Fatima: Sahir! Sahir! Wake up now. It’s already 7. You promised to help me get water from the well this morning. I had to do it myself. 

Sahir: (yawns) Oh no! I overslept! I’m sorry, Fatima didi. I was awake till late last night. 

Fatima: Why? What were you doing? 

Sahir: Kanasu asked me to help her with making some drawings for her science project. It took much longer than I thought. Can I help you fetch the water tomorrow? 

Fatima: (Sighs) You better! Now, go and get ready for school. You’re already late! 

Sahir: Oh no! I am very late! 

(sound of cycling)

(sound of school bell followed by murmur of students in class, footsteps)

Kanasu: Sahir! Why didn’t you come to school, yesterday?

Sahir: I couldn’t come, Kanasu. 

Kanasu: But you were supposed to give me the drawings yesterday. 

Sahir: I’m sorry. I’ve got them right here. 

Kanasu (angrily): I wish you had told me you couldn’t do it. I still have to work on this. Now I 
can only submit this tomorrow to Fela Sir. I’ll be late by a day and it is your fault!

Sahir: I said I’m sorry, Kanasu. I should have told you. I didn’t know I would miss school...

Kanasu (interrupting) : ...That doesn’t solve the problem! I’m not sure if Fela Sir will accept my 
submission. All my effort will go down the drain. 

Sahir: I tried to come yesterday, Kanasu!

Kanasu: But you didn’t, and that‘s what matters!

Sahir (softly): Kanasu? 

Kanasu: What? 

Sahir: I’m really sorry, Kanasu. I’ll come with you to Fela Sir. We’ll convince him. 

Kanasu: Alright, Sahir. But tell me, why didn’t you come to school yesterday? 

Sahir: My mother wasn’t feeling well. So my father made me go with him to the fields. 

Kanasu: Oh!  

Sahir: I wanted to come. I knew you would be angry. You know, I haven’t submitted my project 
either.

Kanasu: Sahir! I feel awful. Please don’t apologise! This wasn’t your fault. I’m sorry for yelling 
at you. 

Sahir: That’s okay. No harm done. 

Kanasu: How is your mother today?

Sahir: She’s much better.

Kanasu: Okay. That’s good. Thank you for helping me out. It was thoughtless of me to blame 
you.  

Sahir: Don’t worry about it. Let’s go to Fela Sir? 

(sound of footsteps)(knocking on door)

Kanasu: May we come in Sir?

Fela Sir: Yes, ready to submit your projects?

Kanasu: Erm... Sir… that’s what we wanted to talk about. 

Fela Sir: What is it?

Sahir: Sir, we need a day more.  

Fela Sir: A day more? But, today is the deadline.

Sahir: I wish to apologise, Sir. It’s all my fault. My mother was unwell and I had to go help my 

father in the fields so I didn’t get the time to finish my project. 

Kanasu: I made a mistake in my planning and now I need a day more, Sir. I assure you I will 
submit it tomorrow. 

Fela Sir: Hmm. Okay. I can understand. These things happen. Take a day more. And tell the 
rest of the class they can, too. 

Kanasu, Sahir(excitedly and relieved): Thank you, Sir! 

Kanasu: That’s kind of you!
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