LOW LEARNERS ARE NOT FAILURES
An alarm noise awakes Robert, slowly
sliding from the bed he leisurely made his
way to the bath
"Good morning champ", he smiled while
brushing.
He was often called a sloth, not in the
sense of laziness but due to his habit of
sticking to spots. He was an introvert in a
big family of extroverts, observant, quiet,
and an overthinker.
"Breakfast is ready honey" he heard his
mother's voice but he wouldn't mind being
slow. He walked to the dining greeting his
siblings who were vigorous and were
relishing the meal.
This was Mr Steward's happy family
consisting of Albert, Jim, John, Sophie and
Robert the youngest of all. Anna steward's
wife was a working woman, who hardly
meets his family at the morning table and
was more at work than in the household.
Robert being the youngest was neglected
because Anna and steward couldn't afford
their family expenses at that stage.
"Hey, Robert Mr Smith told me you are not
performing well nowadays. Is everything
going well, are you facing any problems?’;
questioned Albert.
Albert was the eldest and he adored
Robert a lot, he cared for him, but due to
his busy schedule he also used to talk to
him at the breakfast table only. Everyone
seemed too busy doing breakfast and
discussing their important stuff that
Robert's voice hid beyond their
mouthpieces. Albert heard a a mumble
"Yeah! | tried but,’
Albert couldnt help because it was almost
seven and they were to reach school at
eight. He patted Robert and rushed toward
the gate. Leisurely eating Robert couldnt
finish his breakfast and was pushed into
the school bus with other siblings.
“Why are you absent-minded Robert, ;
shouted Miss Rosie.
He had not completed his homework,
because when he knocked at Jim's door
later that night, he didnt get a reply.
Sophie was busy chatting with her friend.
Albert and John were preparing for their
test and Mr and Mrs steward were
attending a business party. He tried but
couldnt do it that well.
He was punished for not completing his
homework and the only excuse his family
would give was
"He is mentally slow’, his siblings laughed
calling him a sloth or a turtle.
" Are you upset Robert?’, asked Jenner, his
classmate and only friend.
"Yes, but no one cares, do you think |ama
sloth or a turtle?"; asked Robert in a slight
tone
"No, you are a human, a perfect human "
said Jenner
"Have you ever seen a turtle?’ asked Jenner
"Not in real life, in pictures only,’ told Robert
"Do you want to see it?†asked Jenner
"Yes but how?", asked Robert
"There is a park near our house, where
many animals live with their families, | will
take you to the park once you come to our
house’; said Jenner in an excited tone.
“Oooh! that is amazing, can | come with
you today?’ asked Robert
“Yes we will walk to my home and then
after lunch, we would go there’; said Jenner
Both the children made a plan and Robert
without informing his siblings sneaked out
with Jenner to her house.
Jenner's maid Hellen served both children
delicious pasta and after enjoying it both
of them rushed to the neighbourhood park.
"Wow! Is that a turtle?†asked Robert
"Yes it is!"; shouted Jenner
‘It has babies with her’; laughed Robert
"Do you like them?" asked Jenner
"Yes | do °
"You know | didn't feel bad after seeing this
turtle, “said Robert.
"Look how caring he is, he loves his family’
Said Robert
"Yes, ; Jenner replied
"He is slow but he takes his slow-paced
family with a spirit, he didn't rush like us
leaving his children °
‘| wish | were a baby turtle, who could be
cared for like this "
Both of them were conversing when the
maid Hellen came running
"Mam Carmen is calling you Jenner;’ said
Hellen.
Carmen was Jenner's mother
“Ooh come Robert let's go’; said Jenner
holding his hand .
Both of them reached home where Mr and
Mrs steward were anxiously waiting for
Robert, after getting the news that Robert
had not returned home after school they
were searching for him
"Why Robert ? Why you sneaked out from
school ?" ;shouted Anna.
"You nasty little turtle how you crawled all
the way here’; yelled Mr.Steward in rage
"Sorry dad | wanted to see the turtle to see
whether | looked like it, said Robert crying
"But now | realized that it is not that bad to
be a turtle, at least it keeps the same pace
for its children to move together, and not
even a single child feels left behind"
Anna rushed and hugged Robert who was
still crying. Mr steward shook his head in
embarrassment.
“Sorry my child, | wish | could have
performed my job as sincerely as a turtle."
Mr and Mrs steward with Robert visited
the park to see the turtle that taught them
a beautiful life lesson .
Moral:
" Every child needs a different
treatment to prosper, we cannot treat all of
them alike’
0 Comments