The Little Girl

Emotion (Column A)	Situation (Column B)
1. Fear or terror	• (iii) father comes home • (iv) speaking to father • (vii) father stretched out on the sofa, snoring
2. Glad sense of relief	• (ii) noise of the carriage grows fainter
3. A “funny” feeling, perhaps of understanding	• (vi) father comforts her and falls asleep

Kezia was afraid of her father because he was very strict, loud, and commanded everyone in the house. His physical appearance—big hands, heavy neck, and big mouth—also terrified her, making him seem like a giant.

Kezia’s family consisted of her grandmother, her mother, her father, and Kezia herself.

(i) Before going to office: He would come into Kezia’s room to give her a casual goodbye kiss.
(ii) After coming back: He would ask for tea in the drawing room, ask for the newspaper, and ask Kezia to pull off his boots.
(iii) On Sundays: He would stretch out on the sofa with a handkerchief over his face, sleeping soundly and snoring.

Kezia’s grandmother would send her down to the drawing room on Sunday afternoons to have a “nice talk” with her father and mother. She also suggested Kezia make a pin-cushion out of beautiful yellow silk as a gift for her father’s birthday.

Kezia wanted to make a pin-cushion as a birthday gift for her father. She sewed three sides of the cushion but needed something to stuff it with. In her mother’s bedroom, she found sheets of fine paper on the bed table. Unaware of their importance, she tore them into small pieces and stuffed the cushion. Unfortunately, those papers contained her father’s important speech for the Port Authority. When he found out, he was furious and punished her by hitting her palms with a ruler, ignoring her explanation that it was a surprise for him. Thus, her effort to please him ended up displeasing him severely.

Mr. Macdonald lived next door and was a loving, playful father. Kezia saw him playing “tag” with his five children in the evenings. He had the baby Mao on his shoulders and two little girls hanging onto his coat pockets. They ran around the flowerbeds shaking with laughter. He was completely different from Kezia’s father, who was strict, never played with her, and whom she feared. Mr. Macdonald represented a father figure who was accessible and fun, leading Kezia to conclude that there were different kinds of fathers.

One night, when Kezia’s mother and grandmother were at the hospital, Kezia was left alone with the cook and had a nightmare. Her father came to her rescue, carried her to his room, and tucked her in beside him. He was tired but still tried to comfort her. Kezia realized that he worked hard every day and was too tired to be like Mr. Macdonald. She noticed his “hardness” was a nice hardness and felt sorry for tearing up his papers. She realized he had a “big heart” underneath his strict exterior.

(i) She was thrilled by the news of her brother’s wedding. (very pleased)
(ii) I was delighted to be invited to the party. (extremely pleased and excited about)
(iii) She was overjoyed at the birth of her granddaughter. (extremely happy)
(iv) The coach was pleased with his performance. (satisfied about)
(v) She was very happy (or glad) with her results. (happy about something that has happened)

(i) You are a big girl now. → older
(ii) Today you are going to take the biggest decision of your career. → most important
(iii) Their project is full of big ideas. → ambitious
(iv) Cricket is a big game in our country. → popular/huge
(v) I am a big fan of Lata Mangeskar. → ardent/great
(vi) You have to cook a bit more as my friend is a big eater. → gluttonous/heavy
(vii) What a big heart you’ve got, Father dear. → generous/kind

(i) He says he will enjoy the ride.
(ii) Father mentioned that he was going on a holiday.
(iii) No one told us that the shop was closed.
(iv) He answered that the price would go up.
(v) I wondered why he was screaming.
(vi) Ben told her to wake him up.
(vii) Ratan apologised for coming late to the party.

(i) “I am not afraid,” replied the woman.
(ii) “Leave me alone,” my mother shouted.
(iii) The children were complaining that the roads were crowded and noisy.
(iv) “Perhaps he isn’t a bad sort of a chap after all,” remarked the master.
(v) “Let’s go and look at the school ground,” suggested the sports teacher.
(vi) The traffic police ordered all the passers-by to keep off the road.

1. Is this story applicable to India?
Yes, absolutely. The dynamics of a strict father, a caring but passive mother, and a supportive grandmother are quite common in traditional Indian households. Many children initially fear their fathers but eventually realize that the strictness stems from a desire to discipline and protect, often masking deep love.

2. Was Kezia’s father right? What kind of person was he?
Kezia’s father was not right to punish her physically without listening to her explanation. He reacted in anger. However, he was not “cruel” at heart; he was undemonstrative, hard-working, and responsible. He was a disciplinarian who believed in order but was also capable of being affectionate and caring when the situation demanded it, as seen when he comforted Kezia during her nightmare.

My life as a child was somewhat similar to Kezia’s. I used to be terrified of my father because he was very disciplined and rarely smiled. Like Kezia, I would stutter while speaking to him, afraid of saying something wrong. I often felt he was indifferent to my feelings, unlike my mother who was visibly affectionate.

However, now that I am older, my perception has changed completely. I realize that his strictness was necessary to teach me values and discipline. I see how hard he worked to provide for us, often sacrificing his own comfort. The “distance” I felt was actually his way of shielding us from his own stress.

Over the years, my parents have become more like friends. They listen to my opinions, and we share jokes. My father has become much more expressive and understanding. To build a stronger relationship, I believe open communication is key. I try to share my daily experiences with them and listen to theirs, bridging the generation gap with patience and love.