7th Apr 2025
Omar was a seven-year-old boy, full of joy and laughter. One sunny day, he played ball in the garden with his grandfather. "Catch, Grandpa!" Omar cried, throwing the ball high. The ball soared through the air but suddenly fell into the river nearby. His eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "I must get it!"
Omar ran towards the river, eager to jump in and retrieve the ball. But his grandfather shouted with a worried face, "No, Omar! Your clothes will get wet, and you will get sick!" Omar stopped in his tracks, the joy fading from his face as he looked at the river glimmering in the sun.
Feeling very sad, Omar returned home, tears rolling down his cheeks. He thought about the ball drifting away, and it made him cry harder. Why wouldn't his grandfather let him get it? He sat on the porch, feeling lonely and lost without his favorite ball.
The next day at school, Omar met his best friend, Ahmed, and shared his troubles. "I lost my ball in the river! I wanted to jump in but Grandpa said no," Omar sighed, his voice filled with sorrow.
Ahmed listened carefully, a smile creeping across his face. "Omar, did you know that there are many harmful insects in that river?" he asked. Omar looked puzzled, his curiosity sparkling in his eyes. Ahmed continued, "If you jumped in, it could hurt you!
Omar's eyes widened with surprise. "Really? I didn't know that!" he said, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude. "Thank you, Ahmed, for telling me! Maybe Grandpa was right after all!"
Ahmed nodded, pleased to see Omar smile again. "You see, sometimes our friends help us understand things we don’t know. It’s good to listen to them!" Omar nodded, realizing that his grandfather had been looking out for him.
As they played at recess, Omar felt the weight of his sadness lift. He realized that losing his ball wasn't the end of the world, and it was more important to be safe. They laughed and kicked a new ball around, enjoying the sunny day together.
Later, when school was over, they walked home side by side talking about fun games to play. Omar felt grateful for his grandfather's advice and for Ahmed's friendship. They made plans to explore and find new adventures without the river being a worry anymore.
From that day on, Omar learned to appreciate not only his friends but also the wisdom of his grandfather. He smiled, thinking about new games to play in the garden, safe from the dangers of the river.