Junior Vocab
The Giant Slide Adventure
Ananya: "Ayaan, you go first on the giant slide. You’re the bravest."
Ayaan: "Nooo, you go! You’re older. And you climbed that mango tree last summer."
Ananya: "That was different. The tree was in Paati’s yard. This slide looks like it touches the clouds."
Ayaan: "Look, even my knees are shaking like jelly. The bravest person shouldn’t have jelly-knees."
Amma: "Both of you love this fair, right? The lights, the smells of popcorn and roasted corn?"
Ananya: "Yes… but my stomach is doing somersaults just looking down."
Ayaan: "Mine too. I can smell the pani puri and also my fear."
Amma: "Being the bravest doesn’t mean not feeling scared. It means choosing what to do with the fear."
Ananya: "Like when you got your injection and didn’t cry, Ayaan? You still held my hand so tight."
Ayaan: "I wanted to run away, but I stayed. Was that… brave?"
Amma: "Very. Just like Ananya was brave when she sang alone on stage at the school assembly."
Ananya: "My voice was shaking, but I finished the song. My teacher said my eyes were shining."
Ayaan: "So… we can be scared and still be the bravest?"
Amma: "You can be scared and still take one small step forward."
Ananya: "Okay. I’ll sit first, but you hold my shoulder."
Ayaan: "And I’ll sit right behind you, but don’t close your eyes the whole time!"
Ananya: "Deal. We’ll scream together. One, two, three—"
Ayaan: "Aaaah! This is so fast! My hair is flying like Amma’s dupatta!"
Ananya: "We’re flying! It’s like sliding down a rainbow made of wind!"
[They reach the bottom, breathless and laughing.]
Ayaan: "Again! Let’s go again!"
Ananya: "You want to go again? Now you’re the bravest."
Ayaan: "No, we’re the bravest together. My hand plus your shoulder."
Amma: "And two beating hearts that didn’t let fear win."