Exhausted after a particularly tiring day, on an impulse I drew a camel to start the chapter on nouns. OOPS! I knew it was a disaster. It could be a cow, a bird or anything but a camel!

Facing a class full of five-year-olds is quite daunting if you commit a mistake. Garnering courage and putting aside any ego, I addressed thirty pairs of questioning eyes, “I don’t draw well on a blackboard.”

I felt a soft nudge. “Shouldn’t you be at your place?”, I glared at Daisy.

“The camel is beautiful, Ma’am, you just need a bit of practice”, Daisy muttered guilelessly. I gulped and once again faced the curious eyes. Amidst a cacophony, I heard, “Perfect camel”, “Looks good”, “You draw excellently”. I stood speechless. I felt Daisy’s tender palm holding on tightly. With all my might, I held on too.