tree. It was about four inches high.
‘Yes, it’s a cherry tree,’ said Grandfather. ‘You should water it now and then.’

Rakesh ran indoors and came back with a bucket of water.

‘Don’t drown it!’ said Grandfather.
What you Think?ou Think?
Rakesh gave it a sprinkling and circled it with pebbles. What y

‘What are the pebbles for?’ asked Grandfather. How did Rakesh water
the plant?

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The English Carnival-6