Madam Rides the Bus

Valli’s favorite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house and watching what was happening in the street outside. She had no playmates of her own age, so this was her primary source of entertainment.

The source of unending joy for Valli was the sight of the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town, filled with a new set of passengers each time. Her strongest desire was to ride on that bus just once.

Valli planned her ride meticulously by listening to the conversations of her neighbors who used the bus.

• Fare: 30 paise one way (60 paise total).
• Time: The trip to town took 45 minutes.
• Schedule: If she took the 1:00 PM bus, she would reach town at 1:45 PM and be back home by 2:45 PM.

Valli saved money with great determination. She resisted every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, and even skipped the ride on the merry-go-round at the village fair. It was a painful struggle for her, but she managed to save the required sixty paise.

The conductor called Valli ‘madam’ because she was acting very grown-up. She answered his questions quickly, refused his help to get on the bus, and spoke with confidence. The conductor was a jolly man fond of joking, so he addressed the eight-year-old girl as ‘madam’ to tease her playfully.

On the way to town: Valli saw a young cow running very fast in the middle of the road, right in front of the bus. The more the driver honked, the more frightened the animal became, galloping faster. Valli found this very funny and laughed until tears came to her eyes.

On the return journey: She saw the same cow lying dead by the roadside, struck by a fast-moving vehicle. The sight of the lovable, beautiful creature now lying lifeless filled her with sadness, and she lost her enthusiasm for the view outside.

Valli did not get off the bus because she was afraid of getting lost in the unknown town. Moreover, she didn’t have enough money to spend on anything else; she only had money for her return ticket. She was too wise and careful to risk getting stranded.

Custard cried for a nice safe cage because he was scared of everything and wanted peace and safety. He is called “cowardly” because while everyone else (Ink, Blink, Mustard) boasted about their bravery and chased lions or tigers, Custard only wanted to hide.

• Belinda: Paled and cried for help.
• Mustard: Fled with a terrified yelp.
• Ink: Trickled down to the bottom of the household.
• Blink: Strategically mouse-holed (hid in a hole).
• Custard: Jumped up snorting like an engine, clashed his tail, and gobbled the pirate whole.

The irony is that the characters who constantly boasted about their bravery (Ink, Blink, Mustard) turned out to be cowards when real danger arrived. Meanwhile, Custard, who was mocked for being a coward and always cried for a cage, was the only one brave enough to fight and defeat the pirate.