Little Tory’s Teachers' Day Essay!

By Niggy Dolcy Binkles

Little Tory lived in a big city with her mother. Her father lived in their village, a short distance from the city, where he had a farm and grew different types of fruits and vegetables. On the farm, there were many animals, such as sheep, hens, cows, rabbits, and even a donkey. One could also spot many birds on the farm, for there were lots of trees there for them to nest in.

Tory had spent her childhood on the farm, but as she grew a little older, her parents wanted her to study in a big city school. Tory felt sad that she had to leave her farm home to live in the city with her mother, but every year, during the summer vacations and occasionally on long weekend holidays, she and her mother would come back to the farm. There, Tory simply loved spending time with the animals.

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One day, the children in Tory’s school were told that a special day called ‘Teachers' Day’, was coming up and that they would observe this day in a special way. They were instructed that for this occasion, they should all write a short essay about how much they appreciated their teachers and about some of the good things they had learnt from them. There would be a big prize for the best essay, they were told (You can imagine how excited the students were when they heard that!).

When Tory returned from school that day, she told her mother about the essay that she needed to write.

“That’s good Tory!” said her mother. “Perhaps your essay can be about your English teacher, Miss Wend. You like her very much and keep telling me good things about her.”

“Oh, hmmm, Mumma, let me think this out” Tory replied, shaking her little head this way that way, which made her ponytail bob up and down like a yoyo. “I might have a different essay idea.”

After Tory’s mother wished her goodnight, Tory went to her room, sat on her bed and began writing an essay in her notebook. Here is what she wrote:

“Happy Teachers' Day to you all, my dear teachers!

When I was littler, when we lived on our farm, we’d get up very early in the morning, but we didn’t need an alarm clock for that. Guess why. It’s because Rolly, our majestic-looking rooster, would rise well before dawn and emit a loud, yet sweet, cry, which was enough to wake up everyone else, people as well as animals. Isn’t that nice? Rolly is still on the farm and is still our alarm clock! He has been one of my best teachers as he has taught me the value of waking up early.

I must also tell you about two other interesting teachers on our farm, Mickey, who is a black-and-white cat, and Ginger, a very fluffy and rather naughty (in a cute way) orange cat. At breakfast time, both Mickey and Ginger hop on to the kitchen window, and when I’m back in the farm, I love serving them their breakfast. Ginger often growls at Mickey, but Mickey never growls back. He quietly eats his food and moves away, not allowing himself to get provoked by Ginger’s antics. Mickey has taught me that if someone is rude to you, you should not be rude to them in turn. Rather, you should just stay quiet!

City folks might never have seen rabbits, but growing up on the farm, I was lucky to not just see them but even to live with them. They run oh so fast and munch their carrots oh so sweetly, holding them in their cute little paws. I learnt to eat my vegetables neatly from Runny, a baby rabbit, who would sit beside his mother and neatly nibble the vegetables he was given! He’s been another great teacher for me.

And then there is Patty, a rather big farm dog, with whom I play games that we’ve together invented, like ‘Catch My Tail’ and ‘Fetch, Fetch.’ Patty has been a very faithful friend to me, and from her I have learnt to be good and faithful to my friends.

We’ve got a donkey on our farm called Dazzle. I love to pat his furry head and caress his cheeks. Sometimes, I use my pocket-money to fetch him balls of raw sugar to eat, which he finds delicious. Dazzle has taught me the value of hard work. He draws our vegetable-and-fruit cart, helping my father take our farm produce to the market to sell. He never complains even if he is tired. 

There are numerous colorful birds who keep visiting our farm, and many of them make their home there. There’s Rock Star the robin, Katy, the kite, Polly, the parrot, and even Woo-Woo, the woodpecker. They sing throughout the day, each in their own unique sort of voice, and so very happily! Hearing them, I too feel very happy, and sometimes I sing along with them, they being my music teachers!

All these numerous creatures who live on our farm have been my teachers ever since I was little. They have taught me a great deal. And so, I take this opportunity to wish all of them a very ‘Happy Teachers' Day’!”

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It was well past midnight by the time Tory had finished her essay. Holding Trinky, her woolen bear-doll, close to her, she fell fast asleep. The next morning, when her mother entered her room to wake her up, she saw Tory’s essay on the table and quickly read it. Astonished, she asked Tory when she woke her up, “Child, won’t your teachers be angry that you did mention them in your essay, but, instead, spoke about all those animals and birds on our farm as your teachers?”

“I hope not, Mumma” said Tory with a laugh.

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At school a few days later, the children were very excited. They had all assembled in a large hall to mark ‘Teachers' Day’. One by one, they came on stage to read out their essays. When Tory had finished reading out hers, she was in for a great surprise. How the children squealed in delight and clapped loudly! They really enjoyed her essay. The teachers, too, were very glad and were all smiles.  

Soon it was time for the prizes for the essays to be announced. The kids held their breath, wondering who would get the first prize.

Miss Wend, the English teacher, went up on stage and read out from a paper that she held in her hand. “The third prize goes to Binx, the second prize goes to Leno, and…and…” She stopped for a short while, but this seemed like ten full minutes to the children, who were eagerly waiting to know who had won the first prize.

“And the first prize goes to Tory!” Miss Wend announced, breaking into a big smile. “She’s come up with such a great idea, recognizing birds and animals to be teachers, too! That’s so very clever of her!”

As Tory ran up to the stage to fetch her prize, you should have seen how excited the other children were. The entire hall resounding with loud clapping!

And guess what? There’s soon going to be an inter-school essay competition and Tory’s essay is being sent in as an entry. Hope Tory wins the first prize there, too! What fun it’s going to be, isn’t it?