Sanju walks with his mother down the road. He has a school bag on his back. His bag has a pencil, a book, and a snack box. Where is Sanju going? Sanju is going to the school for the first time.

On the way, he sees a house.

‘Is this my school, Mother?’ Sanju asks.

‘No, Sanju,’ says Mother.

They walk some more. Sanju sees a big bus.

‘Is my school big, Mother? Is it as big as the bus?’

No, Sanju,’ says Mother. ‘It is not as big as the bus. It is bigger.’

Sanju sees a policeman holding up a hand to stop the bus.

‘Is there a policeman in my school?’ Sanju wants to know.

‘No, Sanju. There is no policeman in the school,’ says Mother.Sanju and Mother walk for some time. Sanju sees a tall gate. He sees many children in the grounds inside the gate.

‘Here is the school, Sanju,’ says Mother.

Sanju stands and looks at the school.

Mother asks, ‘How is the school, Sanju?’

Sanju does not like the school.

There are too many children in it.

Big children, small children.

Fat children, thin children.

Quiet children, children talking.

Children running, jumping, shouting.

Children! Children! Children!

Sanju does not want to go to the school. He wants to go home.

‘Come Sanju. Let us go into the school,’ says Mother. But Sanju hides behind Mother. ‘Sanju, come,’ says Mother pulling Sanju out.

Sanju hears somebody crying behind him. He turns.

Sanju sees a little girl is holding her mother’s dress. She is crying loudly. She is afraid to go to into the school. It is her first day at school.

Sanju walks over to the girl. He tells her, ‘Do not cry. You are not alone. I am with you. Let us go into the school together.’

The little girl smiles at Sanju. She holds his hand. Sanju is not afraid anymore. He has a friend. The friends are happy to walk into the school.