The Tale of Custard the Dragon

Custard cried for a nice safe cage because he was scared of everything and wanted peace and safety. He is called “cowardly” because unlike the other pets who bragged about their bravery, Custard did not boast and always sought a secure place to hide.

The Pirate looked terrifying:

• He held a pistol in his left hand and another in his right.
• He held a bright cutlass (sword) in his teeth.
• His beard was black, and one leg was wood.

He broke into Belinda’s house with bad intentions (“his mind was not clear”).

When the pirate appeared, the “brave” animals panicked:

• Belinda: Paled and cried “Help! Help!”
• Mustard: Fled with a terrified yelp.
• Ink: Trickled down to the bottom of the household.
• Blink: Strategically mouse-holed (hid in a hole).

Only Custard stood his ground. He jumped up, snorted like an engine, clashed his tail like irons in a dungeon, and attacked the pirate.

Immediately after the danger was over:

• Belinda embraced Custard.
• Mustard licked him.
• Ink and Blink danced around him in glee.

However, soon after, they started making excuses for their cowardice. Mustard said he would have been twice as brave if he hadn’t been flustered, and Ink and Blink claimed they would have been three times as brave.

Valli’s strongest desire was to ride on the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. She was fascinated by the new set of passengers she saw every time.

Valli listened to the conversations of her neighbors to gather details:

• Fare: 30 paise one way.
• Time: 45 minutes to reach town.
• Plan: Take the 1:00 PM bus, reach town by 1:45 PM, and return home by the same bus by 2:45 PM.

Valli was afraid of getting lost in the unknown town and did not have extra money to spend. She was a careful and wise child who only wanted to experience the bus ride, so she bought a return ticket and stayed on the bus.