DON BOSCOSCHOOLOFEXCELLENCE,SENI

ORSECONDARY
UNIT1-THELOSTCHILD
BYMULKRAJANAND
REFERENCEMATERI
AL

Theme
Achi l
dl ooksatt hiswor ldwi thwi deey es.Hei sat t
ractedt owar dsmostoft het hingshecomes
acrossi ndai l
yl if
e.Thechi ldwant st opossessal lt
hingst hathei sat tr
act edt o.Butv eryof t
en, the
parent sar enotabl et of ulfilthewi shesoft hechi l
d.Thi smaybeduet ot wor easons.Ei t
hert heyare
notabl et oaf for ditort heyf eelthatapar ti
cularthingi snotgoodf ort hechi ld.Thechi l
dmaynot
under standt hisandmayev enf eel angr y.Butt hechi ldunder standst hewor thofhi spar ent si ntheir
absence.Hel ongsf orhi spar entsandcr i
esf ort hem.I nthisst orywef i
ndt hechi ldcry i
ngf orhis
parent swhenheget slostandnot hingel semat terstohi m.
TheLostChi ld-Just i
ficat i
onoft heTi t
le
“TheLostChi ld”descr i
besanepi sodei nt helifeofachi l
dwhoget slosti naf air.Allthei ncident sin
thest oryar eaboutt hischi ld.Thewr i
terf ocuseshi sat tentionont hecont rasti nt hebehav iouroft he
chil
dbef or eandaf t erget t
ingl ost.Thewr it
er’sunder standingoft hepsy chol ogyofl i
ttlechi ldren,
especi all
ydur ingt heabsenceoft hei rpar ents,isreflectedint hisst ory.Hence, thet i
tl
ei sv er y
appropr iate.
TheLostChi ld-Message:
Duringchi ldhood, wel ongf orsomanyt hingsweseei nday -to-dayl if
e.Thechi l
di sattract edt owards
somanyt hi ngshecomesacr oss.Butv eryof t
enhedoesnotunder standt het ruev al
ueofhi spar ents
andt aket hem f orgr ant ed.Thesi gnificanceofpar entsisonl yreal i
sedwhent heyar eoutofsi ghtand
west ar tlongi ngf ort hem.Wer eal
iset hatwecannotcar r
yonwi t
houtt hehel pofourpar ent s.Thisis
whatt hechi ldr ealisesoncehegotl osti nthef air.Inthef air,thechi l
dcomesacr ossmanyt hingshe
want st obuy .Buti sr efusedbyhi spar ent s.Finally,heisat tract edbyt her oundaboutandgoesneari t.
Heget ssepar atedf rom hi spar entsandsuddenl ymi ssest hem.Thoughamant r
iestocal mt hechild
byof feringmanyt hings, thechi ldwant edonl yhi spar ents.

I
Twast hef esti
valofspring.From t hewi ntr
yshadesofnar r
owl anesandal l
eysemer gedagailycl
ad
humani ty
.Somewal ked, somer odeonhor ses, other
ssat,beingcarri
edi nbambooandbul l
ockcart
s.
Onel i
ttl
eboyr anbetweenhi sfather’slegs,brimmi ngoverwithlif
eandl aughter.
wintryshadesofnar rowl anesandal l
eys:inthewi nterseason,thenarrowl aneswer eful
lofshade.
Emer ged:cameout
Brimmi ngover :t
obef ullofsomet hing
Thest oryissetinthespr i
ngseason.Ast hewi nterseasonhadj ustended,allthepeoplecameout
oftheirhouses.Theywer echeerfulast hechi l
lingcoldweatherhadended.Peopl econveyed
throughdifferentmodes-f oot,horses, bamboocar tsandbul l
ockcarts.Alittl
echil
dwas
accompani edbyhi spar ents.Her anexci tedlyandof tenbangedi nt
ohisf ather’
slegs.Hewasf ul
lof
l
ife,excit
ementandl aught er.

“Come, chil
d,come,”cal
ledhi
spar ent
s,ashel
aggedbehind,f
asci
nat
edbythetoy
sint
heshopsthat
l
inedtheway .
Laggedbehi nd:wasleftbehi
ndFascinatedby
:attr
actedto
Linedtheway :weresetupalongt heway .
Thechildwasat tr
actedt ot
het oyswhichwer
edisplayedatt
hevari
ousst
all
s.Ashewoul
dbeleft
behind,hisparent
swoul dcallhimtocomewiththem.

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 DON BOSCOSCHOOLOFEXCELLENCE,SENI
ORSECONDARY
UNIT1-THELOSTCHILD
BYMULKRAJANAND
REFERENCEMATERI
AL
Hehur riedtowar dshisparents,hisfeetobedi enttotheircall
,hisey esstil
lli
ngeri
ngont herecedi
ng
toys.Ashecamet owheretheyhadst oppedt owai tforhim,hecoul dnotsuppresst hedesir
eofhis
hear t
,event houghhewel lknewt heol d,col
dst ar
eofr efusali
nt heireyes.
Lingering:lasti
ngf oralongtimeRecedi ng:leftbehindashewal kedaheadSuppr ess:putanendto
Cold:wi thoutanyf eel
ings,emot i
ons
Thechi ldwasobedi entandwoul dwal ktowar dsthem onbei ngcal ledbuthisey eswoul dkeepon
l
ooki ngatt hetoy sthathewant ed.Asher eachedt hem, hecouldn'tcontrolhisdesiretobuyatoy.
Hewasf amili
artot hereacti
ont hatthef at
herwoul dgive.Heknewt hattheywoul dstar
ehim
i
ndi cati
ngdeni altobuyhi mt hetoy.Thechi ldknewt heemot ionlesswayi nwhicht heywouldst
are
athi m.

“Iwantt hattoy,
”hepleaded.
Thechi ldwasunabl etocontrolhi
sdesir
eanyl onger.Hesai
dt hathewantedtobuythet
oy.
Hisfatherlookedathimr ed-
ey ed,
inhi
sfamil
iartyrant
’sway.
Tyrant:acr uelandoppressi
ver ul
e
Thef ather’
sey esgrewredwithanger.Helookedatt hechi
ldjustli
keacruelr
ulerwhowast
ryi
ngt
o
oppresshi m.

Hismot her
,mel t
edbythef reespiri
tofthedaywast enderand,
giv
inghim her
fi
ngertohold,said,“
Look,child,whatisbef
oreyou!”
Melted:becamet enderandl ovi
ng
Themot herbecameemot ionalduet othecheer
fulmood.Lovingl
y,shegaveherfi
ngert
othechi
ld
toholdandgui dedhimtoapl ace.Sheaskedhimt oseewhatwasi nfrontofhi
m.

Itwasaf l
ower i
ngmust ard-f
iel
d, paleli
kemel tinggol dasitsweptacr ossmi l
esandmi l
esofev en
l
and.Agr oupofdr agonf l
ieswer ebust li
ngaboutont heirgaudypur plewi ngs,i
ntercepti
ngt hefl
ightof
alonebl ackbeeorbut terfl
yinsear chofsweet nessf rom thef l
ower s.Thechi l
df oll
owedt hem i
nt he
airwithhisgaze, ti
lloneoft hem woul dsti
lli
tswi ngsandr est,andhewoul dt r
ytocat chit.Buti
t
woul dgof lut
ter
ing,f l
apping,upint otheair,whenhehadal mostcaughti ti
nhi shands.Thenhi s
mot hergav eacaut ionarycall:
“Come, chil
d,come, comeont othef oot path.”
Pale:dull,col
ourless
Gaudy :extremelybr ightandshowy
Ther ewasavastf ieldfullofbrighty ell
ow-col ouredmust ardflower s.Theyseemedl ikeflowi
ng
streamsofgol dandwer ewi despr ead.Agr ouppfdr agonf l
ies,blackbeesandbut ter
fl
iesbuzzed
around, suckingthenect arf r
om t hef l
owers.Thechi ldlookedatt hem ast heyf l
ewar ound.When
oneoft hesatsomewher e,hetriedt ocatcht hem butt het inycreatur eswoul df l
yawayt henext
i
nst ance.Themot hercal l
edoutt ohim ast heyst art
edwal kingdownt hef ootpath.

Herant owar dshi

sparentsgail
yandwal kedabreastofthem forawhile,
being,howev er
,soonl
eft
behind,attr
actedbytheli
tt
leinsectsandwormsal ongthef oot
paththatwereteemingoutf r
om t
heir
hidi
ngpl acestoenjoythesunshine.
Abreast:sidebysideandf aci
ngt hesamewayTeemi ngout :t
opourorempt yout
Thechi l
dr antowardshisparents.Hewalkednexttothem butaf t
erfewst eps,hestoppedtosee
theinsectswhower ecomingoutoft hesoil
.Onceagaint hechil
dwasl eftbehind.

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 DON BOSCOSCHOOLOFEXCELLENCE,SENI
ORSECONDARY
UNIT1-THELOSTCHILD
BYMULKRAJANAND
REFERENCEMATERI
AL
“Come,chi
ld,
come! ”hispar
entscall
edfrom t
heshadeofagrovewheretheyhadseat
edthemsel
ves
ontheedgeofawel l.Herantowardsthem.
Grove:asmallwoodorgr oupoftrees
Theparent
scal l
edhim.Theysatnextt oawellundert
heshadytr
ees.Thechil
donceagainranand
j
oinedhisparents.

Ashowerofy oungf l
ower sfel
luponthechi l
dasheent eredt hegrove,
and, f
orgetti
nghisparents,he
begantogathert herainingpetalsi
nhishands.Butl o!hehear dthecooingofdov esandr antowards
hi
sparents,shout i
ng,“Thedov e!Thedove!”Ther ainingpet al
sdroppedf rom hisforgottenhands.
Asthechildenter edtheshadyf orest
edar ea,hewaswel comedbyashoweroff lowers.Hef or
got
hi
sparentsandst art
edcol l
ectingthepetalsthathadf al
len.Justthenhehear dthecooi ngofdoves
andwasexci tedt oseet hem.Hest art
edchasi ngthebi r
dsandi nthepr ocess,thepet alsf
ellfr
om
hi
shand.( Thi
sshowst hatasthechildgotat t
ractedt owar dsthenextthi ng,heforgotwhathehad
beendoingear l
ier).

“Come, chil
d, come! ”theycal l
edt othechi ld,whohadnowgoner unninginwildcaper sr
oundt he
bany ant r
ee, andgat heringhi m upt heyt ookthenarrow,wi ndingfootpathwhichledtothef airthrough
themust ardf i
elds.
Caper s:apl ay f
ulski ppi
ngmovement
Thepar entscal l
edt hechi l
dwhowasr unningandplay i
ngar oundabany antree.Theyli
ftedhi m and
walkeddownanar row, twisti
ngl anet hroughwhicht heycr ossedthemust ardf i
eldsandr eached
thef air.
Ast heynear edt hev ill
aget hechildcoul dseemanyot herf ootpat
hsf ul
lofthr
ongs, convergingtot he
whirlpool ofthef air,andf el
tatoncer epelledandfascinatedbyt heconfusionoft heworldhewas
entering.
Throngs:hugecr owdsConver ging:gat hering
Ast heywer eaboutt oreacht hef air,thechi l
dsawhugecr owdsofpeopl ewal ki
ngfrom all
dir
ect ionstowar dsthef air.Thedensecr owdscaredhi m andhest eppedbackf orawhi l
ebutt he
nextmoment ,hegotat tractedt othemi nd-bogglingcr owdofhumani ty.

Asweet meatsel lerhawked, “

gulab-jaman, rasagulla,bur fi
, j
alebi
,”atthecor neroftheent
ranceanda
crowdpr essedr oundhi scount eratt hefootofanar chi tectureofmanycol ouredsweets,decorated
withl eavesofsi l
v erandgol d.Thechi l
dstaredopen- eyedandhi smout hwat er
edforthebur f
ithat
washi sfavouritesweet .“Iwantt hatbur f
i,
”hesl owl ymur mur ed.Buthehal fknewashebeggedt hat
hispl eawoul dnotbeheededbecausehi spar entswoul dsayhewasgr eedy.Sowithoutwaiti
ngf oran
answerhemov edon.
Heeded:pai dat t
ent iont o
Attheent ranceoft hefair,toonecor ner
,asweet meatsel lerhadsetupashop.Hewassel l
ing
varioussweet slikegul abj amun, r
asgul l
a,bur f
iandj alebi.Thesweet swer edispl
ayedatdi f
ferent
height sandwer ecover edwi thfoilsofgol dandsi lver .Theboy '
smout hwat eredwhenhesi ghted
hisf avouriteburfi.Heexpr essedhi sdesi retogetonei nal owvoi cebecauseheknewt hathi s
requestwoul dber efutedbyhi spar ents.Theywoul dsayt hathewasgr eedyf ort
heburfi.Ashedi d
notexpectt hathi sdemandwoul dbef ul
fil
led,hewal kedf urt
her.

Af
lower
-sel
l
erhawked,
“Agar
landofgul
mohur
,agar
landofgul
mohur
!”Thechi
l
dseemedi
rr
esi
sti
bly
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 DON BOSCOSCHOOLOFEXCELLENCE,SENI
ORSECONDARY
UNIT1-THELOSTCHILD
BYMULKRAJANAND
REFERENCEMATERI
AL
drawn.Hewentt owardsthebasketwher ethef l
owerslayheapedandhal fmurmured,“
Iwantthat
garland.
”Buthewellknewhisparentswoul dr ef
usetobuyhimt hosef l
owersbecausetheywouldsay
thattheywerecheap.So,wit
houtwaiti
ngf orananswer ,hemov edon.
Thenextst al
lwasthatofaf l
owersell
er.Heannouncedt hathewassel l
inggar
landsofgulmohur
flowers.Thechil
dwantedoneoft hose.Hewal kedtowardsthebasketofl ower
sandagai n
announcedhi sdesi
retohaveonei nalowvoi cebecauseheknewt hathisdemandwoul dnotbe
fulf
ill
ed.Theywouldref
usetobuyhi mt hef l
ower sastheywouldsayt hattheywerecheap.Again,
theboywal kedaheadwithoutexpecti
ngar eplyfr
om hisparents.

Amanst oodholdingapol ewithyell

ow,red,greenandpur pleballoonsf l
yi
ngf rom i
t.Thechildwas
simplycarri
edawaybyt her ai
nbowgl oryoftheirsil
kencolour sandhewasf il
ledwithan
overwhelmingdesir etopossesst hem all
.Buthewel lknewhispar entswouldnev erbuyhimt he
ball
oonsbecauset heywoul dsayhewast oooldt oplaywi t
hsucht oys.Sohewal kedonf urt
her.
Overwhelming:aver ystrongemot i
on
Thenextt hi
ngt hatt hechildcameacr osswasabal loonsellerselli
ngballoonsofdi ff
erentcol
ours
oftherainbow.Theboywasat tr
actedtotheshi nycol our
soft hebal l
oonsandwant edtohavet hem
all
.Heknewt hathispar entswouldnotbuyt heballoonsforhi m astheywoul dreasont hathewas
toooldtopl aywitht hem.So, thechil
dwal kedfurther.

Asnake- charmerst oodplayi

ngaf lutetoasnakewhi chcoi ledit
selfinabasket,itsheadr ai
sedina
gracefulbendl i
ketheneckofaswan, whi l
ethemusi cst oleint
oitsinvi
sibl
eear slikethegentle
ri
ppli
ngofani nvi
siblewaterfal
l.Thechildwentt owar dsthesnake- char
mer .But,knowi nghisparent
s
hadf orbi
ddenhi mt ohearsuchcoar semusi cast hesnake-char merplayed,hepr oceededf ar
ther.
Forbidden:notal l
owedCoar se:unpl easant
Thenhepausedatasnakechar merwhowaspl ayi
ngaf l
uteandt hesnakewast wi
stingit
’sneckto
themusi c.Thesnakehadcoi l
editselfinabasketandhadr ai
seditsheadout .Itbentandmovedi ts
neckgr aceful
lylikeaswan.I tseemedt hatthemusi coft hef l
utewashear dbyt hesnake’sinvi
sibl
e
earsandcr eatedt heeffectofawat erfallonitbecausei tsway edi t
snecki nasi milarway.Theboy
walkedt owardst hesnakechar merbutashi spar entshadwar nedhimt oremai nawayf r
om the
unpleasantmusi cpl ay
edbysuchmen, hewal kedfurther.

Therewasar oundabouti nful

lswing.Men, womenandchi ldren,carr
iedawayi nawhirl
i
ngmot ion,
shri
ekedandcr i
edwi t
hdizzyl
aughter.Thechildwatchedthem intentl
yandt henhemadeabol d
request
:“Iwanttogoont heroundabout,please,Fat
her,
Mot her.
”
Thenhesawt her oundaboutswing.Itwasf ullofmen,womenandchi l
drenwhower eenjoyi
ngt he
ri
de.Theboywat chedt hepeopl
eont heroundaboutandthenwi t
hal otofcourage,
expressedhi s
desir
etogoont her oundabout.

Ther
ewasnor eply
.Het ur
nedt olookathispar
ents.Theywerenott
here,
aheadofhim.Heturnedt
o
l
ookoneitherside.Theywer enotthere.Hel
ookedbehind.Ther
ewasnosi gnofthem.
Whenhisparentsdi dnotreply
,het ur
nedtowardsthem.Hesawt hatt
heywer enowherear
ound.He
l
ookedaroundandbehi ndbuthi sparentswerenowheretobeseen.

Aful
l,
deepcryrosewit
hinhi
sdrythr
oatandwithasuddenj
erkofhi
sbodyheranfr
om wherehe
st
ood,cr
yingi
nrealf
ear,“
Mother
,Father
.”Tear
srol
l
eddownf r
om hi
seyes,
hotandfi
erce;
hisf
lushed
4
 DON BOSCOSCHOOLOFEXCELLENCE,SENI
ORSECONDARY
UNIT1-THELOSTCHILD
BYMULKRAJANAND
REFERENCEMATERI
AL
facewasconv ulsedwi t
hf ear.Panic-
str
icken,
herantoonesidefi
rst
,thent
ot heot
her,hi
therand
thi
therinal
ldirect i
ons,knowi ngnotwher etogo.“Mot
her,
Father,
”hewai led.Hisy el
lowt urbancameunt i
edandhiscl
othesbecamemuddy .
Hitherandthither:hereandt here
Theboycr i
edl oudl y,
jerkedhi sbodyandr anhereandther
ecall
ingoutforhi
sparents.Hewasf ul
l
offearandt earsst ar
tedr oll
ingdownhi scheeks.Ashewailedandranaroundhistur
banopened
andhi scl
othesbecamemuddy .

Hav i
ngr untoandf r
oinar ageofrunningf orawhile,hestooddef eat
ed, hiscr i
essuppressedinto
sobs.Atl i
tt
ledistancesont hegreengr asshecoul dsee,throughhisf i
l
myey es,menandwomen
tal
king.Het ri
edt olookintent
lyamongt hepatchesofbr i
ghty el
l
owcl othes, buttherewasnosi gnof
hisfatherandmot heramongt hesepeopl e,whoseemedt olaughandt alkj ustforthesakeof
l
aughi ngandt alki
ng.
Intentl
y :carefull
y
Aftersomet i
mehegaveup.Thel oudcr i
esturnedintomi l
dsobs.Hesawsomepeopl est andi
ng
andt alkingandt r
iedtofindifhisparent swereamongt hem.Thel aught erandt alksofthepeople
wer emeani nglessforthechild.Hewassi mplysearchingforhispar ents.

Her anqui cklyagain,

thist i
met oashrinetowhi chpeopl eseemedt obecr owdi ng.Everyli
ttl
ei nchof
spaceher ewascongest edwi thmen, buther ant hroughpeopl e’slegs, hisl it
tl
esobl i
ngeri
ng: “Mot her
,
Father !”Neart heentrancet ot het
empl e,howev er ,
thecr owdbecamev eryt hick:menj ostl
edeach
other ,heav ymen, wit
hf lashing,murderousey esandhef t
yshoul ders.Thepoorchi l
dst r
uggledt o
thrustawaybet weent heirfeetbut,knockedt oandf robyt heirbr utal mov ement s,hemi ghthav e
beent r ampl edunderfoot ,
hadhenotshr i
ekedatt hehi ghestpi tchofhi sv oice, “
Father,Mother !”A
mani nt hesur gi
ngcrowdhear dhi
scr yand, stoopingwi thgr eatdi f
ficulty,lift
edhi m upi nhi
sar ms.
Congest ed:f ul
lofHef ty
:largeandheav yThr ust:pushKnocked:hi t
Brut al
:har sh, r
oughTr ampl ed:crushedSur ging:power ful
Theboyr ant owardsat empl ewhichwascr owdedwi thpeopl e.Her ant hr ought helegsofmen,
callingoutf orhisparents.Thecr owdwaspushi ngeachot herashenear edt heent r
anceoft he
templ e.Theboygotscar edofhugest rongmenwhost arredpeopl ewi t
ht heirmur derousey esand
pushedt hem withtheirst r
ongandbi gshoul ders.Theboycoul dhavebeencr ushedundert hef eet
oft hemenhadhi scriesnotbeenhear dbyamani nthecr owd.Hel iftedt hechi ld.

“Howdidyougether
e,chi
l
d?Whosebabyareyou?”themanaskedashest eeredclearoft
hemass.
Thechil
dweptmorebit
ter
lyt
hanevernowandonlycried,“
Iwantmymot her,Iwantmyf at
her!
”
Asthemangotthechil
doutofthecrowd,
heaskedhi m howhehadr eachedt her
eandwhatwere
hispar
ents’
names.Theboycri
edevenmoreandr epeatedthathewantedtogot ohisparent
s.

Themant ri
edt osoot
hehi m bytakinghi mtotheroundabout.“Wi
lly
ouhav earideonthehorse?
”he
gentl
yaskedasheappr oachedt her i
ng.Thechild’
sthroattor
eint
oat housandshri
ll
sobsandheonly
shouted,
“Iwantmymot her,
Iwantmyf at
her!
”
Soothe:r
elax,comfort
Themant riedtorel
axthechi l
dbyt akinghimt otheroundaboutswing.Heofferedhim ar
idebutt
he
chi
ldscreamedandweptl oudlythathewant edhispar ent
s.

5
 DON BOSCOSCHOOLOFEXCELLENCE,SENI
ORSECONDARY
UNIT1-THELOSTCHILD
BYMULKRAJANAND
REFERENCEMATERI
AL
Themanheadedt owar dst heplacewher ethesnake- charmerst i
llplay
edont heflutetot hesway i
ng
cobr a.“
Listent othatni cemusi c,child!”hepl eaded.Butthechildshuthi searswi t
hhi sfingersand
shout edhisdoubl e-pit
chedst rain:“Iwantmymot her,Iwantmyf ather!
”Themant ookhi m nearthe
balloons,thinkingthebr i
ghtcoloursoft hebal l
oonswoul ddistractthechi l
d’sattenti
onandqui et
en
him.“ Woul dyoul i
kear ainbowcol ouredbal loon?”heper suasivelyasked.Thechi l
dtur nedhiseyes
from theflyingballoonsandj ustsobbed, “
Iwantmymot her,
Iwantmyf ather!”
Pleaded:r equested
Doubl e-pi t
chedst rain:usageofal otoff orce.
Themanst artedwal kingbackont hesamer outewhi chthechi l
dhadt aken.Sohet ookt hechil
dt o
thesnakechar mer.Heaskedhi mt ol istentot henicemusi cbeingpl ay edbyt hesnake-char mer .
Thechi ldshuthi sear swi t
hhisf i
nger sandscr eamedl oudlythathewant edhispar ents.Theman
tookt hechi l
dt othebr ightcolouredbal loons,hopingt hathemi ghtgetcheer edbyseei ngthem.He
offeredabal l
oont othechi l
dbuthet urnedawayandweptf orf atherandmot her.

Theman, stil
ltr
yingtomaket hechildhappy,borehi
mt othegatewherethefl
ower-
sell
ersat
.“Look!
Cany ousmel lt
hoseniceflowers,chil
d!Wouldyouli
keagar l
andtoputroundyourneck?”
Bore:car
ried
Themant r i
edtomaket hechil
dhappyandt ookhimtotheflowersel
ler
.Heaskedhimt osmellthe
fr
agranceoft hef l
owersandof f
eredhi m agarl
and.

Thechil
dturnedhi
snoseawayfrom t
hebasketandrei
ter
atedhi
ssob, “
Iwantmymot her
,Iwantmy
fat
her!
”
Reit
erat
ed:repeat
ed
Thechil
drefusedtosmel
lthef
lowersthathewantedtobuyearl
ierbecausenow,
hispri
ori
tywasto
gethispar
ents.

Thinki
ngtohumourhi sdi
sconsol
atechar
gebyagi ftofsweets,t
hemantookhimtothecount erof
thesweetshop.“Whatsweetswouldyoulike,chi
ld?”heasked.Thechi
ldt
urnedhi
sfacefrom t he
sweetshopandonl ysobbed,
“Iwantmymot her,
Iwantmyf at
her!
”
Disconsol
ate:ver
yunhappyandunabletobecomf ortedCharge:aper
sonorthi
ngentrustedtot he
careofsomeone
Final
ly,
themant ookhimt ot
hesweetmeatsel l
erandof f
eredtobuysweetsf
orhi
m.St i
ll
, t
hechi l
d
didnotwanthisfavouri
tesweetbutwantedhi sparents.

Quest i
on1:Howdidthechi ldreactwhent herewasnosi gnofhisparents?(BoardTerm,Sept.,1,2013,
K2G41GH)
Answer :
Thechil
dwasv eryinnocent .Heget sconf usedandpanic-st
ri
ckenonnotseei nghispar ents.
Hef eltl
onel
ywithouthispar entsami dstsomuchofcr owd.Themanwhot r
iestoconsolethechi l
d
alsodoesnotachieveanysuccessast heboyonl yneedshi sparent
sandnomonet arybenefi
t.
Quest i
on2:Wheredidthechi ldgowi t
hhispar ents?Whatdi dhewantthere?( Boar
dTerm 1,2012, ELI
-013)
Answer :
Thechil
dwentt oaf airwithhisparent s.Hewant edgarl
ands,ball
oonsandsweet sov erthere.
Heal sowantedtoseet hesnakeandt akear ideont heswing.
Quest i
on3:Whydidthel ostchi l
drefusetot akehi sfavouri
tethi
ngsinthefairaft
erl
oosinghis
parents?(Boar
dTer m 1,
2012, ELI-
015)
6
 DON BOSCOSCHOOLOFEXCELLENCE,SENI
ORSECONDARY
UNIT1-THELOSTCHILD
BYMULKRAJANAND
REFERENCEMATERI
AL
Answer :
Thechi l
dr efusedt ot akehi sf avour it
et hingsi nt hef airaf terhel osthi spar ent sashemi ssed
them andwant edt omeett hem onl y .Now, hehadl osti nt eresti nal lhi sfav ourit
et hings.
Quest ion4: Howdi dthemot herdi st ractt hechi ld’smi ndf rom t het oysel ler?( Boar dTer m 1,2012, ELI-
017)
Answer :
Themot herdi stractedt hechi ld’smi ndf rom t het oysel lerbypoi ntingt owar dsaf l
ower ingmust ard
fi
el d.Hesawcol our ful dr agonf l
i
esandst affedr unni ngaf tert hem.
Quest ion5: Howwast hechi ldsepar at edf rom hi spar ent s? (Boar dTer m 1,2012, ELI-018)
Answer :Theboywasat tract edt ot oy s,bal l
oonsandsweet si nt hef air.Hegotf ascinatedwi ththe
fl
ut emusi cbei ngpl ay edbyt hesnakechar mer .Whi l
ewat chi ngt her oundaboutswi nghegot
separ atedf rom hi spar ent s.
Quest ion6: Whathappenedwhent hel ostchi ldreachedt het empl edoor?( BoardTer m 1, 2012, ELI-
019)
Answer :
Whent hechi l
dr eachedt het empl edoormenj ost ledeachot her.Thepoorchi ldst ruggl edt o
thrusthi swayoutbutwasknocked.Hemi ghthav ebeent rampl edi fhehadnotshout edathi s
highestpi t
ch.
Quest ion7: Whor escuedt hel ostchi ld?Whatdi dheof f ert obuyhi m ?( Boar dTer m 1,2012, ELI-020)
Answer :
Themani nt heshr i
ner escuedt hel ostchi ld.Hel iftedhi m upi nhi sar msandt riedt osoot he
him.Het ookhi mt ot henear estr oundaboutswi ngandof feredt obuyhi mf l
ower s,balloonsand
sheet s.
Quest ion8: Par entswer ei nahur ryt or eacht hef airbutt hechi ldwasdel ay i
ngt hem.How? (Boar d
Ter m 1,2012, ELI -029)
Answer :
Theboygotdi st ract edbyt oy swhi chhewant edt obuy ,but terfli
esanddr agonf lieswhi chhe
want edt ocat chandf f
c? wer st hathewant edt ogat her .And, outofpi nei nnocencehedel ayedhi s
par entstor eacht he’fair.
Quest ion9: Whatwast l
jef irstr eact ionoft hechi l
dwhenher eal i
zedt hathehadl osthi s
par ents?(Boar dTer m 1, 2012, ELI -035)
Answer :
Thechi l
dpani ckedwhenher ealized( hathehadl osthi spar ent s.Hewaspuzzl ed, angr yand
desper ate.Hecr iedandshout edf orhi spar ents.Her anher eandt her et ol ookf orhispar ent s.
Quest ion10:
Whydi dn’ttheboywai tf oranansweraf terhehadpl eadedf orsweet s? (Boar dTer m 1,2012, ELI-042)
Answer :
Theboydi dn’twai tf oranansweraf t
erlifehadpl eadedf orsweet sbecauseheknewt hathis
par entswoul dsayt hathewasgr eed^andwoul dr efuset obuyt hesweet s.
Quest ion11: Whathappenedwhent he“ lostchi ld”ent eredt hegr ov e?Howdi dheenj oyt here? (
Boar d
Ter m 1,2012, ELI -046)
Answer :
Whent he“ lostchi ld”ent er edt hegr oye, ashowerofy oungf lower sfelluponhi m.Hebegant o
gat herther ainingpet als.Hehear dt hecooi ngofdoy esandr ant owar dshi spar ent ^.Hehadaf un-
fi
lledspl endidt imei nt hegr ov e
LongAnswerTy peQuest ions
Quest ion1: Whatchangesdoy ounot i
cei nt hebehav i
ouroft hechi ld, oncehei ssepar at edf rom hi s
par entsint hest or y“TheLostChi ld”?( Boar dTer m 1, 2012, ELI -021)
Answer :
Achi l
dal ongwi thhi spar ent shadbeent oaf air.Hewasv er yexci tedandhappywi tht he
stallsoft oysandsweet s.Heget ssepar atedf rom hi spar ent sandst artscr y
ing.Her unshi therand
7
 DON BOSCOSCHOOLOFEXCELLENCE,SENI
ORSECONDARY
UNIT1-THELOSTCHILD
BYMULKRAJANAND
REFERENCEMATERI
AL
thit
heri nsear chofhi spar ent s, buti nv ain.Si ncet hepl acewasov ercrowdedhegotr eal scar ed.He
startedcr yj
ngashewasal lal one.Aki ndhear tedmanof fershi m manyt hingsbuther ef uses.The
childwhowant edev ery thingf rom t hef airwasnownoti nterest edi nanyoft heset hingsasheonl y
year nedt obewi thhi spar ent s.
Quest ion2: Compar et heat titudeoft hechi ldbef oreandaf t
erhi ssepar ationf r om hi spar ents.(Board
Term 1, 2012, ELI -025)
Answer :Bef oresepar ationt hechi ldwasv eryhappyandexci tedatt hef air.Hewasf asci nat edwi t
hall
thet hingst hatwer edi spl ay edatt hest al l
s.Hewant edt ohav eal lthet hingsl i
kehi sf avour i
tetoy s,
sweet s,flower s, etc.Heal sowant edt ogof orar i
de.Butaf tersepar ationt heboyj ustwant edt obe
withhi spar ents.Hewasnoti nterest edi nanyoft hoset hi ngswhi chhekeptl ongi ngt ohav efrom the
stall
s.I nt heabsenceofhi spar entst heset hingsdi dnotgi vehi m anysat isfact ion
Quest ion3: Howdi dt hemanwhof oundt hel i
ttleboyi nt hef ai r,tryt osoot hehi m? (Boar dTer m
1,2012, ELI -031)
Answer :Themanwhof oundt hel i
ttleboyi nt hef airt ri
edev er ypossi blewayt osoot hehi m.Het ook
himt oar oundaboutswi ngt henof f eredahor ser i
de, triedt omakehi ml istent ot hesnakechar mer ’
s
songandof feredhi m abal loon, ashet houghtt hatt hi swoul ddi st racthi smi nd, butinv ain.He
offeredhi mf lower sandsweet s,butt hechi ldkeptcr y i
ng.Thechi ldcoul dnotbedi stract edbyanyof
thet hingsatt hef airashel ongedt obewi thhi spar ent s.
Quest ion4: Howdoy ouknowt hatt hel ostchi l
dwasanat ure–l ov er? (Boar dTer m 1, 2012, ELI-047)
Answer :Thechi ldwasat tract edt ot henat ur e’sl i
tt
leaspect sbecauseofhi sinnocence.Whenhi s
mot herdi vertedhi sat tent i
ont owar dst hemust ardf ieldhesawt hef l
ower swhi chwer ei nt henascent
stageandf lower ing.Thef lpwer soft hef i
eldwer epal el ikemel ti
nggol d.Het hensawagr oupof
dragonf li
eswhi chwer ebust l
ingaboutont hei rgandypur plewi ngs, intercept ingt hef li
ghtofal one
blackbeeorbut terflyinsear chofsweet nessf rom t hef lower s.Thechi ldwant edt ocat cht hose
dragont hisbutt heywentawayf lutter ingandf lapping.Heal sogotat t
ractedt ot hel i
ttl
ei nsect sand
wor msal ongt hef oothj ^tht hatwer et eemi ngoutf rom t hei rhi dingpl acest oenj oyt heSunshi ne.A
§howerofy oungf l
ower sf el lupont hechi ldasheent eredt hef air.Hef orgotabouthi spar entsand
begant ogat hert her ainingpet alsi nhi shands.Agai nwhenhehear dthecooi ngofdov es, her an
towar dshi spar ent sshout ingaboutt hem.
Quest ion5: Whatal l
thi ngsdi dt hechi ldgetat tractedt o, oncebeent eredt hef air?Washeabl et oget
allthet hingshedesi red?Whathappenedwhenhemadeabol dr equestt ohi spar ents? (Boar dTer m
1,2012, ELI -053)
Answer :Wi thawi demout h, hest ar edatt hesi ghtofbur fi.Lat erhewasat tract edt oagar landof
gulmohurandwascar riedawaybyt her ainbowgl oryoft hecol our edbal loons.Hewant edt hem al lbut
,
ont heot herhand, heal soknewt heanswer sofhi spar ent s,soheconv incedhi msel fanddi dnotask
them f orany thing.Fi nal ly,hemadeabol dr equestf orgoi ngont her oundabout .Ashet ur nedt oget
theirrepl y,hecoul dnotf indt hem behi ndhi m