Beard... - A Short Story

By Maithreyi Chandrasekaran

My dad grew a long beard and is going to shave his beard on Wednesday…

My mom’s encouragement and reading Sudha Murthy’s book made me write this book about my dad’s beard…

Beard…

Once upon a time there was a naughty little girl whose name was Mi-Mi.

She was jumping from the sofa and being so naughty.

She used to ask her dad to play with her all the time when he was working.

She used to ask her mom to come out to play with her.

One day something wanted her to insist her dad to grow a long beard like Bropunzel.

So, he grew a very long beard. Mi-Mi loved it so much and combed it every day.

She also asked him to sweep the floor with his long beard.

Once they saw something coming out of his long beard. They saw it carefully and figured out that it was a frog. They all laughed, and her dad was like EEEEEWWWWWWWW…

One day he was very tired with his long beard, and wanted to shave it.

“Mi-Mi come over here! I have something to tell you.” said her dad. “Yes! Yes! coming dad” said Mi-Mi. “This may be unhappy but there is no other choice come quickly here,” said her dad. “What could it be!” wondered Mi-Mi.

So, she came, and her dad told her everything. She was very disappointed but there was nothing else to do.

So, she suggested we should discuss with mom. They both screamed to make her mom come here.

“Can’t you wait! I am washing the bowls. Wait for at least 10 min,” said her mom.

“It’s very important please come right now” said dad and Mi-Mi.

“Ok! Ok! I will come,” said her mom angrily.

“I just think they have lost their patience” thought her mom.

So, her mom came, and they both said about it. Her mom said to Mi-Mi that your dad is right. Just don’t be that upset ok! Do you understand? “Yes, mom!” said Mi-Mi sadly.

Mi-Mi asked, “Dad, why do you have to shave your long beard?”

“Why are you so tired with your long beard?”

“It is so long, and I can’t manage it.” said her dad.

Her dad started shaving his long beard.

“Dad, I have an idea why don’t you grow a little shorter beard”? said Mi-Mi. “But only after a week,” said her dad. “That’s fine.” said Mi-Mi.

She was very joyful now.

And her dad grew a shorter beard and only trimmed it sometimes. So, they all lived happily ever after.

The End

Glossary

1. Insist: Demand something forcefully, not accepting refusal.

2. Bropunzel: A man with beard like Rapunzel.

3. Figured: Solve a problem or discover the answer to a question.

4. Shave: (A man) Taking beard off.

5. Wondered: Thinking about what it could be.

6. Disappointed: Being sad about something which or someone who had failed to fulfil expectations.

7. Discuss: To talk with others and decide.

8. Screamed: To shout.

9. Patience: To wait.

10. Trimmed: Small cut for beard, hair etc...

    
    

By Maithreyi Chandrasekaran