Mom: Breakfast is ready. Hurry up. What are you doing there Nick?
Son: I am watching TV, mom.
Mom: What is daddy doing?
Son: He is polishing my shoes, mom.
Mom: What is grandpa doing?
Son: He is inflating my bike tires.
Mom: What is your sister doing?
Son: She is doing my home work, mom.
Mom: Are you funny? Everybody is working for you and you are simply sitting watching TV.Are you not wasting your precious time? I am coming with a cane.
Son: Oh, no! It’s a little too much.
Grandson: Granny, what are you doing?
Grandma: Look over there. There’s a thirsty crow. I am watching him for fun.
Grandson: Grandma, the crow is looking for something. What is he looking for, granny?
Grandma: He is looking for water to quench his thirst. Hurray, boy! What are you doing?
Grandson: I am filling the birdbath with water.
Grandma: That’s really great. Look! The crow is flying straight down to the birdbath.
Grandson: Look over there granny! What is the crow doing?
Grandma: He is drinking the water. He is slaking his thirst.
Grandson: And now he is cawing. What is he cawing for, granny?
Grandma: He is calling his friends. And look! Many more crows are coming to our garden. They are drinking water to quench their thirst.
Grandson: Some of them are bathing and cooling themselves, too.
Grandma: How clever our crows are! They have always been a symbol of harmony.
Nat: When are you taking your IELTS exam?
Sam: I am taking it next month.
Nat: When is your sister leaving for Canada?
Sam: On December 12.
Nat: Are your family members going with her?
Sam: No, they are leaving a month later, sometime in January 2019.
Nat: And when is your dad returning from Australia?
Sam: Well, he is coming sometime next year.
Nat: Is he coming with a visa for you?
Sam: Of course yes. And I am leaving here immediately after his return.
Ms. Cobra : I told you to clean the windows. What --------you--------- there (do)?
Maid: I ------ --------- (clean) them, madam.
Ms. Cobra: No, you aren’t! You----- just ------- (watch) the kids playing in the yard. When are you going to clean the windows? Do ----- (clean) the windows right now.
Maid: Madam, you ----- always ------ (give) orders. I------ ------ (work) from dawn to midnight without break. When ----- you ------ (allow) me some time to eat and rest, madam?
Ms. Cobra : Time to eat and rest? Are you questioning me? How dare you? Are you not getting salary for your work?
Maid: Salary? How much salary did you promise me at the time of appointment? And how much ---- (be) you ----- (pay) now? Simply sitting and monthly getting bureaucrats like you cannot understand the feelings of the working class. Sorry madam. I can’t work for you any longer. Good bye.
Ms. Cobra: Do you know who I am? I ---- (be) ambassador. I can file a complaint with the police and send you to prison.
Maid: Aha! Talking about prisons? ----(be) there a prison worse than this house? You don’t have to file a complaint, madam. I ------ (have) already------ (file) a complaint against you for visa fraud, holding my pass port, under payment and forced labour. In another few hours cops will come, take you to the court and the law will take its course. Good bye.
Dr. Ramamurthy popularly called “Our Farmers’ Doctor” is in need of a driver. He wants to appoint a person who has a positive attitude to people and work besides impeccable credentials. So he leaves an advertisement at the garden gate of his house calling candidates for interview. Subsequently four candidates appear for the interview. Which candidate gets through the interview? I understand your curiosity about the results. Please watch the play.
Candidate-1: Hi, watchman! Is Dr. Ramamurthy in?
Elderly Person: Yes, may I know who you are?
Candidate 1: I’m a candidate for interview.
E.P. : Oh! I see. Then open the gate and enter.
Candidate-1: You are the watch man, aren’t you?
E. P. : Yes, I am. But, you can open the gate, can’t you?
Candidate-1: It’s your duty to open the gate, isn’t it? Then why don’t you do it?
E.P.: If you want to enter, open the gate yourself. Or stay out.
Candidate-1: Are you going to open the gate or not? I’ll complain to the doctor.
E. P.: Most welcome, gentleman. Please go ahead.
Candidate-1: (Takes his mobile in a hurry, dials the doctor but unfortunately nobody receives the call. He dials some four times in vain and leaves there murmuring.) How arrogant! If the watch man is this arrogant how much more the doctor must be. How could anyone work in an environment like this? This is not a suitable place for me. I must leave here. (leaves)
Candidate-2: Good morning, security.
E. P. : Good morning, sir. Who are you?
C-2: I’m a driver. I’ve come for an interview. Is the doctor in?
E.P: Yes, of course he is in. The gate is already open. Just raise the latch and push the gate in.
C-2: Ok, let me try. (He raises the latch, pushes the gate in and enters.) Where is the interview going to be held?
E.P.: At the doctor’s clinic. I know you’ve come for interview. But I am in need of help. Would you help me with my work? I’ve been working in the garden since morning. So I’m tired. Could you help me with weeding the garden?
C-2: Sorry, security. I just can’t do such work. I’m a high profile driver so I’ll do only my work. I can’t do anything else.
E.P.: Then you must look for some other person and find work. Our doctor wants a driver who is willing to do any job, gardening primarily, plumbing, electrical works and sometimes domestic chore, too.
C-2: That’s horrible. I just can’t think of it. I think I have come to a wrong place. (Leaves)
Candidate-3: Hello, gentlemen! Is this Dr. Ramamurthy’s residence?
Man-1: Yes, it is.
C-3: Is the doctor in?
Man-1: Yes, he is. May I know who you are?
C-3: I’m a candidate for interview. May I come in?
Man-1: Please come in. You are most welcome.
C-3: But the gate has been fastened. I don’t know how to open it. Could you help me?
Man-2: Just raise the latch. It’ll open.
C-3: (Opens the gate and enters the garden) I’d be pleased to know the venue for the interview.
Man-2: I’ll take you there. But first follow me. We have been trying hard to take the submersible pump out of the sump. But it’s too heavy to lift. Could you help us?
C-3: No, I don’t want to get dirty in the mud.
(He refused to help the young men and moved on until he approached an elderly woman. She was cleaning the doors and windows of the parlor of the doctor’s residence.)C.3: Good morning , madam. Is the doctor in?
Woman:Yes, he is. What’s the purpose of your visit?
C. 3: I’m a driver, madam. I have come for interview.
Woman: Welcome. Before you go can you help me with cleaning the fan and the ceiling? I’m unable to reach the roof however hard I try.
C.3: Sorry, madam. I won’t stay here another moment. (Leaves)
Candidate-4: Good morning, sir. I’m driver Ravi. I’ve come for interview. May I come in, sir? Elderly person: Please come.
C-4 : Thank you, sir. (Opens the gate, enters and voluntarily offers to help the elderly person.) May I help you, sir?
E.P: You are welcome. Are you a passionate gardener?
C-4: Yes, sir. I have a passionate interest in gardening. In fact gardening is my pet hobby, too.
E.P: That’s great. What are the other kinds of work are you skilled at?
C-4: Any work, sir. Plumbing, electrical works, painting, carpentry, masonry…any work.
E.P: You look one very good candidate. Please wait in the parlor.
C-4: Yes, sir. (He proceeds towards the parlor. He sees an elderly woman struggling to clean the roof of the parlor. He volunteers help.) Excuse me, madam. Can I help you?
Woman: That’s kind of you. I have been making all efforts to clean the roof since morning but I’m unable to reach it. You can clean it after the interview if you prefer so.
C-4: No, madam. I’ll do it right now. ( Takes the broom, climbs up the ladder, cleans the fan and the roof.)
Woman: I very much appreciate your attitude to work and willingness to share work with others. A receptionist will take to the venue for the interview. Till then you can wait in the parlor. So take care.
C-4: Thank you, madam.
Receptionist: Good morning, sir. Are you ready for the interview?
Candidate-4: Yes, madam.
Receptionist: You look one successful candidate. Be confident. Would you like to have a glass of juice?
Candidate: Thank you, madam. (He drinks the juice and the follows her to a room. He is surprised to see the elderly person, the woman and the two young men he had met in the garden sitting around a round table with a copy each of his resume. He is a little scared of the interview panel. Gathering strength he enters the interview room. Having the necessary qualifications and experience he feels confident of getting through the interview. So he enters the room with total self confidence and a cheerful disposition. He looks at the interviewers and greets them making eye contact with each one. The interviewers stand and extend a handshake. He shakes hands with everyone and waits for questions.)
Candidate-4: Good morning everybody. I’m driver Ravi. I’ve come for interview.
Elderly man: Good morning, Mr. Ravi. Nice to meet you. I’m Dr. Rama murthy, general practitioner and Director of “Our Community Healthcare Centre”.
Elderly woman: Well, I’m Dr. Helen Ramamurthy, gynecologist and secretary of this healthcare trust, of course wife of Dr. Ramamurthy.
Man-1: I’m Dr. Kalam, pediatrician. I take care of the newborns, children and young adults. Nice to see you all here in the pleasant morning hours of the day
Man-2: I’m Dr. Moorthy, nutrionist. I advise people on healthy eating habits in order to lead a happy and healthy life. Good to see you here.
Dr. Ramamurthy: Fine. Now is your turn Mr. Ravi. You are welcome to introduce yourself. Hope you feel comfortable with us..
Mr. Ravi: Thank you so much doctor for the opportunity of meeting you all here. I don’t know how I can thank you enough for the warm reception and rich hospitality. I’m a graduate in mechanical engineering. I possess driving licenses for both light and heavy vehicles. I have worked for six years as chauffer, truck driver, delivery van driver and jumbo truck driver both in India and Dubai.
Dr. Helen: That’s really interesting. Please describe your family.
Mr.Ravi: I have a father, a mother, two sisters and a brother. I’m the eldest. My brother and sisters are college students. My father is a driver and my mother, a teacher.
Dr. Kalam: Tell us about your education.
Mr. Ravi: Well, I started school at Government Primary school, Kanyakumari. I went to S.L.B.Higher Secondary School and passed my Higher Secondary Course in 2008. I attended Rohini College of Engineering and graduated in mechanical engineering in 2012. I got my driving license for light vehicles while I was in the final year at college and for heavy vehicles in 2014.
Dr. Ramamurthy: Give us a brief of your work in Dubai?
Mr. Ravi: Well, I worked in a logistics company for two years. It was a challenging but an interesting job. The salary was good and I really wanted to work there at least for some five years. But I had to leave Dubai because my two year visa expired in September 2018.
Dr.Ramamurthy: Dubai is one of the most favored work destinations for our youth, isn’t it?
Mr. Ravi: Yes, Doctor it is.
Dr. Ramamurthy: Fine, any idea of going back to Dubai?
Mr. Ravi: Um, arrangement for my marriage is in progress. So I must be here at least for another two years.
Dr. Helen Ramamurthy: That’s fine. Wish you a good partner to share life with. We are satisfied with your qualifications and experience. If appointed, when will you be able to join duty, Mr. Ravi.
Mr. Ravi: Can I join today, madam?
Dr. Helen: Why not? You are welcome to join today.
Dr. Kalam: We appreciate your positive attitude to work. You’ve already started working with us. So you are welcome to continue. If everything else is fine how long would you work here?
Mr. Ravi: For a reasonable period of two years.
Dr. Moorthy: That’s great. How much salary do you expect?
Mr. Ravi: I’d be pleased to have Rs. 25,000 per month to start with.
Dr. Ramamurthy: Well, you’ll have Rs. 25,000 for an eight hour duty and for overtime work you’ll be paid in proportion to time. Is that ok?
Mr. Ravi: Thank you doctor.
Dr. Ramamurthy: So, congratulations.
Panel: Congratulations Mr. Ravi. Hope you’ll enjoy your work.
Mr. Ravi : Thank you, everybody. I shall work to your expectation and beyond.
Dr. Ramamurthy: We appreciate your positive attitude to work. You can collect the key from the office and start your work. Be ready at 2 O’clock. Today we go to our farm. That’s your first duty. We start workingfrom the farm. Hope you’ll enjoy working with us.
Mr. Ravi: I do enjoy the work and the environment, doctor. Thank you. (Collects the car key from the office, cleans the car and gets ready for work.)
The essence of education is the celebration of every person, particularly children, everywhere, every moment. Every child is a potential winner. Celebrations at school such as sports day, annual day, patron’s day, children’s day, parent’s day, grand parents’ day and Independence Day are opportunities for children to unlock their potential, discover talents, learn skills and display them to fellow students and others. It is an occasion for getting together and sharing fun to cheer up one another, too. So we celebrate sports day in a grand manner in our St. Patrick’s academy every year.
This year we celebrated our sports day in a grand manner on September 12, 2018. We had the pleasure of having our Kung fu master as our chief guest. The chief guest hoisted the national flag, delivered the inaugural address and started off the series of events which had already been planned for the day.
We had events such as 100 meter and 200 meter sprints, variety of other races including relay race, shot put and jumps. All our aspirant athletes participated with great enthusiasm. Our school children entertained the spectators by staging dances and performing mass drills.
In our St. Patrick’s Academy the school children have been divided into four houses, Azad, Gandhi, Tagore and Prasad. As part of preparation for our sports day our competitors have to undergo a selection process, first within each house and then at school level. Only those who get through the selection process will represent their respective houses in the sports day meet. While the house reps compete with one another to win, the other members sit comfortably in their tents and support their heroes by clapping and cheering up. Our chief guest, our principal and teachers and our parents are with us the whole day sharing the joy of the celebration. Their graceful presence is a blessing and a great motivation for all of us. After the events were over the chief guest, our kung fu master, delivered the day’s message emphasizing the importance of physical education and sport. As well as helping children to be more competitive, school sports day is also an occasion to enjoy a day in the sunshine sharing company with school community. Children relax while they learn skills and entertain themselves and others while they relax.
It has been proved that participation in sport is important to the holistic development of children and young people. So parents should encourage children to participate in sport meets and celebrate participation and achievement equally. He said it was also an occasion to learning team spirit and mastering the art of community living. Having accomplished the day’s tasks our captains de hoisted the flag and handed it over to our principal. It was a memorable day and we cherish the memory of the day enjoying life in its fullness. I hope our sports day next year would be more entertaining and enriching than this year’s.
A.Aditya
Grade vi, St. Patrick’s Academy, Bangalore