Page 99 - English Class 06

The bomb raised its voice and said, “I’m only a bomb, you are asking too much from

me,” and it cried tears of melted gunpowder and copper because it wasn’t possible for it to
do what the boy had asked. It suffered greatly when it thought of all the things that could
have been constructed, the people who could have had health and of all those who could
have learnt to read and write with the money that it and the other bombs had cost.

When the boy saw the bomb crying, he felt very sad. “You can go,” he said, “But, do not
harm anyone.” The bomb decided not to go to any war field. It asked the boy if it could stay

in that town. However, it also understood that it was a danger for the people because it
might explode and wipe out everything and everyone, inadvertently . The bomb finally made
a decision. It called the boy who was about to leave and asked him, “Please remove the
entrails from me with great care. I’ll tell you how.”
inadvertently : unknowingly
The boy understood what the bomb wanted to do. He
entrail : internal organs
took it apart and took out everything it had inside. He threw plaza : a public place in a town
into the sea all the parts that could explode. The wires could
be used to improve the lighting of the plaza , which for years had been as dark as the mouth
of a wolf.

Today, there is a legend that has been passed on by word of mouth. People say that the
bomb is like those great sea shells wherein the waves of the sea are heard. The only
difference is that when one places the ear on the cold steel of the shell, one listens not to

the sea, neither to the sound of war, but to songs and more songs of peace. Some people
say that on Saturday mornings, the bomb smiles.

Only the shell of the bomb remains. The kid carried it and now it lies there in the middle
of the plaza. The people have planted flowers all around and the children paint drawings on
the shell and they all sing.

Draw UP
Draw UP
Draw UP
Imagine that you and your brother/sister are alone at home, when a thunderstorm breaks.
The lights go off; the lightning crackles. What would you do? Role-play the situation. Think
of something like the following.

Student A : The lights have gone off. Where are the candles?
Student B : In the kitchen, I think.

Student A : Oops! I have bumped into something.
Student B : ___________________________________________________________________

English-6 99