STORY TIME: More than you wish for

By Michelle DSouza Sara was taught the significance of charity and sharing since childhood. Belonging to an average family, Sara didnt possess all the luxuries of life. Her family didnt own an LCD television, a computer, or any such high-tech gadgets. She didnt even have a telephone to communicate with friends. However, this never got in the way of her happiness. She was indeed a cheerful child and very optimistic about life. At school most of her class mates belonged to average families, however, she had a few rich, bratty kids as classmates too. They would always tell exaggerated stories and boast how and where they celebrated their birthdays, had family lunches, dinners, etc. She tried to keep away from them but like every child, soon fell prey to jealousy. She recalled a lecture her teacher once gave during class. Her teacher had told them, When you give someone something, fate rewards you with twice as much! Sara contemplated this phrase. She decided to collect her pocket money and help people more frequently, in hope to be rewarded with double as much. However, she didnt receive much in return. She began to question herself and wonder if what her teacher had said was untrue. So she decided to put this question forward to her teacher. The next day as usual, the richer kids self-importance and arrogance got the better of Sara. Sara waited anxiously for the day to end. The last lesson seemed to go on for hours. But as soon as the bell was rung, Sara quickly put her books away and was about to approach her teacher with the question when she heard someone crying. She recognised the voice; it was Anum, her close friend. Sara hurried to see what the matter was. Anum told her that a classmate who shared her lunch with Anum was demanding money in return. Sara knew Anums parents would be angry if she asked them for money, so she conciliated her and offered to pay the money for her. Anum hugged her saying she was indeed her best friend. Sara felt proud of being able to help a friend in need. As Sara walked away from Anum, she suddenly realised that she had found the answer to all her questions. She wouldnt want Anum to pay her back double; she wouldnt want her to pay her back at all, for she helped her because she cared for it. And then Anums genuine appreciation meant the world, Sara didnt need anything else. The next morning, as Sara got dressed for school, the same thoughts ran through her mind. Lost in thought, Sara completely forgot that it was her birthday. However, as she reached her classroom, she saw that it was beautifully decorated and all her classmates wished her and sang for her. Sara had the most awesome day she could have ever imagined. It was then that she learnt that you dont receive double of what you give to others, but what you do receive can be more than you can ever wish for.

HOPE: Dare to dream

By Zain (Intermediate student) Of all the enthusiastic, enriching days declared to foster the beauty of believing and striving in life, the Dream Day seems so far the best to me. Celebrated on March 11, the day is all you need to hope and strive for, for a beautiful tomorrow. People who do not have dreams do not have much. How well said it is and how true! For those who dont have the insight to imagine what has not happened yet but has every prospect of happening are devoid of the splendour of the imminent. What has happened till date with you are only facts but what can happen and how much you have in yourself to make it happen is an entirely different and prosperous yarn in itself, for only you know what you own and all that you can proffer to the world! It is said that if you can imagine, you can make it happen. Everything is a mind game at first. If you possess the power to create it in your thoughts, you indisputably have the fire and the elements to make it to reality. What bars us from doing something is not the lacking or the essence, but our own lack of imagination.

Some people never dream. They dont realise by doing so they are handicapping their access to their desired future. Others only dream; they live in their fantasy world and never actually put forth the effort to make it to veracity. That is to say, they do dream but dont really believe in the magnificence of what they see. Remember, it is not that you should never dream, or to dream only; but to dream to make it happen. All that is accomplished in the world is done by faith. Translating ones dreams into reality isnt going to be easy. It takes a world of determination, luck and hard work to achieve what you think you can. There will be a thousand hurdles. People will make fun. They will degrade and try to prove you insignificant and incapable. They will create troubles. Luck may impede. There may be other challenges; unseen, unheard. But in the end, all that matters is how strong and positive you stayed through it all and the way you turned your weakness into your strengths and fought all odds, believing all the time you can do it and never giving any chance to any despondency to contaminate your fortitude. The moment you begin to question your aptitude yourself, the battle is lost. Dont act vulnerable. Never lose hope. Believe. Dream. Achieve! Have an ingenious Dream Day and sure, dream on!

Quotes
Women are the real architects of society. Harriet Beecher Stowe The fastest way to change society is to mobilise the women of the world. Charles Malik Follow your instincts. Thats where true wisdom manifests itself. Oprah Winfrey It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else. Erma Bombeck Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly. Langston Hughes To those who can dream there is no such place as faraway. Anon The loneliest woman in the world is a woman without a close woman friend. George Santayana The history of all times and of today especially, teaches that women will be forgotten if they forget to think about themselves. Louise Otto Woman is the companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacity. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi There is in every true womans heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity. Washington Irving

The short straw: To be unluckily or unfairly selected to do an unpleasant job. The sun might rise in the west: This is said to indicate that the speaker doesnt expect something to happen. There are many ways to skin a cat: It simply means that there are many ways to do a certain task. There goes the neighbourhood: This is said when something bad happens in an area or some undesirable people shift into a neighbourhood and the living conditions, as well as the value of the properties, are sure to decline. Theres a dead cat on the line: This idiom is used to indicate that there is something fishy or suspicious going on. Theres never a road without a turning: It means that things dont remain the same way forever. Theres no I in Team: It signifies that an individuals achievements are not greater than the achievements/victories of the team, which is especially true in the case of team sports such as football and cricket. Theres no accounting for taste: It is difficult to explain or justify peoples likes or dislikes. Theres no fool like an old fool: It means that an older person who acts foolishly seems worst than a younger person who does the same thing. Theres no such thing as a free lunch: It means that nothing comes for free, and if you are being offered something free by someone, that person is bound to ask you a favour later on. Thick as mince: Someone who is as thick as mince, is stupid. Thick as thieves: Very close friends who have no secrets between them. Thick-skinned: To be unaffected by criticism and what others say. Thin as a rake: To be very thin. Thin end of the wedge: Something that is very small, apparently insignificant, but one that will prove to be of great importance later on. Thin-skinned: Someone very sensitive who doesnt take any criticism lightly. Think outside the box: To think in a creative and unconstrained way in order to come up with innovative ideas, especially for business. A box signifies restricted thinking and rigidity. Ahzam Ahmed

CHILD LABOUR: Perpetuating exploitation

By Wakeel Ahmed Most children work. At the age of six or seven they start helping parents in the house by running errands and doing small chores. In traditional societies involved in agriculture and handicraft production, they work under their parents supervision, learning family trade. In other developed societies, children work in their spare time to earn extra money, at the same time learning the value of work. Child labour, however, implies something different as it entails children being exploited or overworked, or deprived of their right to health or education or just childhood. These children, apart from working at a very young age, work long hours, at little or no pay; and work in hazardous and slave-like conditions. These children are compelled to work on a regular basis to earn a living for themselves or for their families, and as a result are disadvantaged educationally and socially. Their places of work are exploitative and damaging to their health and to their physical and mental development. Separated from their families and often deprived of educational and training opportunities; these children are forced to lead prematurely adult lives, and condemned to a cruel present

and a bleak future. Many justify the existence of child labour on grounds of poverty, without realising that child labour itself may become a cause of poverty. A sizeable number of Pakistans population lives in abject poverty; and their children have to work for the survival of their families. This situation deprives them of choice and increases the employers hold over them; enabling the employer to pay meagre wages to these child workers. The rise in employment of children at low wages creates a cycle in which already inadequate adult wages are further depressed to a point where a single adult salary is not sufficient to sustain a family. Hence child labour leads adult under-employment and unemployment. As long as children are put to work, poverty will spread and living standards will continue to decline. It should, however, be appreciated that not all children work to support their families. Some enter the workforce due to lack of opportunities for free, quality and compulsory education. The quality of available education remains irrelevant and unsuited to the needs of the child. Even if compulsory education were made available, it will not be considered by many parents as a worthwhile investment because the system does not impart relevant, marketable skills and knowledge. Competent, caring and qualified teachers are missing and the quality of curriculum is poor. This, coupled with growing urbanisation, and its accompanying pattern of social transition, rapid population growth, resource constraints, commercialisation of agriculture and growth of landless peasantry, traditional hesitation in educating females, unemployment of adults and low income makes Pakistan one of the few countries in the world with child labour on the increase. The magnitude of the problem is immense due to the numbers involved, although the government, regardless of who is in power, always denies the magnitude of the problem, insisting that it is blown out of proportion.

Poets corner
Sports Day Everyone with a smiling face, Wants to participate in the race, Slow or fast whatever the pace, Win or lose whatever the case, Wear your tracksuit, tie up your lace, Because you have to run on the long base. Zainab Rashid Ants Take a glance at ants lives, You must see how an ant strives, For justice, for the right, For life, for might, To you they may seem tiny and small, To them you may seem gigantic and tall, But if you take an impartial view, What has been for long, oblivious Will unveil itself from the opaque cover, Youll see the ordeals they are forced to suffer, You alone make their lives rougher and tougher, For how long must they go through such torment, Cant ants and humans emerge as friends?

Syeda Ovaesh, Scary night

I was in a red room, Where there was a broom, Suddenly it started to fly in the air, Afraid, I started to jump here and there, Beside me was a huge basket, Which my mother had Bought from the market; I threw it on the broom, And it vanished from the room. Syeda Maliha, 9 years, Karachi My friend

She walks as elegantly as a dancer, Her eyes are as black as coal, Teeth like pearls, Hair as black as a blackbird, She is as fit as a fiddle, And fresh as a daisy, As gentle as a dove, As happy as a king, And as sweet as honey! Samima Khan, 12 years, Karachi A little boy

He is a little boy, Everyone calls him an angel, He is innocent and intelligent, With him, everyone wants to mingle. He is not naughty, but good, He loves to read books, And watch movies and cricket, He eats whatever his mother cooks. He likes to go to school, As he wants to get proper education, It is his aim to Help in building up his nation. Javed Bashir, 10 years, Turbat Flowers

I love flowers, Blooming in the gardens, Flowers are a blessing, Always in a pretty dressing, Some are orange, Some are brown, Some people like To grow them in town; Some are red, Some are wet, Some can be even dead! Some are sensitive, Some can be very attractive! Zoha, 10 years, Karachi Love

Love is life, Love is the world, Love is everything, For those who feel it, For those who did it, For those who think it, For those who care for it, I love my mom, Thats why She is everything to me! Nasir Mahesar, 10 years, Darbello

The colourful rainbow The colourful rainbow After the rain; So much joy from it, I gain. Red, yellow, orange, Green, purple and blue; When the sun came, Away the rainbow flew. How I love the rainbows so colourful, So shiny, so bright, so beautiful! Fareha Kashif Shamim, 6 years, Karachi

Mothers

Mothers are the gifts of God, They care for us, And are as strong as a rod! Mothers sometimes scold, But only when We dont do as we are told. We can never pay back our mothers, No one can challenge their love! Maheen Qureshi, 9 years, Karachi Sick in bed It really is just terrible To be stuck sick in bed; My eyes fill up with tears, And my nose even becomes red! I have to drink those nasty medicines, All with horrid flavours, And its no good eating too, I cant pick up any of those savours. Achoo! I cant stop sneezing Because of this drastic flu; Every part of me hurts, And there is nothing I can do! I cant go outside and I feel as if Im trapped; Happy, sad or angry Even my feelings are overlapped. My head is spinning round, And Im falling from time to time, Yet I am writing a poem That would rhyme; Aaah! My leg hurts So I better lie down. Alizah Gul Memon, 13 years, Islamabad A boys story There was a little boy, He once lost his toy, So he started to cry, He asked his father To bring him a new toy; His father bought him a new one, The boy loved it and felt joy. Alina Sami 7 years, Karachi God God has made us all, Good things and small, God has made flies,

Lions, birds, cows and butterflies, God has made mountains, Pretty fish swim in fountains, God has made shady trees, And has given us air all for free, God is great and shows us The correct path! Shanza Sarfaraz, 11 years, Islamabad Pakistan, I love you Pakistan is my country, Pakistan is full of colours, Pakistan has the best of fruits, Pakistan has the best of crops, Pakistan has green valleys, Mountains and forests, Pakistan booms and citizens rock, Pakistan is my lovely country, Pakistan, I love you! Shahir Sarfaraz 6 years, Islamabad If If I were a bird, I would fly. If I were a liar, I would lie. If I were a doctor, I would treat. If I were a foodie, I would eat. If I were a sweeper, I would sweep. If I were a reaper, I would reap. If I were a traveller, I would travel. But thank God! I am a student; And I only have to read. Mahnoor A. Kareem 9 years, Turbat My sweet niece Oh my dear, Dont feel fear, I am here, I will take care, Take a chair, Bring it near, When I am here,

Then why do you fear? Dont feel fear, Since I am here, Oh my dear, I will take care. Nazira Deen, 9 years, Turbat My friends My friends are like my brothers, I love the time when we all are together, We often meet in school, And they all have an attitude quite cool, We learn things from each other, They are honest and clever, I always want to be with my friends, Because I can share my secrets with them, They are my fellows and well wishers. Hammal Mujeeb, 10 years, Turbat Myself I do my homework myself, I also motivate myself, I go to school myself, I dont brag about myself, I love myself, I help my mother myself, I will buy a doll for myself, I will select my subjects myself, I always do my work myself. Kahinat Murad, 9 years, Kech My school My school is my home, My teacher is like my mom, I daily go to school, I also feel very cool, I am not lazy in studying, I always do my homework, I miss my school, I tell lies never. Yar Jan Sabzal Bolani, 12 years, Makran

Some brainy facts

InpaperMagzine 1 hour ago

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The weight of an average human brain is about 1300-1400g. The human brain is smaller than an elephants brain (6000g) but bigger than a monkeys brain (95g)! A dogs brain weighs about 72g and a cats brain weighs abut 30g. Your skin weighs twice as much as your brain! The brain represents about two per cent of your total body weight. It is roughly 140mm wide, 167mm long and 93mm high.

* Your brain uses approximately 20 per cent of the total oxygen pumping around your body and about 750ml of blood pumps through your brain every minute! * * * * * * * * Unconsciousness will occur after 8-10 seconds after loss of blood supply to the brain. Information travels at different speeds within different types of neurons. Transmission can be as slow as 0.5 metres/sec or as fast as 120 metres/sec. The human brain is approximately 75 per cent water. Our brain is capable of having more ideas than the number of atoms in the known universe! If you could harness the power used by our brain, we could power as a 10-watt light bulb. There are 100,000 miles of blood vessels in our brain. There are 100 billion neurons in our brain.

* At birth the human brain weighs around 350-400g and we have almost all the brain cells we will ever have. In fact, our brain was closer to its full adult size than any other organ in our body! * All of our thinking is done by electricity and chemicals.

* Mind over Matter studies show that 50-70 per cent of visits to the doctor for physical ailments are caused by psychological reasons.

Word buzz: Tempest in a teapot

InpaperMagzine 11th February, 2012 Teeny-weeny: Very small. Tempest in a teapot: To make a big issue out of a small thing; to exaggerate the seriousness of a situation and make things look worst than they are. Tempt fate/providence: To do something that involves great risk and most likely to have an unpleasant result. Ten/Two a penny: When something is ten (or two) a penny, it is very common. Test the waters: Just as one puts ones toes into the water first to see how cold it is before jumping in for a swim, this idiom means to first give something a try to see if it works or not before accepting or implementing it.

That and 50 cents will buy you a cup of coffee: It implies that something is worthless, for example when someone says that they got an A+ in a subject that really doesnt have much scope, you can tell them, So? That and 50 cents will buy you a cup of coffee. That is the way the cookie crumbles: It means that things cannot always turn out like we want them to and as there is not much that we can do about it, we should not get upset. That makes two of us: To show agreement with the speaker on something. That ship has sailed: This idiom is used to say that you have missed an opportunity. The be all and end all: This idiom comes from Shakespeares play Macbeth; it means that something is the central and all-important part, or the final and ultimate outcome, of an action or situation. The bigger they are, the harder they fall: It means that those with more power or at a higher position are at the risk of losing more and tend to suffer more as a result. The common weal: For the benefit or interest of the general public. The long and short: The gist or the most important part of something. The more the merrier: The more people or things there are, the better it will be. Ahzam Ahmed