“Mum, do you need any help?” Hassan asked.

His mother paused for a moment before answering. She felt both happy and confused — happy because her son had offered help and confused because he was rarely seen doing any work around the house. He usually spent most of his time in his room playing video games or doing random things.

“Okay, could you please put the plates on the table?” she said.

Hassan carefully picked up the stack of plates and placed them on the table. “Anything else?” Hassan asked.

“No, thank you, son.”

“Okay… well… Mum… I was thinking… could you buy me a new bicycle?”

“Oh! So that’s the real reason my lazy son is suddenly helping around the house,” she said, teasing him.

Hassan smiled, a little embarrassed.

“Alright, we’ll see,” she said. Hassan jumped with joy and hugged her.

“But there is one condition,” she added. “I saw your last maths result.”

Hassan flinched slightly, knowing what was coming next.

“It was not satisfactory at all. You barely passed. I want you to get an A grade in your next maths quiz.”

Hassan sighed dramatically. “So that basically means no,” he said.

Hassan was quite a lazy boy. But if he truly wanted something, he would do everything possible to achieve it. However, this time the goal seemed almost impossible, getting an A grade, and that too in maths.

He had never really paid attention to his studies, but since he had made a promise to his mother, he stayed firm. He set his goal clearly in his mind. He wanted that bicycle, and for that, he would do whatever his mother asked.

From the very next day at school, Hassan not only paid attention in class but also started asking questions whenever he had doubts. With each passing day, the quiz drew nearer. He followed this routine for almost two weeks.

Finally, the quiz day arrived. Hassan was well prepared and did his best. The results came out the next day. It was no surprise, when someone works sincerely and consistently, they usually achieve their goal. Hassan had scored an A grade in maths. Although his grades in other subjects were below average, he didn’t care much; he had achieved what he had worked so hard for.

As promised, he was given a bicycle and from the next day onwards, Hassan rode his bicycle all around the neighbourhood. Sometimes he would ride for more than an hour, and his mother would worry when he stayed out too long. But he didn’t think much of it, he was finally enjoying what he had longed for. To him, nothing felt as exciting or satisfying as that moment. He was having the best time of his life.

One day at school, Hassan was chatting and laughing with his friends when the class representative walked in.

“Guys! I have two good news to announce.”

The whole class erupted into cheers, shouting and banging their desks.

“The first good news is that our teacher is not coming today.”

The classroom burst into even louder cheers.

“And the second news is even bigger,” the CR added dramatically. “Our class is going on a school trip on Thursday!”

Again, the class exploded with excitement. “Woohoo!”

While everyone was thrilled, Hassan noticed Hamza sitting quietly in a corner.

“Hey Hamza, what’s wrong? Aren’t you excited about the trip?” Hassan asked.

Hamza paused, then replied softly, “My father recently lost his job, so I can’t go afford to pay for the trip. But it’s okay, we’ll go together next time.”

Hassan felt a heaviness in his chest. That night, he couldn’t stop thinking about Hamza. At first, he thought of asking his classmates to contribute money, but then realised Hamza might feel embarrassed.

After thinking for a long time, Hassan made a difficult decision.

The next morning, he went to the bicycle shop where he had bought his bicycle and sold it back for much less than its actual price. Then he went to school and quietly paid the trip fee for Hamza.

When Hamza found out, he was overwhelmed with happiness. “Thank you so much, Hassan,” he said, his eyes filled with tears.

Hassan simply smiled.

When he got home, he told his mother everything. Instead of scolding him, she hugged him tightly. She was proud that her son had such a kind and compassionate heart.

Two days later, the students went on the trip, all of them excited, feeling like school was the happiest place in the world, at least for that day.

When Hassan returned home, he stopped at the door in surprise.

A brand-new blue bicycle stood right in front of him, with his mother beside it.

He ran to her and hugged her tightly, tears filling both their eyes.

“Thank you, Mum,” he said, full of joy.

“I bought it because you proved you deserved it, my son,” she said gently, and looked at him with pride.

And in that moment, Hassan understood — kindness always finds its way back.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 11th, 2026

How many of you get irritated or even scolded when you’re writing and sharpening your pencil, only for the shavings to scatter all over the place? I certainly do. I get annoyed, and then I get scolded, too.

I even tried keeping a box to put the pencil shavings in, but that idea didn’t work either, because once the box tipped over and the shavings scattered all over the place. That’s when I started thinking about making something myself. So I came up with the idea of creating a simple craft that would not only help me with my homework, but also keep all the shavings in one place. I could just throw them away once it was full. Honestly, it turned out to be so useful that I’m really glad I made it.

The best part is that you only need a few things to create this handy little craft.

Let’s get started:

1. Any plastic container, a small jar (you can use glass, but the safe is plastic)

2. A scissor or screw

3. Marker

4. Pencil sharpener

5. Elfy or hot glue

6. Glitter paper or sticker for decoration

Directions:

1. Mark the centre of the jar lid. This is where you will make a hole; picture 2.

2. If you don’t have a soldering iron, you can use scissors or a screw to make a hole in the lid from the inside, according to the size of the sharpener you are going to attach. Make sure you take help from an adult for this step; pictures 3 and 4.

3. Use a slim pencil sharpener (not a fancy one) and fix it over the hole using hot glue or Elfy. You may need help from an adult here as well; pictures 5 and 6.

4. Now for the fun part. You can decorate your jar however you like: use markers to draw patterns or stick on stickers, glitter sheets or anything you prefer; see pictures 7 and 8.

This simple yet handy craft is truly useful. You can carry it to school or keep one at home. All your pencil shavings will stay in one place, so you won’t feel irritated or get scolded anymore!

The writer can be contacted at ithecraftman@gmail.com

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 11th, 2026

“Little Miss Sunshine, what are your plans for the holidays?” Dado tenderly asked Kubra, her 15-year-old granddaughter.

“I have decided, Dado, I will learn how to play the violin and start playing more basketball so I can beat your least favourite athlete,” Kubra said, gazing towards her brother.

“Okay, let’s have a quick match,” the 13-year-old Hassan said.

“No, Hassan, I am so tired,” Kubra replied calmly.

A playful commotion followed as the siblings argued over various things while their grandparents took sides. The room was filled with laughter.

The summer vacation had just begun. Kubra had given her last CAIE exam and felt relieved and happy to finally spend more time with her family and hobbies.

The next day, after breakfast, Kubra decided to help her mum in the kitchen, but realised she wasn’t there. She looked everywhere and finally found her in the storeroom upstairs.

“What’s happening, Mum? What are you doing here?” Kubra asked.

“I just thought this room needs a bit of cleaning.”

“No, Mum, not a bit, it needs a lot of cleaning.”

Together, they began sorting things, placing unnecessary items in one pile and useful ones in another.

While they were busy, her mum’s phone rang and she stepped away to answer it. In the meantime, Kubra’s eyes fell on a dull yellowish-brown box. It didn’t look very old, but it seemed forgotten. After a little struggle, she finally opened it.

What she found was completely unexpected, her long-forgotten collection of short storybooks, Montessori postcards and autographs from friends she barely remembered. She sat there for a while, unable to recall the names of teachers she once thought were a big part of her life. Nostalgia filled her and she was mesmerised by this treasure of memories and knowledge.

Ever since she was little, her parents had read her a story every night. That was how her love for reading began, a love now slowly replaced by screens.

Kubra carried the heavy box downstairs, left it in her room and rushed back. After cleaning the storeroom, the day went on as usual, but Kubra eagerly waited for the night.

After dinner, she said goodnight and began taking out the books. She already had a bookshelf in her study corner, so she had never really thought about these old stories.

The books reminded her of something her history teacher once said — knowledge becomes valuable when it is shared. Kubra decided to sell them and went to sleep.

The next morning, she showed the books to her dad and told him her plan. He disagreed. He said selling them didn’t make sense; instead, she should donate them to those who needed them more.

Kubra, however, felt selling them would give her some business experience.

That evening, when her dad returned, he asked if she had changed her mind.

“Yes, Dad. I was being silly. They are old, but still useful. I will gift them to children who love to read,” she said.

“Let’s place them outside Rahim Chacha’s bookstore, opposite The Book Bank. I am sure he’ll let you. Any child can pick a book for free,” Hassan suggested.

“You’ve got brains, Hassan!” Kubra exclaimed.

Rahim Chacha’s bookstore was on the main boulevard behind their house, surrounded by gift shops and flower stores. They had been going there since they were very young.

The next morning, the siblings took the box to Rahim Chacha and asked if they could place the books outside his shop.

Being kind and considerate, he agr­eed. They made a banner that read, “Gifts for the intellectually curious!”

They arranged the books neatly on a stand, giving the place an old-world charm. They also placed a small money box for anyone who wished to contribute.

The children sat there for a couple of hours, then returned home. They visited every day, and within a week, the stand was empty.

“Well done, kids! You’ll be amazed, not just children, but parents and even grandparents picked up books and left money in the box,” Rahim Chacha said.

“Congratulations, Kubee! Your collection finally served a good purpose,” Hassan added.

That day, Kubra went home truly happy. It was then she decided that when she grew up, she would open a bookstore of her own — “Kubra and Company”.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 11th, 2026