The boy who wanted a dog

I got lucky last Saturday. Luck to a Bombay-person is a lot of things including getting a fast train when least expected.

I had to make a trip to 'town' to buy a book for Le Francaise, so I woke up early on Saturday, reached Churchgate at 10.45, bought the book and reached back Churchgate at 11.02, and wonder of wonders, there was a 11.03 fast train just waiting for me to board it on the platform. Board I did and so did a little girl, not more than 7 years old. She was accompanied by her mother and they sat opposite to me.

The mom handed the girl a packet of Chips, and then a book, a scruffy, dog-eared bound-at-Mahavir-stores library book. It had a dog on the cover and in bold stood out 'Enid Blyton' and ' The boy who wanted a dog'.

The kid started reading the book almost immediately. I liked the fact that in today's reality-TV and instant-entertainment-driven days, a book still held a little girl's attention.

She read more than 30 pages in 5 stations.

Once the chips packet was emptied of its contents, thirst beckoned. Her mom gave her a bottle of water; thirst sated, she asked for a towel. Mom poassed the towel, she wiped her hands clean, folded the towel and gave it back to mom.

SHe also gave the empty packet of chips back to her mom, which mom dutifully stored in her carry-abg.

nice to see a kid who reads. even nicer to see a kid who cares for the environment.

I couldnt resist and had to strike a conversation with her. She told me that she liked to read and was a member of the local library.

I instinctively wanted to chedck whether she was Loyalty member at out book-store but resisted the urge.

As long as she reads, am ok.