The Hundred Dresses

Eleanor Estes

Part-1

Introduction 

Eleanor Estes has written a very interesting story about A girl named Wanda who used to say that she had hundreds of dresses in different colors. Similarly, she had 60 pairs of shoes to wear. All her items are lined up in a closet. The girl is openly mocked by her classmates. By chance there started a contest in drawing and color. For the girls, it was the designing of dresses and for the boys, it was designing of motorboats. In the end, Wanda was awarded the girls medal in wrestling and jack beagles won for the boys. 

👉Chapter 5:-The Hundred Dresses Part-1 NCERT Textbook PDF

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Summary

 

Wanda Petronski’s absence from her seat: Wanda Petronski was the young polish girl who went to school with other American children. She was different in many ways today. Wanda was not in her seat. She sat in the last row in room 13 where most of the boys made noises. She rarely said anything. Wanda came from Boggins Height. Her feet were usually caked with dry mud. Peggy and Maddie were the other girls there. Most often both these girls have waited for Wanda Petronski to have fun with her.

Facts about dresses and shoes: Wanda did not have many friends but a lot of friends talked to her. She came to school alone and left for the home alone too. Mostly she wore a faded blue dress that did not fit her properly. Peggy asked Wanda graciously how many dresses that she possesses. Wanda replied that she had a hundred dresses all lined up in the almirah. All surprised at her. About shoes, she replied that she had 60 pairs of all colors. Cries of gentility came from the students.

Peggy’s view: Peggy was the closest friend of Wanda. She enjoyed fun with her but she always protected small children from bullies. She would cry for us on seeing an animal mistreated. A view occurred in her mind. it was if anybody asked her cruelty for Wanda, she would feel surprised. But why did Wanda say she had 100 dresses. She must have told the truth. Even then they had never annoyed her very much.

Maddie- a poor girl: On the other hand, Maddie was a poor girl. She usually wears old clothes for others. She thanked herself for not living on Boggins Heights or for having a funny name. But the question of asking dresses, hats, and other items was troubling her. Often Peggy asked such questions but Maddie always felt shamefaced. In reality, this game was invented by Peggy. It was Maddie Desire that Peggy would not stop teasing Wanda Petronski.

Note to Peggy: Today Maddie was busy with her arithmetic problems. She decided to write Peggy on the point that they would stop questioning Wanda about how many dresses she possessed. After her questions, she started writing but suddenly she stopped. She perceived a new target for Peggy and other girls. She would tell that it was Peggy's old dress and her mother had adorned it so that none could recognize it. She also thought that she would decide not to have fun with Wanda. With these words, Peggy tore the note. Peggy also knows that Wanda hardly said anything to others.

Drawing and color contest: Maddie was lost in Wanda about her hundred dresses. Then the drawing and color contest came to her mind for the girls and the contest was to design dresses. The boys were to design motorboats. Maddie was confident that Peggy would win because she was skilled at designing. She could trace a photo from a magazine quite alike. The following day it was showering so without waiting for Wanda, they hurried to school for the result.

Drawing all over the room: The moment they enter the room, They were amazed to see drawings all over the room. They were in the dazzling color of lavish designs. These must have been a hundred and all were lined up. Everybody stopped and praised this Grand work. In no time Miss. Mason announced the winner.

Result of the contest: Miss Mason announced Jack beagles from the boys. About the girls, she said that there were just one or two sketches. There was a single girl in room 13, who had drawn 100 Different designs. All should be proud of her. The judges had viewed that each drawing was worthy of the prize. Wanda Petronski was the winner. She had been absent for some days and applause was due for her. All the students were happy and burst into applause. Labour gives results.

हिंदी सारांश

वांडा पेट्रोंस्की की अपनी सीट से अनुपस्थिति : --वांडा पेट्रोंस्की एक नौजवान पोलैंड की लड़की थी जो किसी अन्य अमेरिकन लड़कों के साथ विद्यालय गई। वह कई प्रकार से भिन्न थी। आज बांडा अपनी सीट पर नहीं थी। वह तेरा नंबर कमरे में अंतिम लाइन में बैठी थी जहां पर अधिकतर लड़के शोर मचा रहे थे। वह बहुत कम बोलती थी वांडा बोग्गिंस हाइट में रहती थी उसके पैर अक्सर सूखी धूल और मिट्टी से बने होते थे और भी अन्य लड़कियां थी जैसे पैगी और मैडी। अधिकतर यह दोनों ही लड़कियां वांडा पेट्रोंस्की की प्रतीक्षा मजाक करने के लिए किया करती थी।

ड्रेस और जूतों संबंधी बातें:-- वांडा का कोई मित्र नहीं था। परंतु उससे बहुत से मित्र बातें करते थे। वह विद्यालय अकेले ही आती थी और अकेले ही जाती थी। वह हमेशा रंगहीन नीले रंग की ड्रेस पहनती थी जो उस पर लटकती रहती थी | वैली नेवाडा से विनम्रता से पूछा कि उसके पास कितनी ड्रेसे है ह हो हों वांडा ने उत्तर दिया कि उसके पास सौ ड्रेस लाइन में रखी हुई अलमारी में है इससे सभी को हैरानी हुई। जूतों के बारे में भी उसने उत्तर दिया कि उसके पास कुल 60 जोड़े हैं। विद्यार्थी शिष्टता पूर्वक हंस पड़े।

पैगी के विचार:- पैगी तो वांडाकी सबसे प्रिय सकी थी |

उसके साथ वह मजाक करती थी परंतु वह सदैव छोटे बच्चों को शक्तिशाली बच्चों से बचाती थी अगर किसी जानवर पर अत्याचार होते देखती तो वह घंटों चीखती। एक विचार उसके मन में उभरा। अगर उससे कोई वांडा के प्रति अन्याय की कहे तो उसे आश्चर्य होगा। परंतु वांडा ऐसा क्यों कहती है कि उसके पास एक सौ ड्रेस है। उसे सच्चाई बतानी चाहिए थी फिर भी उन्होंने उसे अधिक तंगकरने की कोशिश नहीं की थी।

मैडी एक गरीब लड़की:-- दूसरी ओर मैडी एक गरीब लड़की थी वह दूसरों के पुराने कपड़े पहनती थी। वह अपने आप को बोगी हाइट पर न रहने हेतु धन्यवाद देती थी अथवा अपना मजाकिया नाम न होने पर परंतु ड्रेस तो तथा अन्य चीजों के बारे में पूछना उसे परेशान करना लगता था अक्सर पाएगी ऐसे प्रश्न पूछती थी परंतु मैडी को सदैव शर्म आती थी वास्तव में ड्रेस ओं संबंधी खेल पाएगी नहीं हो जाता वह मैडी की इच्छा थी कि पाएगी वांडा पेट्रोंस्की को तंग करना बंद करें।

पैगी का एक संक्षिप्त लेख:-- आज मैडी अपने गणित के प्रश्न निकालने में व्यस्त थी। उसने पैगी को इस बात के लिए एक नोट लिखना चाहा कि वह वांडा से यह पूछना बंद करेंगे कि उसके पास कितनी ड्रेस है प्रश्न करने के बाद उसने लेख लिखना आरंभ किया परंतु अचानक वह रुक गई। उसने पैगी और अन्य लड़कियों के बारे में एक नया लक्ष्य सोच कर। वह बताएगी कि यह पैगी की एक पुरानी ड्रेस है इसे मैडी की मां ने सजाया है ताकि उसे कोई पहचान ना सके। उसने यह भी निर्णय लिया कि अब वह बांडा से मजाक नहीं करेगी इन शब्दों के साथ आएगी ने अपना लेख फाड़ दिया पैगी यह भी जानती थी कि वह दूसरों को कठिन था से ही कुछ कहती है।

ड्राइंग और रंग प्रतियोगिता:-- मैडी तो अब वांडा के पास सैकड़ों ड्रेस होने के विचार में खोई हुई थी |ठीक है फिर उसके मन में ड्राइंग और रंग प्रतियोगिता याद आई | लड़कियों के लिए ड्रेस डिजाइन करना था और लड़कों को मोटर बोट डिजाइन करनी थी। मैडी को आशा थी कि पैगी उसमें जीत जाएगी| क्योंकि वह डिजाइन बनाने में दक्ष है वह किसी भी मैगजीन से वैसे ही नकल का उतार कर एक चित्र बना सकती थी अगले दिन हल्की बूंदाबांदी गिर रही थी अतः बिना वांडा की प्रतीक्षा वे शीघ्रता से परिणाम पाने के लिए विद्यालय चले गए |

सारे कमरे में ड्राइंग:-- जिस समय उन्होंने कमरे में प्रवेश किया हुए सारे कमरे में ड्राइंग देखकर अचंभित थी वह चकाचौंध रंगों में उत्कृष्ट महान डिजाइनों में थी। व सैकड़ों थी और सभी एक सीध में थी उन्हें देखने के लिए सभी आदमी ठहरे और इस महान कार्य की प्रशंसा की शीघ्र ही मिस मैसन ने विजेताओं की घोषणा की| 

प्रतियोगिता का परिणाम:-- मिस मैसन ने जैक बैग्स को लड़कों की ओर से विजई घोषित किया। लड़कियों के बारे में उसने कहा कि केवल वहां एक या दो लड़की के चित्र हैं। 13 नंबर कमरे में केवल अकेली एक लड़की थी जिसने सैकड़ों डिजाइन अलग-अलग रंगों में बनाए थे। हम सब को उस पर गर्व होना चाहिए। निर्णायक ओं ने फैसला लिया कि प्रत्येक ड्राइंग ही इनाम के योग्य थी। वांडा पेट्रोंस्की विजेता थी। वह कुछ दिनों से अनुपस्थित थी। और उसके लिए तालियां अभी से रह गई हैं। सभी विद्यार्थी खुश थे और उन्होंने खुशियों में तालियों की गड़गड़ाहट की। परिश्रम जरूर ही रंग लाती है।

Word Meaning

Possession -  wealth, money  धन संपत्ति | Enduring -  bearable सहनशील | Account -  detail  विवरण |  Sensitive -  having feelings भावुक | Encyclopedia -  a dictionary that contains every type of information विश्व ज्ञान कोष | Treat -  behave व्यवहार करना | Immigration -  to go and settle out of one's country बाहर जाकर बसना | Occurred -  happened होना | Migrated - to go in another country  विदेश में बस जाना |  Ethnicity -  pertaining to race जाति संबंधी | Notable - famous प्रसिद्ध | Suburbs -  outskirts of city  उपनगर | Discriminated -  differentiated  अंतर करना | Usually -  generally आमतौर पर | Corner -  edge कोना |  shuffling of feet -  noise due to dragging of feet on the ground पैरों की रगड़ द्वारा शोर | Roars -  cries चीखें |  Contrary -  opposite crooked like -   dishonest person,  body  bent   शरीफ टेढ़ा   मेढ़ा | Caked -  dry   सूख जाना  | Track -  beaten path  पगडंडी | Closest -  fast,  near   करीबी, पक्की | Faded - Colorless  बदरंग | Surrounded -  encircled  घेर लेना | Hopscotch -  name of a game   एक खेल | Courteous -  polite  विनम्र | Nudge -  a gentle push   कोहनी मारना | Closet -  almirah  अलमारी | Hanging -  dangling  लटकना  | Incredulous - not Believing अविश्वसनीय था | Repeat -  say again   पुनः कहना | Stolidly -  not showing any feeling बिना भावना  के | peals of laughter -  laughed heartily जोर से हंसना | busting into shriek -  crying at high pitch जोर से चिल्लाना | Obviously  -  clearly  स्पष्ट रूप से | Exaggerate -  speaking in an enhanced way  बढ़ा चढ़ा कर कहना | Inseparable -  that which cannot be separated  जिसे अलग ना कर सके  | every now and then -  of and on  कभी-कभी | Hitching -  remove with jerk  झटके से हटाना | Protected -  saved रक्षा करना | Bullies -  these who use their power to frighten  दबंग | Mistreated -  ill treating  गलत  व्यवहार करना | Bothering -  troubling  चिंता होना| hand me down clothes -  giving old clothes  पुराने कपड़े देना| Sometimes -  off and on  कभी-कभी | Mocking -  false,  making fun of  झूठे, मजाक उड़ाना | Embarrassed -  ashamed  शर्मिंदा होना | Invented -  found  पाना| Teasing -  bothering  तंग करना | Absent minded -  foolishly  बेवकूफी से | Shuddered -  trembled   कांपना | Target -  a person  deliberately chosen for attack  हमले के लिए किसी को चुनना | Disguise -  conceal  वेश बदलना | Trimmings -  ornamentation of lace  छोटा, किनारी | Recognize -  identity  पहचानना | blonde hair -  light pale colored hair सुनहरा रंग | Scarcely -  hardly डरपोक | Brilliant -  decent शानदार  | Sash -  scarf  रुमाल| Pretended -  not real  बहाना करना | Admiration - praise  प्रशंसा करना | Contest -  debate वाक युद्ध | Announce -   saying publicly  घोषणा करना | Drizzling -  light raining  बूंदाबांदी होना| Eagerly -  happily उत्सुकता से उत्सुकता से | Gasped -  heaved heavily  जोर से सांस लेना जोर से सांस लेना | Ledge -   Latch  खूंटी  | window sill -  lower portion of the window  खिड़की की चौखट | Dazzling -  of much shining  चकाचौंध करने वाली | Lavish -  Very grand  बहुत शानदार | Wrapping - for folding  लपेटने वाला | murmured - speak silently   धीरे-धीरे कहना | Assembled -  collected  इकट्ठे होना | Sketches -  pictures  चित्र | Submitted -  given  देना | Actually - in reality  वास्तव में | Worthy -  suitable  योग्य | Unfortunately -  unluckily  दुर्भाग्य से | applause - clapping  तालियां | Exquisite -  very decent  अति शानदार | Whispered -  speak silently without  clear sound  कानाफूसी करना |

Oral comprehension check

 

Q1. Where in the classroom does Wanda sit or why?

Ans. Wanda sets in the seat next to the last seat in the last row in-room 13. She sits in the corner of the room where the rough boys who do not make good marks set. There are most shuffling of the feet. There is the most roar of laughter when anything funny is said. There are most mud and dirt on the floor. Nobody knows exactly why she sits there. But it may be because she comes from Boggins heights and her feet are usually covered with mud.

 

Q2. Where does Wanda live? What kind of pace do you think it is?

Ans. Wanda lives in Bogin's height. I think that this place must belong to not very high-class people. As Wanda's feet were covered with dry mutt, the play seems to be full of dust.

 

Q3. When and why do Peggy and Maddie notice Wanda's absence?

Ans. On Wednesday, the third day of Wanda's absence, Peggy and Maddie noticed her absence. They notice her absence because they wait for her to have fun with her, but she doesn't turn up.

 

Q4. What do you think ‘to have fun with her’ means?

Ans. It means making fun of her and to tease her. 

 

Oral comprehension check

 

Q1. In what way was she born different from other children?

Ans. Wanda Petronski was different from other children in many ways. Other children in the class had simple names. So they found her name funny. She did not have any friends. She came to school alone and left for the home alone too. Mostly she wore a faded blue dress that did not fit her properly. It was tidy but it had never been ironed properly. She seemed to be from a poor back crown, unlike most other children. Nobody played with her.

 

Q2. Did Wanda have a hundred dresses? What do you think she said and did it? 

Ans. No, I didn't really have a hundred dresses to wear. I think that she wanted to impress the other girls and enjoy the situation.

 

Q3. Why is Maddie embarrassed by the questions Peggy asks Wanda? Is she also like Wanda, or is she different?

Ans. Maddie is embarrassed by the questions asked of Wanda because she is also poor. She wears somebody's hand me down clothes. She thinks that she might be the next target of mockery. She is not like Wanda. She is different. She is poor but not as poor as Wanda. She doesn't live up on Boggins' height. She doesn't have a funny name. She is sensible enough. She thinks that in spite of wearing the same old dress every day, she will never tell others that she has a hundred dresses. She will never do anything to make others laugh at her 

 

 Oral comprehension check

 

Q1. Why didn't Maddie ask Peggy to stop teasing Wanda? What was she afraid of?

Ans. Maddie did not like perks, making fun of Wanda for wearing the same old dress every day and boasting of having hundreds of dresses. But she didn't have the confidence to say so. He was afraid of being the next target for Peggy and other girls. She was afraid of the questions Peggy could ask her regarding her dresses as she was used to wearing the old dresses of Peggy after some alteration. Besides, he was the most admired girl in the class, so Maddie thought that she could never do anything wrong.

 

Q2. Who did Maddie think would win the drawing contest? Why?

Ans. Maddie thought that would win the drawing contest. She thought so because she [ Peggy] drew them better than anyone else in the class. She could copy pictures in a magazine or some film star's face so that one could almost tell who it was.

 

Q3. Who won the drawing contest? What had the winner drawn?

Ans. Wanda Petronski won the drawing contest. She had drawn 100 designs of dresses. All the dresses were different, beautiful, and elegant.

 

 Thinking about the text

 

Q1. How is Wanda seen as different by other girls? How do they treat her?

Ans. Other girls find Wanda Petronski different from them. She has a funny name. She lives in Boggins Heights where the poor class people live. Every day she came wearing the same faded blue dress. Her seeds are usually caked with dry mud. She speaks very less and hardly had friends.

They treat her badly. They make fun of her. This around her in groups and ask her about the number of dresses and other things. She is simply a target of their fun. With sympathy for her, they make her a laughing stock.

 

Q2. What does Miss Mason think of Wanda's drawing? What do the children think of them? How do you know?

Ans. Miss Mason is full of appreciation for Wanda's drawings. She thinks that all the drawings of Wanda are very beautiful and different. They are exquisite. Each one of them is worth winning a prize. 

The children find them amazing. This top shot and gas when they look at their beauty and brilliance.

 it through their reaction of bursting into applause and stamping on the floor joyfully and blowing whistles. Even Peggy, who used to tease Wanda admires her drawing.

 

Q3. What do you think about Peggy?

Ans. Peggy is the most popular girl in the school. She is a pretty girl. She has many pretty clothes. She has curly hair. She sits down front with other children who get good marks and who don't track in a whole lot of mud. She is a good painter. She draws better than anyone else in the class. But she always teases Wanda by asking her questions. This shows not so good aspects of personality. She seems rude in her behavior towards Wanda. But she is not cruel. Shiva and appreciates banners drawing with an open heart.

 

Q4. Draw a character sketch of Wanda Petronski?

Ans. Wanda Petronski is the only polish girl in her class. She is a quiet and reserved girl. She really says anything to anybody at all. Nobody has ever heard her laughing loudly. Even her smile sheet twists her face. In spite of being poor, she is always neatly dressed. She is a good painter also. She has prepared drawings of hundreds of dresses. She has a good sense of humor. She has only one dress but she says that she has 100 rest all lined up in the closet. She is tolerant too. In spite of being teased by her classmates, she never resists.

 

Q5. How can you say that he was not really cruel?

Ans. She was a pretty girl. She did not like telling lies. There are some details that tell us that Peggy was not cruel. She protected small children from bullies. She was the most popular kid in school. She cried when she asked if she saw an animal being ill-treated. She teased Wanda for only fun because she told a lie that she had a hundred dresses. But she never made her cry. This makes us know that she was not really cruel. In fact, she was a very kind and sensitive girl. 

Part-2

Introduction

Here the narrator teaches us the lesson not to hurt the feelings of others. it is dangerous to play with the feelings of others. prosperity and poverty, happiness and troubles are two sides of life. today one is poor but the next moment he is rich. it should be our best endeavor to respect humanity. adversities are the ways of life but happiness is short-lived. we should be cautious enough not to make fun of others in any way. When  Wanda Petronski failed to bear the continuous fun from the students, the parents of the girl were forced to leave that school. They got her admitted to some other school. miss Mason read a letter from the Jan Petronski, the whole class regretted over  there Misdeeds and foolishness

Summary

A letter from Jan Petronski:--  While the class was going on, there came a note from the Principal's office for Miss Mason. She was troubled to read it. Then she asked the class to attend. she was looking tense. She read a letter from Wanda's father stating that  Wanda Petronski won't be coming to this school and they are moving away to a big city. there prevailed the deep silence on listening to the letter.

The reaction of Maddie:-- the whole class was troubled at Wanda’s leaving School.  But Maddie could not focus on her studies. she felt that she was as bad as what Peggy had done. It was worse. she was pondering if something could be done. She wanted to explain to Wanda that she had never meant to hurt her feelings and thoughts. She decided that she must do something to find Wanda. He thought that he would be with her and they would tell Wanda she had won the contest. they would say that she was smart and a hundred dresses were beautiful.

Towards the Boggins Heights:-- school was over in the afternoon. Both Peggy and Maddie hurried up to Boggins Heights. in the wave, packet told that she never had called her a foreigner or made fun of her name. Maddie spoke nothing in the way. all she wanted was that they would find Wanda also she would apologize to her that they had been sorry. Their friends would request her not to move away and they would fight someone else bad.

Maddie's decision:- that night Maddie wasn't able to sleep. she thought about Wanda and her favorite blue dress and the little how she lived in. She also thought of a hundred pictures made and all lined up in the classroom to stop her from sleep. so she sat up in bed and started thinking. After a long time, she took an important decision. she was never ever going to stand by and say nothing again. if she heard anyone trading and kindly because of a strange name, she would speak up. she would not be in tension if it meant losing Peggy’s friendship.

Letter to Wanda Petronski:-- on Saturday both Maddie and Peggy wrote a letter to Wanda telling her about the contest and that she had won. They praised her drawing and asked how she liked the new place. in a way, they were feeling sorry. they mailed it Boggins Heights. There wasn't any reply for a long time. Peggy started forgetting Wanda. Christmas has arrived. The classroom was beautifully decorated with a Christmas tree. the teacher showed a letter to Wanda Petronski before the class. It is the stated feeling for room 13. she wrote that the girls could keep all those hundred dresses because the way both the girls held their drawings were careful. the whole atmosphere smells like Christmas. Maddie reached home but she felt and realized that she would never see Wanda again.

Pinning the drawings:-- after arriving home Maddie pinned deep her drawings at the torn place in the pink flowered wall in the bedroom.  the room became full of life with colors. Maddie looked at the drawing and thought that one day would be nice to her. she went on looking at the picture with the Tears in her eyes. she noticed the head and face of the drawing. it was exactly Maddie. she thought that Wanda had drawn for her and she ran to Peggy’s to see her picture.  they went there and Wanda's drawing was lying. Maggi raised it and said that she has drawn you. she must have liked hearing those words. Both the girls started crying and they realized that Wanda liked them very much even though they had teased her.

We should never hurt the feelings of others, nobody can say what may happen!

हिंदी सारांश

जान पेट्रोस्की से एक पत्र:-- जब कक्षा चल रही थी प्रिंसिपल कार्यालय से मिस   मिशनके नाम एक पत्र आया वह उसे पढ़कर दुखी हुई। फिर उसने कहा कि ध्यान देने के लिए कहा;” वह मानसिक तनाव में थी” उसने वांडा के पिताजी  का पत्र पढ़ा जिसमें लिखा था।

 प्रिय शिक्षक,

अब मेरी लड़की वांडा कभी आपके विद्यालय में नहीं आएगी। जैक भी। अब हम बड़े शहर में जा रहे हैं। अब अधिक  जोर से”pollack”नहीं कहेगा कोई अधिक मजाक नहीं करेगा। बड़े शहर में बहुत से मजाकिया नाम है

 

आपका.

जॉन पेट्रोस्की

पत्र सुनकर गहन खामोशी छा गई | फिर मिस मिशन ने धीरे से कहा” मुझे विश्वास है कि कोई भी लड़का और लड़की कमरा नंबर 13 में जानबूझकर अथवा मतलब से किसी भी भावनाओं को ठेस नहीं पहुंचाएगा। एक अत्यंत ही दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण एवं दुखदाई बात हो चुकी है। और मैं आप सभी से चाहूंगी कि आप इस बारे में सोचें।”

 मैडी की प्रतिक्रिया:--  वांडा के विद्यालय छोड़कर जाने से सारी कक्षा दुखी हुई| परंतु मैडी अपना ध्यान पढ़ाई में न लगा पाई उसे लगा कि जोगी ने किया है वह भी उसके लिए उतना ही दुखदाई है। यह बहुत बुरा हुआ है। वह सोच रही थी कि क्या कुछ किया जा सकता है वह वांडा को बताना चाहती थी कि उसकी कभी भी वांडा की भावनाओं को ठेस पहुंचाने की इच्छा नहीं थी। उसने पैगी  की  और भी देखा परंतु उसने आंख ही नहीं उठाई। उसने निर्णय लिया कि उसे कुछ ना कुछ करना चाहिए और वांडा पेट्रोंस्की को ढूंढना चाहिए। वह अभी भी अपने पुराने घर में ही हो सकती है। उसने सोचा कि पैगी भी उसके साथ जाएगी और वह वांडा को बता देंगे कि उसने प्रतियोगिता जीत ली है। वह कहेंगे कि वह बुद्धिमान और सैकड़ों ड्रेसे अति सुंदर है।

बोगी हाइट्स की ओर:-- दोपहर बाद विद्यालय बंद हो गया दोनों पाएगी और मैडी शीघ्रता से बोगी हाइट्स की ओर चली| रास्ते में आएगी ने बताया कि वह उसे कभी भी विदेशी नहीं कहेगी या उसके नाम का मजाक उड़ाए गी। मैडी रास्ते में कुछ भी नहीं बोली। उन्हें यही आशा थी कि वह वांडा को ढूंढ लेंगे। वह उसे बता देगी कि उन्हें इसके प्रति दुख है। उससे वे न जाने के लिए प्रार्थना करेंगे और ना किसी से झगड़ा करेगी दोनों ही तेजी से आगे बढ़ती जा रही थी। एक छोटा सा सफेद घर देखकर  उन्होंने इसी को पेट्रोस्की का घर समझा। परंतु उसमें कोई भी जीवन का चिन्ह तक नहीं था। उन्होंने दरवाजा भी खटखटाया परंतु कोई उत्तर न पाया। उन्होंने सोचा कि पेट्रोल की जा चुकी है वह वापिस पहाड़ी की ओर चल दिए। पैगी ने कहा कि वह अब यहां से जा चुके हैं और कुछ भी नहीं किया जा सकता है। परंतु मैडी सोचती रही कि क्या कुछ किया जा सकता है।

मैडी का निर्णय:-- मैडी नींद नहीं ले सकी वह वांडा के बारे में सोचती रही और उसकी नीली ड्रेस के बारे में और उस छोटे से घर के विषय में जिसमें वह रहती थी। उसकी बनाई हुई सैकड़ों चित्रों के बारे में भी सोचती रही जो सभी कक्षा में सुसज्जित थी। वह सो नहीं पाई। अतः वह बिस्तर में बैठ गई और सोचने लगी काफी देर के बाद उसने एक आवश्यक निर्णय लिया | वह कभी भी न तो साथ देगी और न कभी कुछ कहेगी। अगर वह किसी  की अभद्रता पूर्वक व्यवहार करता सुनेगी उसके अद्भुत नाम के कारण वह उसे बोल देगी उसे यह भी चिंता नहीं होगी अगर उसकी दोस्ती पैगी से समाप्त हो जाती है। वह कभी भी किसी को पुनः नाराज नहीं करेगी।

 वांडा पेट्रोंस्की को पत्र:-- शनिवार को दोनों मैडी और पैगी ने एक पत्र दोस्ती के नाते वांडा को लिखा जिसमें उन्होंने कॉन्टेस्ट और उसके जीतने का जिक्र किया। उन्होंने उसकी ड्राइंग की प्रशंसा की और पूछा कि नया स्थान कैसे लगा| इस प्रकार से वे अपना दुख प्रकट कर रही थी उन्होंने इस पत्र को वो की हाइट में भेज दिया। कई दिन और सप्ताह व्यतीत हो गए परंतु कोई उत्तर प्राप्त हुआ। पैगी ने तो वांडा को भूलना आरंभ कर दिया। परंतु मैडी तो वांडा के बारे में ही सोचती रहती क्रिसमस का त्योहार समीप आ गया कक्षा को क्रिसमस वृक्ष से सजाया गया  शिक्षिका ने वांडा पेट्रोंस्की का पत्र कक्षा के सम्मुख  पढ़ा इसमें उसकी कमरा नंबर 13 के प्रति भावनाएं लिखी थी। उसने लिखा था कि लड़कियां उन सैकड़ों  ड्रेस   को रख लें क्योंकि उसके नए घर में अब  नई सैकड़ों पोशाके हैं उसने सभी को मैरी क्रिसमस कहा।। रास्ते में दोनों लड़कियां अपनी ड्राइंग लिए हुए सावधानी से घर लौट आई। सारा वातावरण क्रिसमस त्योहार से सुगंधित था | वह घर पहुंची मैडी को लगा कि अब वह कभी भी  वांडा को नहीं मिल पाएगी। 

ड्राइंग चित्र में पिन लगाना:-- घर आने के बाद मैडी ने अपने उन्हीं स्थानों पर ड्राइंग पिन लगाई जहां पर गुलाबी रंग के फूलों के कागज शयन कक्ष में दीवार पर लगे थे। कमरे में रंगो द्वारा जीवन  सा छा गया मैडी ने ड्राइंग चित्रों को देखा और विचार किया की वांडा उसके प्रति बहुत ही अच्छी है। वह तस्वीर की ओर देखती रही परंतु आंखों में आंसू थे। उसने चित्रों को सिर और चेहरा भी देखा। वह बिल्कुल मैडी की भांति था। उसने सोचा कि वांडा ने इसे मैडी के लिए ही बनाया था और वह मैगी के पास आकर चित्र देखने के लिए दौड़ती चली गई। वे दोनों वहां तक गए जहां परवांडा ने चित्रा करती थी। मैडी ने उसे उठाया और कहा देखो उसने आपका ही चित्र बनाया है बागी ने कहा वह हमें जरूर चाहती होगी इन शब्दों को सुनकर आंसू आंखों से बह रहे थे तब मैडी ने वांडा के बारे में सोचा इस प्रकार दोनों ही  लड़कियों ने यह महसूस किया की वांडा उन्हें बहुत चाहती थी जबकि वह भी उसे तंग करती रही। हमें किसी भी भावनाओं को ठेस नहीं पहुंचाने चाहिए पता नहीं उसका क्या परिणाम हो।

Word Meaning

Studied - read thoughtfully पढ़ना | Thoughtfully - with mind ध्यान से | Attention - with mind ध्यान | Shuffling - movement, rubbing and dragging हिलना | Grew tense - became serious गंभीर होना | Deliberately - intentionally जानबूझकर | Indicated - pointed out इशारा किया | Listened - heard सुनना | Closely - nearly समीप से | Move away - go जाना | Holler - cry loudly जोर से बोलना | Pollack - a kind of fish एक प्रकार की मछली | Plenty - more than enough अधिकता | Took off - kept उतारना , रखना | Purposely - with purpose उद्देश्य से | Happened - occurred होना | Unfamiliar - unknown अनजान | Prefer - to feel good अच्छा लगना | Thoughtlessness - without mind बिना सोचे समझे | Unfortunate - unlucky भाग्यशाली | Bottom of her stomach - in the mind मन में | Closet - almirah अलमारी | Stood by - support साथ देना | Worse - very bad बहुत बुरा | Coward - not brave डरपोक | Mean - wretch मनहूस | Dismissed - closed बंद होना | Kid - small child छोटा बच्चा | Pretended casualness - showing excuse बहाना दिखाते हुए | Glowed - Brighten रोशनी आना | Drizzling - showering हल्की-हल्की बूंदे गिरना | Damp - wet गीली | Dismal - sad दुखी | Gruffly - harshly कठोरता से | Dump - unable to speak गूंगी | Gee - move forward आगे बढ़ना | Picked on - troubled परेशान करना | wisps - small bundle छोटी पोटली | Pathway - Footpath पगडंडी | stuck up - come forward आगे निकलना | Sparse - thin पतला, हल्का | Shabby - unclear गंदा , धुंधला | Faded - discolored धुंधला | Conclusion - decision निष्कर्ष, निर्णय| Defending - saving बचाव करना | Tease - trouble तंग करना | to feel ashamed - to feel shy लज्जित होना | Decorated - adorned सजाना | Intently - with attention ध्यान से | trimming - decorating with certain items like Gota ,etc. गोटा किनारी से सजाना | Wreaths - garland मालाएं | Holly - evergreen plant सदाबहारझाड़ियां | Grocery - Provision Store किराना स्टोर | Stacked - fastened बांधना, लगाना | Candy - crystallized sugar मिस्त्री | Cornucopias - decorated containers सजावटी कंटेनर | Reflected - shone चमकना | Pinned - using the drawing pins पिन लगाना | Alive - full of life सजीव | Blurred - appeared in great quantity धुंधला | Hastily - hurriedly जल्दी से | Intently - seriously ध्यान से, गंभीरता से | Vivid - clear साफ | Scarcely - hardly मुश्किल से | Excitedly - with courage जोश से | Clattered - a sound while moving चलते समय की आवाज | Exclaimed - said with surprise हैरानी से | Blinked away - winked away झपकी | Sunny - rays of sun falling सूर्य की किरणें पढ़ना | Spot - place स्थान | Stolidly - foolishly मूर्खता से |

Oral comprehension check

Q1.  What did Mr. Petroski's letter say?

Ans.  Mr. Petronski's letter said that his daughter, Wanda, and his son, Jack would not come to school anymore. They were migrating to a big city. The letter was an expression of his pain and his children being teased in the school. It expressed that he as well as his children were sad at ill behavior that they got from their classmates. He wrote that now his children would no more have to tolerate the unfriendly atmosphere of that school. No one would now holler at them ‘Pollack’ and ask about their funny name.

Q2. Is Miss Mason angry with the class, or she is unhappy and upset?

Ans. No, Miss Mason is not angry with the class. Knowing that Wanda is going to leave the school because of their Misbehavior, she is unhappy and upset. She calls the episode unfortunate. She is sure that nobody would purposely and deliberately hurt anyone’s feelings because of his\ her funny name. She believes that It all happened in utter thoughtlessness. She also tells the class to think about the unfortunate and sad incident.

Q3. How does Maddie feel after listening to the note from Wanda's father?

Ans.  After listening to the note from Wanda's father, Maddie felt greatly hurt. She cannot focus on her work. She considers herself a coward. She thinks that she could have asked not to ridicule Wanda but she could not do so. She wishes she could do something for Wanda. She wishes to tell Wanda That she didn't mean to hurt her feelings. She wishes she could find Wanda. Then along with Peggy, she would go to her house and tell her that they thought she was smart and her hundred dresses were beautiful.

Q4. What does Maddie want to do?

Ans. Knowing that Wanda is going to leave the school, Maddie feels bad. She feels herself a coward for not having opposed Peggy when she teased Wanda. Now she wants to apologize for her mistake. She wants to go to Wanda and tell her that she didn't mean to hurt her feelings. She wants to go to Boggins Heights with Peggy to find Wanda. She along with Peggy want to tell Wanda that she has won the contest and a hundred dresses are beautiful and she is a smart girl.

Oral comprehension check

Q1. What excuses does Peggy think up for her behavior? Why?

Ans.  Peggy thinks that she didn't call Wanda a foreigner. She also didn't make fun of her name. She says that she thought that Wanda didn't have the sense that they were making fun of her anyway. She thinks that Wanda was probably getting good ideas for her drawings while she was thinking about all her dresses. She might not even have triumphed the contest, otherwise. By thinking so, she wants to prove her wrongdoing. She just wants to be free from her sense of guilt by thinking this way.

Q2. What are Maddie's thoughts as they go to Boggins Heights?

Ans.   Maddie hopes that they[ Maddie and Peggy]  would find Wanda. She wants to tell her that they are sorry for their misbehavior with her. She wants to tell her that the whole class thinks that she is Wonderful. She wants to request her not to move away. She wants to promise her that everybody will be nice to her. She also wants to tell her if anybody who behaves ill with her, Maddie and Peggy will fight with him. In short, she wants to make her feel good about them.

Q3. Why does Wanda’s house remind Maddie of Wanda's blue?

Ans.  Wanda's house reminds Maddie of Wanda's blue dress because both look similar. The house and its sparse little Yard is Shabby but clean. So was Wanda's faded blue dress- shabby but clean.

Q4. What does Maddie think hard about? What important decision does she come to?

Ans.  Maddie thinks hard about Wanda, her faded blue dress, and the little house she lived in. She also thinks of the following pictures of dresses made by Wanda.

She decides not to standby next time when something wrong is being done. She decides to speak up if she has anybody making fun of or treating others and unkindly. She wouldn't mind even losing Peggy's friendship. From now on she would never make anybody unhappy. She decides to give up her cowardly nature to be good with everybody. 

Oral comprehension check

Q1.  What did the girls write to Wanda?

Ans.  The girls[ Peggy and Maddie] wrote a friendly letter to Wanda. They told her that she had triumphed the contest. They told her that her drawings were very beautiful. Their friends asked her if she liked the place where she was living and if she liked her new teacher. In fact, it was their way to apologize for the mischief they had done to Wanda. But instead of apologizing clearly, they just wrote it as a friendly letter.

Q2.  Did they get a reply? Who was more anxious for a reply, Peggy or Maddie? how do you know?

Ans. No, they didn't get an answer to their letter. Maddie was more anxious for a reply. We know it through the incidents mentioned in the lessons. Peggy had begun to forget the whole business. But Maddie couldn't sleep properly. She used to put herself to sleep at night, making speeches about Wanda, defending her from great crops of girls who were trying to tease her. Maddie had a sense of guilt for being a part of teasing Wanda. So she anxiously waited for a friendly reply. 

Q3. How did the girls know that Wanda liked them even though they had teased her?

Ans. The girls knew this fact from the letter from Wanda to Miss mason. In that letter, she gave all her drawings to the girls. She gave one drawing each to Peggy and Maggie also. She wrote that she missed that school. She told miss Mason that her new teacher did not equalize with her. She wished Merry Christmas to Miss Mason and everybody else in the class. This made the girls know that Wanda was a very good girl, and she had a liking for them all.

Thinking about the text 

Q1. Why do you think Wanda’s family moved to a different city? Do you think life there was going to be different for their family?

Ans.  Wanda's family moved to a different city because they were teased for their funny names. Yes, I know that life in a different city was going to be incompatible with their family. Since in big cities, there are plenty of funny names and life in big cities is very busy, Nobody has free time to make fun of such trivial things. There are a variety of people in big cities, and generally, they do not interfere in each others’ life. So nobody was going to teach them or have funny names.

Q2. Maddie thought her silence was bad as per teasing her. Was she right?

Ans. Yes, she was right because by keeping silent, she was indirectly supporting Peggy in her teaching activities. Though she herself did not tease Wanda, she stood by Peggy and she supported her in a way like Peggy stitching Wanda, she could never muster up the courage to oppose this. by not speaking out against them this behavior of Peggy, Maddie in a way was a part of that all. Her thinking so was absolutely right.

Q3. Peggy says,” I never thought she had the sense to know we were making fun of her anyway. I thought she was too dumb. and gee, look at how she can draw!” what led to believe that Wanda was dumb?

Ans.  Peggy and other girls used to tease Wanda. They used to ask Wanda the same question about the number of her dresses and she[ Wanda] used to give the same answer that she had a hundred dresses, all lined up. all the girls knew that she did not have a hundred dresses. they used to laugh at her but still, she did not bother. such behavior Led Peggy to think that Wanda was dumb.

Yes, after seeing Wanda's drawings, Peggy changed her opinion. Now she came to think that Wanda was a smart girl. 

Q4. What important decision did Maddie make? Why did she have to think hard to do so?

Ans. Maddie made an important decision that in the future she would not stand by and say nothing when someone was mocking others for making fun of them. she would raise her voice up even if it meant losing Peggy’s friendship. she had to think hard to do so because in the future She neither wanted to break the heart of anybody or make anybody and happy. She was deeply touched by the fact that Wanda had to leave school because of the ill-treatment of her classmates.

Q5. Why do you think Wanda gave Maddie and Peggy the drawings of dresses? Why were they surprised?

Ans. Wanda gave Maddie and Peggy the drawings of dresses because she liked them and had no prejudices against them. She gave them those drawings as a token of love. it was her open heart that she liked her teasers. This gesture of giving her drawings to Maddie and Peggy showed that she never made sense of their behavior. Maddie and Peggy were surprised to see their own faces in the drawings that were given to them.