Page 39 - Real English 2024 Book 8

IDGAH

were rows upon rows of worshippers
as far as eyes could see, spilling well
beyond the mosque courtyard. Here

neither wealth nor status matters,
because in the eyes of Islam, all men are
equal.
The prayers were over. Men

embraced each other. Then they
descended on the sweet shops, a
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merry-go-round, wooden horses and
camels suspended on rods and the toy
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vendors. Hamid’s friends, Mehmood,
Mohsin, Nooray and Sammi rode on

the camels and horses. Hamid stood
at some distance. He could not waste
one-third of his treasure on an ordinary
ride. Then the children bought clay
toys and he looked at them with longing, hoping that he could carry

them for a little while. After the toys it was sweets; Hamid remained
aloof. The boys bought sweets and teased Hamid.
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The hardware shops that lay ahead had no attraction for the
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boys, and they walked on except Hamid. A pair of tongs caught his
attention; his grandmother did not have one. Each time she made The boys bought
chapatti, she burnt her fingers. If he bought these tongs, she’d be sweets and teased

happy. It’d be a useful item in the house. He asked the shopkeeper, Hamid.
‘How much is this for?’
He looked at the boy, ‘This is of no use to you.’
‘Is it for sale?’
‘Of course. It’s for six paise.’

Hamid’s heart sank. He picked up his courage and said firmly,
‘Will you take three?’ and walked on, afraid that the shopkeeper
would scream at him. But the man called him back and gave him the moved downwards
8.
9.
tongs. Hamid put it on his shoulders like a gun, and filled with pride, hung
10.
joined his friends. not friendly or interested in
Mohsin said, ‘Why have you bought a pair of tongs? What will other people
11.
you do with it?’ tools and equipment used
in the house and garden
Mehmood said, ‘So you’ve made the tongs into a toy?’ a tool with two moveable
12.
Hamid replied, ‘Why not? If I hit your toys with it, they will all arms that are joined at one
break.’ end

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