Elina had to write a short story in 15 minutes as part of quick writing. All she was told was to write as an Indian girl. Below is what she wrote which her teacher liked very much. As a teacher of creative writing I tore it to pieces but I have to admit that I was very happy with her first draft. Hope you all like it too.

I am Gauri and I live in a small village in North India. I wake up very early in the morning; my usual breakfast is crispy paratha and milk tea or chai. My Bapu takes me and my brother to the tonga station. My friends and I sing songs while we are waiting for the tonga.

One day in school, while I was sitting under a tall tree practicing my math sums a baby sparrow fell into my lap. I felt sorry for the bird and picked it up gently. I climbed up the giant eucalyptus tree, holding the bird in my sweaty hands. I could see the bird’s nest high above me. Suddenly, I felt a shooting pain through my leg. I stopped climbing from pain and noticed a deep cut in my left leg.

My leg hurt a lot but I was determined and kept climbing. I saw the beautiful nest and put the bird in it. There were three other baby sparrows and I left their little sibling with them. It was important for me to rescue the scared baby bird because I realized that the baby bird could not have survived without her mother.

That night my Maa was very proud of me and gave me two rupees as reward for my kind heart. She hugged me tightly and I slept in her motherly arms.