Jahnavi goes to school

Jahnavi gathered courage (made herself brave). Next day she reached the school, panting and out of breath, and stood by the door listening. The teacher was reading a story about a prince called Aśhoka, who became a great king.

Little Appu had fallen asleep on her shoulder. She crept nearer and nearer until she was in the back row, sitting on the earth floor with the others. Appu made no noise, and she listened.

"Where did you spring from, little girl?" asked the teacher. (Spring from = suddenly appear.) "What's your name? You're new." One boy said, "She's Gopi's sister." Another said, "Her name is Jahnavi." "So you're Gopi's little sister? Nice lad, Gopi."

Then the teacher said the words that changed everything: "If you really, really want to come to my school, Jahnavi, we'll talk to your father. Don't worry. We'll find a way."

The next evening, while Jahnavi was lighting the lamp, she saw the teacher walking up to their gate. Her father was scratching his cheek, the way he did when he was worried, and the teacher was nodding and talking.

Then her mother said, "Little Jahnavi, I shall miss you when you go to school. Girls should learn as much as they want. When I was your age, I wanted to go to school, but your grandmother said no. Now I'm glad the teacher came." Her mother had lost the same chance long ago!

Jahnavi said, "Mother, when I grow up, I'll be a teacher. I'll go from house to house and ask all the little girls to come to my school, and teach them everything I learn."

Then she ran down the path to the River: "I did it! I was scared, but I did it! They're letting me go!" She heard the River's sleepy chuckle: "Come again, little girl, and I'll tell you all about the ships that sail the sea."