The Hundred Dresses Part 2

Eleanor Estes

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Summary In English

Welcome back after Interval. Yes, this lesson 6 is a sequel of story we studied in lesson 5. Story continues here in Part 2. In part 1, we saw Wanda Petronski had to quit because of mocking and ridicule by her classmates. In this lesson, story is about reversal of attitude of classmates. Here two human qualities are given importance these are compassion and forgiveness.
Idea is that we should not only abstain from making others miserable but should also speak up boldly whenever we see any wrong being done to somebody. Live and let live, this part talks about. But how to live life? It must be lived cordially and this quality can be instilled in students right at school. So, in first part was saw teasing, here presented is repentance and guilt. We came to know of a contest which was won by none other but by same Wanda whom they ridiculed.
Story starts when Miss Mason asks students to have a look around in room 13 and enjoy those hundred dress designs created by Wanda. Watching those all students were astonished. While circling round the room, class monitor brings a letter to Miss Mason. Miss Mason reads that letter her own. She claps and thus asks class to settle down at once as she had something important for them. Class settles still and quiet. That was a letter from Wanda’s father who was showing his annoyance over the treatment, his daughter Wanda had to undergo while in school.
Adjusting her glasses slowly and deliberately and as the letter was a matter of great importance, everybody listened as she read that brief note:

“Dear Teacher, My Wanda will not come to your school any more. Jake also. Now we move away to big city. No more holler ‘Pollack’. No more ask why funny name. Plenty of funny name in big city. Yours truly,
Jan Patronski, No looking down anymore, no bullying, as name Deep silence was there in the class. Miss Mason took off her glasses, blew on them, and wiped on her soft white handkerchief. She again puts them on. Looking at class, her voice was low now. Obviously, she was not happy on this, but she did not show any anger and scolded the class indirectly. She said that she knew it was not purposely and deliberately that you hurt Wanda’s feeling because her name happened to be a long name, unfamiliar one for you all. She said that she preferred to think what was said was said in thoughtlessness. She says that all students were feeling the way she was feeling. And that that was unfortunate and sad what had happened. She asks them all to think about it.

On the other hand, Maddie was not able to put her mind on her work. She was marred by this sick feeling that why she said nothing on teasing of Wanda by Peggy. She was in a guilt why did she keep mum, stood by silently and said nothing. She considers it just as bad as Peggy had done. She feels as if she was a coward that she could not confront Peggy. Maddie was realizing her mistake. She was remorseful but after damage was made. Wanda had left the school. She prays to God whether there was a way, she can go to Wanda, tells Wanda everything. Thinking this as she looked at Peggy, who was not looking up. Peggy was pretending to be busy in studying hard. Maddie did not know Peggy felt bad or not but she had to look for Wanda, she had decided. Thinking that probably, she had not moved away. However, Peggy agrees that she too will accompany her. It was decided that they will tell Wanda that she has won the contest, she is smart, dresses are beautiful.
After dismissal, Peggy said with pretended casualness to go and check her. Peggy had same idea as was in mind of Maddie. They both went to Boggins Heights which was a damp, dismal, drizzy area.

On the way, Peggy was trying to justifying her behaviour that she never called her a foreigner or made fun of her name. She thought she was too dumb to realize that fun. But she accepted here that Wanda could draw better than her.
Listening to Peggy’s arguments Maddie said nothing. She was hopeful for Wanda. She wanted to tell her sorry and that she was wonderful. All school students were with same thought about her now. She will request her not to go. She will assure her that everybody would be nice with her. She would say to Wanda that we two would fight with one who is not nice. It was a little white house which was looking shabby but clean as was her dress. Wanda’s house reminded them of her only dress that she used to wear every day.
They could see no sign of life at Boggins Heights. Peggy knocked at the door firmly, but no answer was there. They went around. They went to back yard and knocked there also but still no answer. It was no doubt that Petronski’s had gone. Question before them now was how to make amends? They both turned back down the hill slowly. Peggy said that she has gone now, what they can do. She says that her question on her faded blue dress had given her idea of dress designs. She says that otherwise, she might not have won the contest.
That night Maddie could not sleep. She thought of everything. She had hardest thought she had ever made in life. She reached on conclusion that she is never going to stand by and say nothing again.

From now on if she sees anybody picking on someone, because of funny looks or strange names, she will speak up. Be it at the cost of Peggy’s friendship.
It was Saturday afternoon Maddie was with Peggy. They were writing a letter to Wanda. It was a friendly letter, in which they were telling her about the contest and that she had won. They wrote that how pretty her drawings were. They asked her if she liked the place where she was living. They also asked whether she liked her new teacher. Through this letter they meant to say sorry to her. They mailed it Boggins Heights and also wrote “please forward” on the envelope.
Days passed but they got no answer from Wanda. Speculations were that she may not have received that letter and that she might be hurt and angry. They were agreed on that they cannot blame her for not answering. Weeks gone as no answer was there so Peggy forgot the episode.
It was Christmas time, heavy snow on the ground. Christmas bells and trees were decorating the classroom. It was the last day of school before holidays. Miss Mason came and showed the class a letter received that morning.
She asked students if they remember Wanda Petronski the same gifted little artist, who won the dress designing contest. She told the class that she has written a letter to them. She told that now she knows where does she live. And that now she can send her her medal. She says to class that she wants to read her letter before class. The class sat up with sudden interest and listened intently. Miss Mason read the letter class. Wanda asked about all and room 13. She also mentioned in the letter that girls should keep those dresses with them.

She gifted that Green dress to Peggy and blue one to Maddie. She also wrote that she misses her school and that her new teacher no better than Miss Mason.
Peggy and Maddie, both held their drawings carefully. Peggy said that she really liked us. They were confirmed that she had got their letter. This was her way of saying that everything was alright. And that’s that. Maddie said to hope so but she was feeling a regret that that she would not see again that tight-lipped Polish girl.
At home, Maddie pinned her drawing. Her shabby room came alive with brilliance of color of that drawing. She sat on bed and looked at drawing. Tears blurred her eyes. She was gazing the picture for a long time. She rubbed her eyes and studied it intently. The colors were so fascinating to her that she could not notice the face and head of drawing. Maddie, it looked like her own mouth. Wanda had really drawn that for her. Excitedly she ran over to Peggy. She requested Peggy to let her see her drawing. Peggy in a surprise asked Maddie for what was the matter. Maddie raised her drawing carefully. She tells Peggy to have a look on her drawing that drew her. Face and head in the drawing were like Peggy’s. On this Peggy replied by saying “What did I say”. She must have really liked us.
Maddie also agreed on this blinking away the tears. She was thinking of Wanda standing alone in the school yard, looking at the girls’ group who were laughing at her after she had walked off, after she had said “Sure, a hundred of them, all lined up.
Thus, we saw the message of forgiveness, no hard feeling against anyone is here in this part of the story. We should never hurt anyone feeling just because her name is longer. Or one is bit different. We should accept others whole heartedly.

Line by Line FULL EXPLANATION

WHILE the class was circling (moving round आसपास घूमना) the room, the monitor from the principal’s office brought Miss Mason a note. Miss Mason read it several times and studied it thoughtfully (thinking deeply गहरा सोचना), for a while. Then she clapped her hands. “Attention, class. Everyone back to their seat.”

जिस समय कक्षा कमरे का चक्कर लगा रही थी, मॉनिटर प्रधानाचार्य कार्यालय से मिस मेसन के लिए एक नोट लेकर आया। मिस मेसन ने उसे कई बार पढ़ा और थोड़ी देर के लिए उसका ध्यानपूर्वक अध्ययन किया। तब उसने अपने हाथों से ताली बजाई। "सभी बच्चों, सुनिए, सभी अपनी-अपनी सीटों पर वापस चले जाएँ"

When the shuffling (making sound of feet while walking चलते समय पैरों से आवाज़ करना) of feet had stopped and the room was still and quiet, Miss Mason said, “I have a letter from Wanda’s father that I want to read to you.” Miss Mason stood there a moment and the silence in the room grew tense (serious गंभीर) and expectant. The teacher adjusted her glasses slowly and deliberately (intentionally जान-बूझकर). Her manner indicated> (showed दिखाया) that what was coming — this letter from Wanda’s father — was a matter of great importance. Everybody listened closely (heard attentively ध्यान से सुना) as Miss Mason read the brief note.

जब पैरों के रगड़ने की आवाज बंद हो गई और कमरा पूर्ण रूप से शांत हो गया, मिस मेसन ने कहा, "मेरे पास वाण्डा के पिता का पत्र है जो मैं आपको पढ़कर सुनाना चाहती हूँ।"

मिस मेसन एक क्षण के लिए वहाँ खड़ी रही और कमरे के अंदर की खामोशी तनावपूर्ण तथा उत्सुकतापूर्ण हो गई थी। अध्यापिका ने धीरे से और जान-बूझकर के अपने चश्मों को ठीक करके लगाया। उसका भाव दिखा रहा था कि क्या होने जा रहा था- यह वाण्डा के पिता की ओर से पत्र  था। प्रत्येक ने बड़े ध्यान के साथ सुना। जब मिस मेसन ने उस छोटे-से नोट को पढ़ा

Dear Teacher:
My Wanda will not come to your school any more. Jake also. Now we move away to big city. No more holler (cry loudly जोर से चीखना) ‘Pollack’. (a word suggesting anger गुस्सा दर्शाने वाला शब्द) No more ask why funny name. Plenty (enough काफी) of funny names in the big city.
Yours truly,
Jan Petronski

प्रिय अध्यापक,
अब मेरी वाण्डा आपके स्कूल में नहीं आएगी, जेक भी नहीं आएगा। अब हम एक बड़े शहर में जा रहे हैं अब हमें 'पोलक' कहकर पुकारा जाना और अधिक नहीं सुनना है। अब हमें और अधिक यह नहीं सुनना है कि यह मजाकिया नाम क्यों है। बड़े शहर में मजाकिया नामों वाले बहुत से लोग होते हैं।
भवदीय
जेक पेट्रॉसकी

A deep silence met the reading of this letter. Miss Mason took off her glasses, blew on them and wiped them on her soft white handkerchief. Then she put them on again and looked at the class. When she spoke, her voice was very low. “I am sure that none of the boys and girls in Room Thirteen would purposely and deliberately hurt anyone’s feelings because his or her name happened to be a long, unfamiliar (unacquainted अपरिचित) one. I prefer to think that what was said was said in thoughtlessness. (without thinking बिना सोचे) I know that all of you feel the way I do, that this is a very unfortunate thing to have happened — unfortunate (unlucky अभागा) and sad, both. And I want you all to think about it.”

इस पत्र को पढ़े जाने के समय गहरी खामोशी रही। मिस मेसन ने अपना चश्मा उतारा, उसने शीशों पर फूंक मारी और उन्हें अपने नर्म सफेद रुमाल के साथ पोंछ दिया। तब उसने चश्मे को पुनः पहन लिया और कक्षा की ओर देखा। जब वह बोली तो उसकी आवाज बहुत धीमी थी।

"मुझे पक्का यकीन है कि कमरा नंबर तेरह

में किसी भी लड़के या लड़की ने जान-बूझकर किसी की भावनाओं को इस कारण तो ठेस नहीं पहुंचाई होगी कि उसका नाम लंबा है अथवा अपरिचित है। मैं यही सोचना पसंद करूंगी कि जो कुछ भी कहा गया है वह बिना सोच-विचार के कहा गया है। मैं जानती हूँ कि आप सभी भी मेरी तरह ही सोचते होंगे, और ऐसा घटित होना एक बहुत ही दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण घटना है, दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण और दुखद दोनों, और मैं चाहती हूँ कि आप सभी इसके बारे में विचार करें।"

The first period was a study period. Maddie tried to prepare her lessons, but she could not put her mind on her work. She had a very sick feeling in the bottom of her stomach. True, she had not enjoyed listening to Peggy ask Wanda how many dresses she had in her closet, but she had said nothing. She had stood by (supported सहारा दिया); silently, and that was just as bad as what Peggy had done. Worse. She was a coward (lacking courage कायर). At least Peggy hadn’t considered they were being mean but she, Maddie, had thought they were doing wrong. She could put herself in Wanda’s shoes.

पहला पीरियड पढ़ाई करने का पीरियड था। मैडी ने अपने पाठ तैयार करने की कोशिश की लेकिन वह अपने दिमाग को अपने काम पर नहीं लगा पाई। उसे अपने पेट के सबसे निचले हिस्से में बहुत अस्वस्थता महसूस हो रही थी। सचमुच, उसे पेगी द्वारा वाण्डा को यह पूछते हुए सुनना बिल्कुल अच्छा नहीं लगा था कि उसके पास अलमारी में कितनी पोशाकें हैं, लेकिन उसने कहा तो कुछ नहीं था। वह तो चुपचाप खड़ी रहती थी और वह भी उतना ही बुरा काम या जितना कि पेग्गी ने किया था। उससे भी बुरा था। वह एक कायर थी। कम-से-कम पेग्गी ने ऐसा तो नहीं सोचा था कि वे नीचता वाला काम कर रही है, परंतु उसने मेड़ी ने ऐसा अवश्य सोचा था वह स्वयं को वाण्डा की स्थिति में रखकर महसूस कर सकती थी।

Goodness! Wasn’t there anything she could do? If only she could tell Wanda she hadn’t meant to hurt her feelings. She turned around and stole a glance (looked secretly चोरी से देखा) at Peggy, but Peggy did not look up. She seemed to be studying hard. Well, whether Peggy felt badly or not, she, Maddie, had to do something. She had to find Wanda Petronski. Maybe she had not yet moved away. Maybe Peggy would climb the Heights with her, and they would tell Wanda she had won the contest, that they thought she was smart and the hundred dresses were beautiful.

हे भगवान! क्या वह अब कुछ भी नहीं कर सकती थी? काश यह वाण्डा को यह बता सकती कि उसका भाव उसकी भावनाओं को ठेस पहुंचाना नहीं था। वह पीछे की ओर घूमी और चोरी से पेग्गी की ओर देखा, लेकिन पेग्गी ने ऊपर आँख उठाकर नहीं देखा। वह अपनी पढ़ाई में गहराई से डूबी हुई लग रही थी। ठीक है, चाहे वेग्गी को अच्छा लगे या बुरा मैड़ी को कुछ-न-कुछ तो करना था। उसे वाण्डा पेटरोन्स्कीसकी को ढूंढना था। हो सकता है कि वह अभी न गई हो। शायद पेग्गी भी उसके साथ Heights पर चढ़ जाएगी, और वे वाण्डा को बताएँगी कि उसने मुकाबला जीत लिया है, तथा यह कि वे उसे होशियार मानती थी और उसकी सौ पोशाकें सुंदर थीं।

When school was dismissed in the afternoon, Peggy said, with pretended (showy दिखावापूर्ण) casualness, (carelessness लापरवाही) “Hey, let’s go and see if that kid has left town or not.” So Peggy had had the same idea! Maddie glowed (became hopeful आशावान). Peg was really all right.

जब दोपहर बाद स्कूल से छुट्टी हुई, पेग्गी ने बनावटी लापरवाही के भाव से कहा, "अरे, आओ जाकर देखते हैं, अतः पेग्गी के दिमाग में भी वही विचार था। मैडी खिल उठी। सचमुच ही पेग्गी ठीक कह रही थी।"

The two girls hurried out of the building, up the street toward Boggins Heights, the part of town that wore such a forbidding (bad बुरा) air on this kind of a November afternoon, drizzly (rainy वरसात वाला), damp (wet गीला) and dismal (sad उदास). “Well, at least,” said Peggy gruffly (roughly कठोरता से), “I never did call her a foreigner or make fun of her name. I never thought she had the sense to know we were making fun of her anyway. I thought she was too dumb. (unfeeling बिना भावना के) And gee, (exclamation of joy खुशी की अभिव्यक्ति) look how she can draw!”

दोनों लड़कियों तेजी के साथ उस भवन से बाहर निकली और बोगिंस हाईट्स की ओर जाने लगी, नगर का वह हिस्सा जहाँ मास की शाम को ढूंदा-बांदी वाली नमीयुक्त, मनहूस डरावनी हवा चल रही थी। "तो आखिर" पेग्गी ने कर्कश स्वर में कहा, "मैंने तो उसे कभी विदेशी नहीं कहा अथवा उसके नाम का मजाक नहीं उड़ाया कभी ऐसा नहीं सोचा था कि उसमें इतनी बुद्धि होगी कि वह जान जाएगी कि हम उसका मजाक उड़ा रहे हैं। मैं तो उसे बिल्कुल समझती थी और देखो यह कैसे चित्र बना सकती है।"

Maddie could say nothing. All she hoped was that they would find Wanda. She wanted to tell her that they were sorry they had picked on her, and how wonderful the whole school thought she was, and please, not to move away and everybody would be nice. She and Peggy would fight anybody who was not nice. The two girls hurried on. They hoped to get to the top of the hill before dark.

मेड़ी कुछ भी नहीं कह सकी। वह तो सिर्फ यह आशा लगाए थी कि उन्हें वाण्डा मिल जाए वह उसे बताना चाहती थी कि उनको इस बात का खेद था कि उन्होंने उसके साथ ऐसा व्यवहार किया था और किस प्रकार से सारा स्कूल उसे एक अद्भुत लड़की समझता था और कृपया वह यहाँ से कहीं न जाए और हर कोई उसके साथ अच्छा व्यवहार करेगा। दोनों लड़कियों जल्दी से आगे बढ़ती गई। वे अंधेरा होने से पहले पहाड़ी के शिखर पर पहुंचने की आशा लगाए थी।

“I think that’s where the Petronskis live,” said Maddie, pointing to a little white house. Wisps (pieces टुकड़े) of old grass stuck up here and there along the pathway (footpath फुटपाथ) like thin kittens. (young ones of cats बिल्ली के बच्चे) The house and its sparse little yard looked shabby but clean. It reminded Maddie of Wanda’s one dress, her faded blue cotton dress, shabby (simple and cheap सादा एवं सस्ता) but clean.

"मेरे विचार में पेट्रोसकी यहाँ पर रहते हैं, मैडी ने एक छोटे से सफेद घर की ओर इशारा करते हुए कहा। पगडंडी के साथ-साथ इधर-उधर पुरानी घास के छोटे-छोटे गट्ठर  से लटक रहे थे जैसे कि वे बिल्ली के बच्चे हों पर और उसका छोटा-सा आँगन देखने में भद्दा परंतु साफ प्रतीत होता था। यह मैडी को वाण्डा की एक पोशाक  याद दिला रहा था, उसकी रंग उड़ी हुई नीली पोशाक जोकि देखने में भद्दी परंतु साफ लगती थी।

There was not a sign of life about the house. Peggy knocked firmly on the door, but there was no answer. She and Maddie went around to the back yard and knocked there. Still there was no answer. There was no doubt about it. The Petronskis were gone. How could they ever make amends (patch up समझौता करना)? They turned slowly and made their way back down the hill.

घर के आस-पास जीवन के होने का कोई संकेत नहीं था। पेग्गी ने दरवाजे पर जोर से दस्तक दी, लेकिन कोई उत्तर नहीं मिला। यह और मेडी पीछे वाले आँगन की तरफ गए और वहाँ जाकर दस्तक दी। वहाँ भी कोई उत्तर नहीं मिला। इसके बारे में कोई संदेह नहीं था पेट्रोसकी जा चुके थे। वे कभी भी अपना पश्चाताप कैसे व्यक्त कर सकेंगी। वे धीमे से मुड़ी और पहाड़ी से नीचे उतरने का रास्ता लिया।

“Well, anyway,” said Peggy, “she’s gone now, so what can we do? Besides, when I was asking her about all her dresses, she probably (perhaps शायद) was getting good ideas for her drawings. She might not even have won the contest, otherwise.”

"चलो कुछ भी हो" पेग्गी ने कहा, "अब वह जा चुकी है, अतः अब हम क्या कर सकते हैं? इसके अतिरिक्त जब मैं उससे उसकी सभी पोशाकों के बारे में पूछ रही थी, तो संभवतः वह अपनी चित्रकारी के लिए अच्छे विचार प्राप्त कर रही थी। वरना शायद वह उस मुकाबले को जीत न पाती।"

Maddie turned this idea carefully over in her head, for if there were anything in it she would not have to feel so badly. But that night she could not get to sleep. She thought about Wanda and her faded blue dress and the little house she had lived in. And she thought of the glowing (beautiful सुंदर) picture those hundred dresses made — all lined up in the classroom. At last Maddie sat up in bed and pressed her forehead tight in her hands and really thought. This was the hardest thinking she had ever done. After a long, long time, she reached an important conclusion (result परिणाम). She was never going to stand by and say nothing again.

मैडी ने इस विचार को ध्यानपूर्वक अपने दिमाग में घुमाया क्योंकि यदि इसमें कुछ भी ऐसी बात थी तो उसे इतना बुरा लगना ही नहीं चाहिए था। लेकिन उस रात वह सो न सकी। वह वाडा और उसको रंग उड़ी हुई नोली पोशाक और उस छोटे-से घर जिसमें वह रहती थी, के बारे में सोचती रही और वह उन चमकदार सौ पोशाकों से बने नजारे के बारे में सोचती रही। सभी कक्षा के कमरे में एक पंक्ति में थीं। अंततः मैडी बिस्तर पर उठ बैठी और अपने माथे को अपने हाथों से कसकर दबाया और सचमुच में सोचने लगी। यह सबसे गहन विचार था जो मैडी ने कभी किया था। काफी देर के बाद वह एक निष्कर्ष पर पहुंची। वह न तो कभी किसी ऐसी बात का साथ देगी और न ही कभी कुछ कहेंगी।

If she ever heard anybody picking on someone (teasing someone किसी को तंग करना) because they were funny looking or because they had strange names, she’d speak up. Even if it meant losing Peggy’s friendship. She had no way of making things right with Wanda, but from now on she would never make anybody else that unhappy again.

यदि कभी वह किसी को किसी के साथ अभद्रता का व्यवहार करता देखेगी सिर्फ इस कारण से कि वे दिखने में मजाकिया है, या फिर उनके अजीबो-गरीब नाम हैं तो वह चुप नहीं रहेगी चाहे इससे पेग्गी की मित्रता ही क्यों न खो जाए। अब उसके पास से रिश्ते सुधारने का कोई रास्ता नहीं बचा था, लेकिन जब के बाद से वह कभी भी दोबारा किसी को इतना दुखी नहीं करेगी।

On Saturday Maddie spent the afternoon with Peggy. They were writing a letter to Wanda Petronski. It was just a friendly letter talking about the contest and telling Wanda she had won. They told her how pretty her drawings were. And they asked her if she liked where she was living and if she liked her new teacher. They had meant to say they were sorry, but it ended up with their just writing a friendly letter, the kind they would have written to any good friend, and they signed it with lots of X for love. They mailed (sent by post डाक से भेजना) the letter to Boggins Heights, writing ‘Please Forward’ on the envelope.

शनिवार के दिन मैड़ी ने दोपहर बाद का समय पेग्गी के साथ बिताया। वे वाण्डा पेट्रोसकी को पत्र लिख रही थी। यह एक मित्रता भरा पत्र था जिसमें उसे मुकाबले के बारे में और वाण्डा की विजय के बारे में बता रही थी। उन्होंने उसे बताया कि उसकी चित्रकारियां कितनी सुंदर थीं और उन्होंने उससे पूछा कि क्या उसे वह जगह पसंद आ गई थी जहाँ वह रह रही थी और कि क्या उसे अपनी नई टीचर पसंद आ गई थी। उनका कहने का भाव था कि उन्हें खेद है। किंतु अंत में यह एक मित्रों वाले पत्र के रूप में समाप्त हो गया, एक ऐसा पत्र जो वे किसी एक अच्छे मित्र को लिखती, उन्होंने इस पर प्यार के अनेक प्रतीकों के में X अक्षर बनाकर इसे Boggins Heights के पते पर डाक में डाल दिया और लिफाफे पर लिख दिया, “कृपया अग्रेषित करें"

Days passed and there was no answer, but the letter did not come back, so maybe Wanda had received it. Perhaps she was so hurt and angry she was not going to answer. You could not blame her.

कई दिन बीत गए परंतु कोई उत्तर नहीं आया लेकिन पत्र भी वापस नहीं आया शायद वह वाण्डा को मिल गया हो। शायद वह इतनी आहत और क्रोधित हो कि पत्र का उत्तर ही न देना चाहती हो। आप उसे दोष नहीं दे सकते थे।

Weeks went by and still Wanda did not answer. Peggy had begun to forget the whole business, and Maddie put herself to sleep at night making speeches about Wanda, defending (protecting बचाना) her from great crowds of girls who were trying to tease (trouble someone कसी को तंग करना) her with, “How many dresses have you got?” And before Wanda could press her lips together in a tight line, the way she did before answering, Maddie would cry out, “Stop!” Then everybody would feel ashamed the way she used to feel.

कई सप्ताह बीत गए परंतु वाण्डा ने अभी भी उत्तर नहीं दिया। पेग्गी ने इस सारे मामले को भूलना शुरू कर दिया था और मैड़ी रात को वाण्डा के बारे बातें करते हुए स्वयं को सुला लेती थी, उसे लड़कियों की भारी भीड़ों से बचाते हुए जो उसे यह कर सताने की कोशिश कर रही होती तुम्हारे पास कितनी पोशाकें हैं?" और इससे पहले कि वांडा अपने होठों को एक पतली रेखा के रूप में कसकर बंद कर लेती। जैसा कि यह उत्तर देने से पहले किया करती थी। तब मैडी चिल्ला उठती, "बंद करो" तब हर कोई शर्मिंदा महसूस करता जैसा कि वह स्वयं को किया करती थी।

Now it was Christmas time and there was snow on the ground. Christmas bells and a small tree decorated (beautiful सुंदर) the classroom. On the last day of school before the holidays, the teacher showed the class a letter she had received that morning. “You remember Wanda Petronski, the gifted (talented गुणी) little artist who won the drawing contest? Well, she has written me, and I am glad to know where she lives, because now I can send her medal. I want to read her letter to you.” The class sat up with a sudden interest and listened intently. (with attention ध्यान से)

अब क्रिसमस का समय था और जमीन बर्फ से ढक गई थी। क्रिसमस की घंटियों और एक छोटे से वृक्ष ने कक्षा के कमरे को सजा दिया। छुट्टियों से पहले स्कूल के आखिरी दिवस को अध्यापिका ने कक्षा को एक पत्र दिखाया जो उसे उस सुबह ही मिला था। क्या आपको वाण्डा पेट्रॉसकी की याद है, वह छोटी-सी प्रतिभावान कलाकार जिसने चित्रकारी मुकाबला जीता था? उसने मुझे पत्र लिखा है, और मैं यह जानकर प्रसन्न हूँ कि वह कहाँ रहती है, क्योंकि अब मैं उसे पदक भेज सकती हूँ। मैं उसका पत्र आपको पढ़कर सुनाती हूँ।" कक्षा एकदम से पैदा हुई रुचि के साथ ध्यान से सुनने के लिए बैठ गई।

Dear Miss Mason, how are you and Room Thirteen? Please tell the girls they can keep those hundred dresses, because in my new house I have a hundred new ones, all lined up in my closet. I’d like that girl Peggy to have the drawing of the green dress with the red trimming, and her friend Maddie to have the blue one. For Christmas, I miss that school and my new teacher does not equalise with you.

Merry Christmas to you and everybody.
Yours truly,
Wanda Petronski

प्रिय मिस मेसन,
आप और कमरा नंबर तेरह कैसे हैं? कृपया लड़कियों से कह दीजिएगा कि वे उन सौ पोशाकों को अपने पास रख सकती हैं क्योंकि मेरे नए घर में मेरे पास सौ नई पोशाकें हैं, मेरी अलमारी में सारी पोशाकें पंक्ति में रखी हैं। मैं चाहूंगी कि पेग्गी नाम की लड़की लाल गोटे वाली हरे रंग की पोशाक का चित्र रख ले; और उसकी सहेली मैडी नीले वाली पोशाक ले। क्रिसमस के समय मुझे उस स्कूल की बहुत याद आ रही है और नई शिक्षक आपकी बराबरी की नहीं है। आपको तथा सबको शुभ क्रिसमस।
आपकी अपनी
 वाण्डा पेट्रॉसकी

On the way home from school Maddie and Peggy held their drawings very carefully. All the houses had wreaths (garlands मालाएँ) and holly (a plant एक पौधा) in the windows. Outside the grocery (a provisions shop किरयाने की दुकान) store, hundreds of Christmas trees were stacked (kept रखा), and in the window, candy (a sweet मिठाई) peppermint sticks and cornucopias (decorative containers सजावटी डिब्बे) of shiny transparent paper were strung. The air smelled like Christmas and light shining everywhere reflected (shown back परावर्तित किया) different colours on the snow.

स्कूल से घर लौटते समय मेडी और पेग्गी अपने-अपने चित्रों को बड़ी सावधानी से पकड़े हुए थीं। सभी घरों की खिड़कियों - पर मालाएँ और पवित्र पेड़ के पत्ते लटक रहे थे। करियाने की दुकान के बाहर क्रिसमस ट्री गड्डियों में बाँधकर रखे गए थे और खिड़की में मीठी पिपरमिंट और फूलों से भरे बर्तन जिनमें पारदर्शक चमकदार कागज लगे थे, वे बचे हुए थे। हवा क्रिसमस की भाँति सुगंधित थी और प्रकाश की चमक बर्फ पर हर जगह भिन्न-भिन्न रंगों का प्रदर्शन कर रही थी।

“Boy!” said Peggy, “this shows she really likes us. It shows she got our letter and this is her way of saying that everything’s all right. And that’s that.” “I hope so,” said Maddie sadly. She felt sad because she knew she would never see the little tight-lipped Polish girl again and couldn’t ever really make things right between them.

"वाह" पेगी ने कहा "इससे पता चलता है कि वह सचमुच हमें पसंद करती है। इससे पता चलता है कि उसे हमारा पत्र मिल गया था और यह उसका यह बताने का एक तरीका है कि सब कुछ ठीक ठाक है, और यही सब है। "मैं भी ऐसी ही आशा करती हूँ", मेडी ने उदासीपूर्वक कहा। वह उदास थी क्योंकि वह जानती थी कि वह फिर कभी उस कसे हुए होठों वाली पोलैंड वासी लड़की को नहीं देख पाएगी और फिर कभी भी अपने बीच की बात को नहीं सुधार पाएगी।

She went home and she pinned her drawing over a torn place in the pink-flowered wallpaper in the bedroom. The shabby room came alive from the brilliancy (brightness चमक) of the colours. Maddie sat down on her bed and looked at the drawing. She had stood by and said nothing, but Wanda had been nice to her, anyway.

वह घर चली गई और उसने अपने चित्र को सोने वाले गुलाबी फूलों वाली दीवारी कागज की फटी हुई जगह के ऊपर पिन लगाकर चिपका दिया शानदार रंगों के कारण वह भद्दा-सा दिखने वाला कमरा चमक उठा। मैडी अपने बिस्तर पर बैठ गई और चित्र की ओर देखने लगी। वह पास खड़ी रहती थी और कुछ नहीं बोलती थी लेकिन फिर भी वाण्डा उससे कितनी अच्छी तरह से पेश आई थी।

Tears blurred (unclear धुंधला) her eyes and she gazed (looked intently ध्यान से देखा) for a long time at the picture. Then hastily she rubbed her eyes and studied it intently. The colours in the dress were so vivid (clear स्पष्ट) that she had scarcely noticed the face and head of the drawing. But it looked like her, Maddie! It really looked like her own mouth. Why it really looked like her own self! Wanda had really drawn this for her. Excitedly, she ran over to Peggy’s. “Peg!” she said, “let me see your picture.”

आँसुओं ने उसकी आँखों को धुंधला कर दिया और वह बहुत देर तक चित्र को देखती रही। तब जल्दी से उसने अपनी आँखों को रगड़ा और ध्यान से चित्र का अध्ययन किया। पोशाक में दिए गए रंग इतने स्पष्ट थे कि उसने चित्र में बने चेहरे और सिर की तरफ मुश्किल से ही कोई ध्यान दिया था लेकिन वह उसके (मेडी) जैसा प्रतीत होता था। वह उसके अपने मुँह की भाँति दिखाई देता था। वह सचमुच में उसके जैसा क्यों दिखाई दे रहा था। वाण्डा ने सचमुच ही यह चित्र उसके लिए बनाया था। उत्तेजनापूर्वक यह भागकर पैरंगी के पास गई। "पेग्गी।" उसने कहा, "मुझे अपने वाला चित्र देखने दो।"

“What’s the matter?” asked Peggy, as they clattered up to her room where Wanda’s drawing was lying face down on the bed. Maddie carefully raised it. “Look! She drew you. That’s you!” she exclaimed. And the head and face of this picture did look like Peggy.

"क्या बात है?" पेग्गी ने पूछा, जब वे खटखट की आवाज करती हुई ऊपर उस कमरे में गई जहाँ वाण्डा का चित्र विस्तर पर उल्टा पड़ा था। मैडी ने उसे ध्यानपूर्वक उठाया। "देखो! उसने तुम्हारा चित्र बनाया है। यह तुम हो।" उसने विस्मयपूर्वक कहा और चित्र का सिर और चेहरा पेग्गी की तरह दिख रहा था।

“What did I say!” said Peggy, “She must have really liked us, anyway.” “Yes, she must have,” agreed Maddie, and she blinked away the tears that came every time she thought of Wanda standing alone in that sunny spot in the school yard, looking stolidly (without any feeling बिना सोचे) over at the group of laughing girls after she had walked off, after she had said, “Sure, a hundred of them, all lined up.”

"मैंने क्या कहा था?" पेग्गी ने कहा, "वह सचमुच हमें पसंद करती थी, किसी भी तरह से।" "हाँ, यह अवश्य ही पसंद करती होगी," मैडी ने सहमति प्रकट की तथा उसने आँखें झपकते हुए उन आँसुओं को हटा दिया जो हर बार निकल आते थे, जब वह वाण्डा के बारे में सोचती थी कि वह किस तरह से स्कूल के प्रांगण में धूप वाली जगह पर ही खड़ी रहा करती थी। जब यह हँस रही लड़कियों के समूह को शून्य ढंग से देखने के बाद चल दी होती थी, यह कहने के बाद, "निश्चित रूप से एक सौ, और सभी एक पंक्ति में रखी हुई।"

Exercises

COMPREHENSION Passages for HBSE/CBSE (exam style):

Passage I

Peggy was the most popular girl in school. She was pretty, she had many pretty clothes and her hair was curly. Maddie was her closest friend. The reason Peggy and Maddie noticed Wanda's absence was because Wanda had made them late to school. They had waited and waited for Wanda, to have some fun with her, and she just hadn't come.
They often waited for Wanda Petronski - to have fun with her. Wanda Petronski. Most of the children in Room Thirteen didn't have names like that. They had names easy to say, like Thomas, Smith or Allen. There was one boy named Bounce, Willie Bounce, and people thought that was funny, but not funny in the same way that Petronski was.

Word-meanings:
Popular famous (af);
curly hair wavy hair (ar)

Questions:

(a) Name the chapter.
A: The name of the chapter is 'The Hundred Dresses-I'.
(b) Who was Maddie's closest friend?
A: Peggy was Maddie's closest friend.
(c) Why did most of the children not like Wanda's name?
A: They did not like Wanda's name because it was a long and funny
(d) Why had Peggy and Maddie waited for Wanda ?
A: They wanted to have some fun with Wanda.
(e) Find out a word from the passage similar in meaning to 'famous'.
A: Popular.

Passage II

Today, even though they had been late to school, Maddie was glad she had not had to make fun of Wanda. She worked her arithmetic problems absent-mindedly. "Eight times eight-let's see..." She wished she had the nerve to write Peggy a note, because she knew she never would have the courage to speak right out to Peggy, to say, "Hey, Peg, let's stop asking Wanda how many dresses she has." When she finished her arithmetic she did start a note to Peggy. Suddenly she paused and shuddered. She pictured herself in the school yard, a new target for Peggy and the girls. Peggy might ask her where she got the dress that she had on, and Maddie would have to say it was one of Peggy's old ones that Maddie's mother had tried to disguise with new trimmings so no one in Room Thirteen would recognise it.

Word-meanings:
Absent-mindedly = without thinking much,
paused-stopped,
shuddered = trembled,
target=mark,
disguise-conceal

Questions:

(a) Why was Maddie glad?
A: Maddie was glad she had not had to make fun of Wanda.
(b) How did Maddie want to ask Peggy not to make fun of Wanda?
A: She wanted to ask Peggy not to make fun of Wanda by writing a note to her.
(c) What made Maddie feel 'shuddered'?
A: She shuddered when she thought that Peggy would find Maddie a new target for making fun of her.
(d) How did Maddie think Peggy would humiliate her?
A: She thought that Peggy would humiliate her by pointing out that she was wearing a dress given to her by her (Peggy's) mother.
(e) Find a word from the passage which means 'trembled'.
A: 'shuddered"

Passage III

The first period was a study period. Maddie tried to prepare her lessons, but she could not put her mind on her work. She had a very sick feeling in the bottom of her stomach. True, she had not enjoyed listening to Peggy ask Wanda how many dresses she had in her closet, but she had said nothing. She had stood by silently, and that was just as bad as what Peggy had done. Worse. She was a coward. At least Peggy hadn't considered they were being mean but she, Maddie, had thought they were doing wrong. She could put herself in Wanda's shoes.

Word-meanings:
Closet almirah,
coward lacking courage

Questions:

(a) What work did Maddie do in her first period?
A: Maddie tried to prepare her lessons.
(b) Why Maddie had a sick feeling at the bottom of her stomach?
A: Maddie could not put her mind on her work because she felt bad that Peggy had been mocking at Wanda.
(c) What had Maddie not enjoyed?
A: She had not enjoyed Peggy's asking Wanda about her dresses.
(d) What did Maddie think about Peggy's making fun of Wanda?
A: Maddie thought that it was all wrong.
(e) Find a phrase from the passage which means "lacking courage.
A: "coward'.

PASSAGE IV

"I think that's where the Petronskis live," said Maddie, pointing to a little white house. Wisps of old grass stuck up here and there along the pathway like thin kittens. The house and its sparse little yard looked shabby but clean. It reminded Maddie of Wanda's one dress, her faded blue cotton dress, shabby but clean. There was not a sign of life about the house. Peggy knocked firmly on the door, but there was no answer. She and Maddie went around to the backyard and knocked there. Still there was no answer. There was no doubt about it. The Petronskis were gone. How could they ever make amends? They turned slowly and made their way back down the hill.

Word-meanings:
Wisps - pieces,
kittens - young ones of cats,
sparse - not dense,
shabby - simple and cheap

Questions:

(a) Why did Maddie and Peggy go Wanda's house?
A: They went to Wanda's house to feel sorry what they had done to Wanda.
(b) How did Wanda's house look?
A: Wanda's house looked shabby but clean.
(c) What did Wanda's house remind Maddie of?
A: Wanda's house reminded Maddie of Wanda's one dress, her faded blue cotton dress.
(d) Were Maddie and Peggy able to meet Wanda?
A: No, they were not able to meet her as Wanda's family had already moved to another place.
(e) Find a word from the passage which means 'young ones of cats".
A: "kittens".

Watch our video on exercise of this lesson on YouTube:

Question And Answers

Q:1. What did Mr Petronski’s letter say?
Answer: Miss Mason received a letter from Wanda’s father, Mr Petronski. The letter said that Wanda would not come to school any more. They were moving to a big city. In that city, there would be no more fun on names. There were plenty of funny names in the city.

Q:2. Is Miss Mason angry with the class, or is she unhappy and upset?
Answer: No, Mrs Mason does not express any anger. However, she is very unhappy and upset about the way children have been treating Wanda.

Q:3. How does Maddie feel after listening to the note from Wanda’s father?
Answer: Maddie is very upset and sad over the development. She feels greatly hurt. She has a very sick feeling in the bottom of her stomach. She has a feeling to go and tell Wanda that they hadn’t meant to hurt her feeling by making fun of her.

Q:4. What does Maddie want to do?
Answer: Maddie wants to find out Wanda. She wants to tell her that she had never meant to hurt her feelings. She also wants to tell Wanda that she has won the contest and that her hundred dresses were beautiful.

Q:5. What excuses does Peggy think up for her behaviour? Why?
Answer: Peggy is also sad that due to her behaviour Wanda has left the school. But she tries to make excuses for her behaviour. She says that she did not call her a foreigner. She also did not make fun of her name. She only thought that Wanda was dumb and had no sense to know that they were mocking at her.

Q:6. What are Maddie’s thoughts as they go to Boggins Heights?
Answer: Maddie thought that they would find Wanda there and feel sorry for their bad behaviour. They would also tell her how the whole school liked her. They would also say that they would fight anybody who was not nice to her.

Q:7. Why does Wanda’s house remind Maddie of Wanda’s blue dress?
Answer: Wanda’s house is simple, shabby but clean. The house reminds Maddie of Wanda blue dress because both look similar. Wanda’s faded blue cotton dress was also shabby but clean.

Q:8. What does Maddie think hard about? What important decision does she come to?
Answer: She thought about Wanda, her little house, her faded blue dress and glowing pictures of hundred dresses. She came to the conclusion that she would never again stand by if she saw anyone being picked on. She would speak up and stop all that.

Q:9. What did the girls write to Wanda?
Answer: Maddie and Peggy wrote a letter to Wanda. In the letter, they wrote about Wanda’s pretty drawings. They asked her if she liked her new place and her new teacher. They had meant to feel sorry for their behaviour. But in the end, it turned out to be just a friendly letter.

Q:10. Did they get a reply? Who was more anxious for a reply, Peggy or Maddie? How do you know?
Answer: No, the girls did not get any reply. It was Maddie who was more anxious for a reply. While Peggy had begun to forget all about the matter, Maddie always went to sleep thinking about Wanda. In her thoughts, she would even get angry with the girls who tried to tease Wanda.

Q:11. How did the girls know that Wanda liked them even though they had teased her?
Answer: In her letter Wanda wrote that two special drawings should be given to Peggy and Maddie. She wished all a merry Christmas. This shows that Wanda liked the girls.

Thinking about the text

Q:12. Why do you think Wanda’s family moved to a different city? Do you think life there was going to be different for their family?
Answer: Wanda was ridiculed by Peggy, Maddie and other girls just because she had a long name and her poverty. Just because she wore the same blue faded dress every day, they mocked at her. Due to this attitude, Wanda’s father decides to go to a bigger city. Because it offered better prospects. He thinks that a big city has many people with unfamiliar names, so the children there will heave a sigh of relief as nobody would tease them there. But I don’t think that would make much difference. Racial prejudices have always been there everywhere and they exist even now.

Q:13. Maddie thought her silence was as bad as Peggy’s teasing. Was she right?
Answer: Yes, Maddie was perfectly right in what she thought. Peggy used to ridicule Wanda about her dresses. It is mean to tease someone for his or her poverty. Maddie did feel that it was bad on Peggy’s part. But she never tried to stop her. She would just stand by and say nothing. But when Wanda left the school because of Peggy’s teasing, Maddie began to curse herself. She felt that her standing by silently was as bad as Peggy’s teasing. It was even worse. It showed she was a coward. She had not the courage to speak out what she thought was wrong. Maddie repentance showed that she has a noble heart.

Q:14. Peggy says, “I never thought she had the sense to know we were making fun of her anyway. I thought she was too dumb. And gee, look how she can draw!” What led Peggy to believe that Wanda was dumb? Did she change her opinion later?
Answer: Peggy and other girls often ridiculed Wanda. They mocked at her by asking her how many dresses she had. But Wanda never got angry. She would only draw her mouth tight. She would reply innocently that she had hundred dresses. She said everything silently and seriously. That is why Peggy thought that Wanda was dumb. Peggy changed her opinion later.

Q:15. What important decision did Maddie make? Why did she have to think hard to do so?
Answer: When she returned from Boggins Heights, Maddie became restless. She was remembering Wanda, her blue dress, and her house again and again. She could not even sleep. She was thinking herself guilty because she never opposed Peggy in teasing Wanda and was deeply distressed. At last, she came to a conclusion that she would never stand by one who does wrong and would not be a mute spectator in future. She made a decision of acting swiftly in such circumstances in future without caring about the aftermath of it. Be it confrontation even with Peggy.

Q:16. Why do you think Wanda gave Maddie and Peggy the drawings of the dresses? Why are they surprised?
Answer: In her letter to Mrs Mason, Wanda asked her to present blue dress to Maddie and green dress to Peggy as she drew these dresses for these two girls. Here, artist in Wanda took her revenge in a sweet and noble manner. She has painted the faces of Maddie and Peggy in these two dresses. It reveals that she likes them even though they mocked at her. She is silently acknowledging their friendship and that she was not having any hard feeling about them. Peggy and Maddie too have realized their follies and were convinced that Wanda was a creative and intelligent girl who liked them in spite of their cold and insensitive attitude.

Q:17. Do you think Wanda really thought the girls were teasing her? Why or why not?
Answer: Yes, Wanda did know that they were teasing her. But she never reacted. She was very wise for her age. She won the contest and thus put to shame all those who teased her.

Thinking about Language

I. Here are thirty adjectives describing human qualities. Discuss them with your partner and put them in the two-word webs (given below) according to whether you think they show positive or negative qualities. You can consult a dictionary if you are not sure of the meanings of some of the words. You may also add to the list the positive or negative ‘pair’ of a given 30 words.
kind, sarcastic, courteous, arrogant, insipid, timid, placid, cruel, haughty, proud, zealous, intrepid, sensitive, compassionate, introverted, stolid, cheerful, contented, thoughtless, vain, friendly, unforgiving, fashionable, generous, talented, lonely, determined, creative, miserable, complacent

POSITIVE QUALITIES: 16:

Kind: caring about others;
Courteous: polite and pleasant, showing respect for other people शिष्‍ट, भद्र, विनम्र और प्रीतिकर
Placid: (used about a person or an animal) calm and not easily excited (व्‍यक्ति या पशु) शांत और जल्‍दी उत्तेजित न होने वाला
Zealous: using great energy and enthusiasm ऊर्जावान या ऊर्जापूर्ण उत्‍साही, उत्‍साहपूर्ण
Sensible: able to make good judgements based on reason and experience; practical (व्‍यक्ति और उसका आचरण) तर्क और अनुभव पर आधारित निर्णय करने में समर्थ; समझदार; व्‍यवहार-कुशल
Compassionate: feeling or showing sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad luck of others, and wanting to help them
Cheerful: feeling happy; showing that you are happy प्रसन्‍न, प्रमुदित; हँसमुख
Contented: happy or satisfied प्रसन्‍न या संतुष्‍ट
Friendly: treating somebody as a friend किसी के साथ मैत्रीपूर्ण व्‍यवहार करते हुए
Fashionable: considering fashion to be important शौक़ीन, फ़ैशन-पसंद
Generous: larger than usual सामान्‍य से अधिक; प्रचुर, उदार
Intrepid: without any fear of danger संकट के भय से रहित; निर्भीक
Talented: talented, gifted, with talent; able or skilful: प्रतिभासंपन्‍न, प्रवीण
Determined: having firmly decided to do something or to succeed, even if it is difficult कठिन होने के बावजूद किसी काम में सफलता प्राप्त करने का संकल्प, कृतसंकल्‍प, दृढ़निश्‍चयी
Creative: involving the use skill or imagination to make or do new things कौशल या कल्‍पना के प्रयोग से रचना करते हुए; रचनात्‍मक, सृजनात्‍मक
Complacent: feeling too satisfied with yourself or with a situation, so that you think that there is no need to worry अपनी उन्‍नति से अति-संतुष्‍ट व निश्चिंत

NEGATIVE QUALITIES: 14:

Sarcastic: Someone who is sarcastic says or does the opposite of what they really mean in order to mock or insult someone. व्‍यंग्‍यात्‍मक
Arrogant: thinking that you are better and more important than other people अक्‍खड़, घमंडी, अभिमानी
Insipid: having too little taste, flavour or colour बेस्‍वाद या फीका, स्‍वादहीन
Timid: easily frightened; shy and nervous जल्‍दी डर जाने वाला, भीरु; संकोची और जल्‍दी घबरा जाने वाला
Cruel: causing physical or mental pain or suffering to somebody/something किसी को शारीरिक अथवा मानसिक पीड़ा देनेवाला; निर्मम, क्रूर
Haughty: proud, and thinking that you are better than other people घमंडी और स्‍वयं को दूसरों से बेहतर समझना; दंभी, उद्घत
Proud: feeling pleased and satisfied about something that you own or have done किसी उपलब्धि पर हर्षित और संतुष्‍ट; गर्वित या गर्वयुक्त, गौरवान्वित
Introverted: a typically reserved or quiet person who tends to be introspective and enjoys spending time alone अंतर्मुख
Stolid: showing very little emotion or excitement भावशून्‍य, निर्विकार व्‍यक्ति
Thoughtless: not thinking about what other people want or need or what the result of your actions will be दूसरों की इच्‍छा या आवश्‍यकता का ध्‍यान न रखने वाला या अपने ऐसे व्‍यवहार के परिणाम के प्रति बेपरवाह; स्‍वार्थी या बेलिहाज़
Vain: useless; failing to produce the result you want व्‍यर्थ, बेकार; निष्‍फल, बेनतीजा
Unforgiving: not willing to forgive or excuse people's faults or wrongdoings.
Lonely: sad because one has no friends or company.
Miserable:  wretchedly unhappy or uncomfortable.

II. What adjectives can we use to describe Peggy, Wanda and Maddie? You can choose adjectives from the list above. You can also add some of your own.
Answer:
1. Peggy: Zealous, cheerful, friendly, fashionable, intrepid, talented, sarcastic, arrogant, cruel, haughty, proud, thoughtless, unforgiving,
2. Wanda: Courteous, Placid, Sensible, contended, generous, talented, determined, complacent, creative, insipid, introverted, stolid, lonely
3. Maddie: kind, Compassionate, talented, determined, sarcastic, timid, vain, miserable

III. 1. Find the sentences in the story with the following phrasal verbs.
Answer:
lined up: “yeah, a hundred and all lined up,” said Wanda.
thought up: Peggy, who has thought up this game, and Maddie, her inseparable friend, were always the last to leave.
took off: Miss Mason took off her glasses.
stood by: She had stood by silently and that just as bad as Peggy had done.

2. Look up these phrasal verbs in a dictionary to find out if they can be used in some other way. (Look at the entries for line, think, take and stand in the dictionary.) Find out what other prepositions can go with these verbs. What does each of these phrasal verbs mean?
Answer:
Line with – lined with trees, line up(form a queue), line something up(arrange)
Think up - (make a plan), think about(recall), think ahead(anticipate), think back(recall, reconsider), think over(reflect upon)
Take off – Remove, take on(assume), take out(bring out), take away(brought)
Stand by – stand near, give support, stand back(move back), stand down(heave the witness box), stand in(take someone’s place), stand out(be prominent)

3. Use at least five such phrasal verbs in sentences of your own.
Answer:
Lined with - The bank is lined with beautiful Daffodils.
Think about – Maddie thought about what she had done and felt regret.
Took off – Miss Mason took off her glasses.
Stand by – Maddie had always stand by silently in Peggy’s wrong doings.
Take over – The new teacher has taken over the charge of Wanda’s class.

IV. Colours are used to describe feelings, moods and emotions. Match the following ‘colour expressions’ with a suggested paraphrase.
(i) the Monday morning – feel embarrassed/angry/ashamed blues
(ii) go red in the face – feel very sick, as if about to vomit
(iii) look green – sadness or depression after a weekend of fun
(iv) the red carpet – the sign or permission to begin an action
(v) blue-blooded – a sign of surrender or acceptance of defeat; a wish to stop fighting
(vi) a green belt – in an unlawful act; while doing something wrong
(vii) a blackguard – a photographic print of building plans; a detailed plan or scheme
(viii) a grey area – land around a town or city where construction is prohibited by law
(ix) a white flag – an area of a subject or a situation where matters are not very clear
(x) a blueprint – a dishonest person with no sense of right or wrong
(xi) red-handed – a special welcome
(xii) the green light – of noble birth or from a royal family

SOLUTIONS
(i) the Monday morning – sadness or depression after a weekend of fun
(ii) go red in the face – feel embarrassed/angry/ashamed blues
(iii) look green – feel very sick, as if about to vomit
(iv) the red carpet – a special welcome
(v) blue-blooded – of noble birth or from a royal family
(vi) a green belt – land around a town or city where construction is prohibited by law
(vii) a blackguard – a dishonest person with no sense of right or wrong
(viii) a grey area – an area of a subject or a situation where matters are not very clear
(ix) a white flag – a sign of surrender or acceptance of defeat; a wish to stop fighting
(x) a blueprint – a photographic print of building plans; a detailed plan or scheme
(xi) red-handed – in an unlawful act; while doing something wrong
(xii) the green light – the sign or permission to begin an action

Writing

1. Look again at the letter which Wanda’s father writes to Miss Mason, Wanda’s teacher. Mr Petronski is not quite aware how to write a formal letter in English. Can you rewrite it more appropriately? Discuss the following with your partner before you do so. Go for this video on writing a formal letter



The format of a formal letter: How to begin the letter and how to end it; the language of the letter needs to be formal. (Avoid informal words like “holler” and fragments like “No more ask why funny name.”) Write complete sentences.

2. Rewrite a part of the story as if Wanda is telling us her own story.
Students should try to write this story their own. When story is complete, you will shoot a video telling this story and send your video of this story telling on our whatsapp number 9466707359 (VIJAY), we will upload your story on our YouTube channel.

EXAMINATION STYLE TERM I BASED MCQs (both CBSE and HBSE)

Watch our video on YouTube on MCQs of lesson:

Multiple Choice Questions

Q1- Who wrote a letter to Miss Mason?
(A) Mr Petronski
(B) Peggy
(C) the headmistress
(D) Maddie
Q2. Who read Mr Petroski’s letter to the class?
(A) Miss Mason
(B) the headmistress
(C) Maddie
(D) none of the above
Q3- Who is Miss Mason?
(A) headmistress
(B) Wanda's mother
(C) teacher
(D) a stude
Q4- Where had Wanda's family gone?
(A) to a village
(B) to their own country
(C) to a big city
(D) none of the above
Q5- Jan’s tone in the writing of the letter is not
(A) distressing.
(B) spiteful
(C) hurt.
(D) painful.
Q6- What according to the letter was the primary reason that prompted Mr Petronski to take the decision to move to a big city?
(A) His wish to achieve success in the big city.
(B) His urge to join his relatives who mostly lived in the big city.
(C) His anxiety over their poverty in the small city.
(D) His agony about his children being viewed as ‘outsiders’ by their schoolmates.
Q7- The phrase ‘Pollack’ reveals a discrimination on the basis of
(A) race.
(B) gender.
(C) religion.
(D) wealth.
Q8- What did the letter convey?
(A) Wanda wasn’t well
(B) Wanda won’t be attending school
(C) they have moved to the big city
(D) both 2 and 3
Q9- What else was mentioned in the letter?
(A) her drawings
(B) her medal
(C) the school
(D) her funny name
Q10- Who wrote a letter to Wanda?
(A) Miss Mason
(B) both Peggy and Maddie
(C) Peggy
(D) Jan
Q11- Who has hurt the feelings of Wanda?
(A) Peggy
(B) Miss Mason
(C) Maddie
(D) the whole class
Q12- How did Miss Mason feel about whatever happened with Wanda?
(A) unfortunate
(B) sad
(C) cruel
(D) both A and B
Q13- How would you describe Miss Mason’s feelings towards the class?
(A) Angry
(B) Upset
(C) Happy
(D) Cheerful
Q14- Wanda’s house was ____
(A) on a cliff
(B) on top of a hill
(C) by the river
(D) in the forest
Q15- What was the description of the house which Maddie thought to be Wanda’s house?
(A) Little white house
(B) Big white house
(C) Small green cottage
(D) Tiny Red hut
Q16- 'So Peggy had the same idea! Maddie glowed' What was the idea?
(A) To tease Wanda one more time
(B) To go and look for Wanda at Boggins Height
(C) To apologise to Wanda
(D) Both A and B
Q17- Who visited Boggins Heights that evening?
(A) Peggy
(B) Maddie
(C) both (A) and (B)
(D) the headmistress
Q18- What was just as bad as what Peggy had done?
(A) Maddie staying silent while Peggy teased Wanda
(B) Maddie not stopping Peggy
(C) Maddie teasing Wanda
(D) None of the above
Q19- What did Maddie think of herself after the letter was read out loud?
(A) Grateful
(B) Lucky
(C) Hero
(D) Coward
Q20- 'She felt sad because she knew she would never see the little tight-lipped Polish girl again' Who is she here?
(A) Peggy
(B) Wanda
(C) Maddie
(D) All of the above
Q21- What important decision does Maddie take?
(A) Unfriending Peggy
(B) visiting Wanda
(C) stop others from bullying
(D) all of the above
Q22- What do you mean by 'picking on someone'?
(A) Unfairly criticising them
(B) Taking something from them
(C) Taking them somewhere
(D) None of the above
Q23- How did they contact Wanda?
(A) Letter
(B) Phone call
(C) Email
(D) They visited her
Q24- Who was more anxious for a reply?
(A) Maddie
(B) Peggy
(C) Miss Mason
(D) All of them
Q25- What excuses does Peggy think of for her behaviour?
(A) Wanda didn’t know she was being made fun of
(B) she got the idea of hundred drawings only when Peggy asked her
(C) None of these
(D) Both A and B
Q26- What did they write in the letter?
(A) apology
(B) Her drawings and that she won
(C) asked about new city
(D) both 2 and 3
Q27- Why did they think Wanda wouldn’t reply?
(A) she didn’t know how to read
(B) she didn’t know how to write
(C) She must’ve been sad and angry
(D) all of the above
Q28- Where did Peggy and Maddie mail the letter to Wanda?
(A) Boggins Heights
(B) Poland
(C) the big city
(D) none of the above
Q29- How did Wanda's house at Boggins Heights look?
(A) shabby
(B) clean
(C) beautiful
(D) both (A) and (B)
Q30- What was Maddie reminded of by the Petronski’s house?
(A) how they teased her
(B) how she could stop all of it
(C) Wanda’s drawings
(D) Wanda’s dress; unironed but clean
Q31- Who did Wanda send a letter to?
(A) Peggy
(B) the headmistress
(C) Maddie
(D) Miss Mason
Q32- What was the tone of Wanda’s reply?
(A) Friendly
(B) Angry
(C) ungrateful
(D) hatred
Q33- Who was really troubled over Wanda's incident?
(A) Peggy
(B) Miss Mason
(C) Maddie
(D) all of the above
Q34- What was used to decorate the classroom on Christmas?
(A) bells
(B) tree
(C) both
(D) None of the above
Q35- What do you mean cornucopias?
(A) decorative buckets full of water
(B) dirty containers
(C) decorative containers usually full of flowers and fruits
(D) dirty buckets
Q36- All the houses had ________and _______ in the windows.
(A) Nothing
(B) Holly
(C) Wreaths
(D) Both holly and wreaths
Q37- What drawing did Peggy get?
(A) the green coloured dress with red trimmings
(B) the blue coloured dress
(C) the hundred dresses
(D) all of the above
Q38- What was the colour of the dress in Peggy’s drawing?
(A) red
(B) green
(C) blue
(D) white
Q39- What drawing did Maddie get?
(A) the green dress with red trimmings
(B) the blue dress
(C) none of the above.
(D) all the hundred dresses
Q40- What did Maddie notice in the drawings?
(A) Wanda drew their faces
(B) they were beautiful
(C) Wanda wrote notes for them
(D) all of the above
Q41- What did Peggy infer from the drawing?
(A) Wanda was a good artist
(B) Wanda liked them
(C) Wanda hated them
(D) Both 1 and 2
Q42- Who did Maddie find in her bedroom drawing?
(A) Peggy
(B) Maddie herself
(C) Wanda Petronski
(D) an unknown
Q43- What was Maddie’s reaction on receiving the drawing?
(A) sad
(B) happy
(C) excited
(D) neutral

Tally Answers:
1a 2a 3c 4c 5b 6d 7a 8d
9d 10b 11d 12d 13b 14b 15a 16d
17c 18a 19d 20c 21c 22a 23a 24a
25d 26d 27c 28a 29d 30d 31d 32a
33c 34c 35c 36d 37a 38b 39b 40a 41b 42b 43a

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