As he entered the school gate, an idea occurred to him.

He would deliver the letter to the headmaster at the end of the day.

There was a chance Samuel might do something during the course of the day to justify the letter.

Swami stood at the entrance to his class.

Samuel was teaching arithmetic.

Swami hoped Samuel would scold him severely.

“You are half an hour late,” Samuel said.

“I have a headache, sir.” Swami said.

“Then why did you come at all?”

This was an unexpected question from Samuel.

Swami said, “My father said I shouldn’t miss school, sir.”

Samuel looked impressed.

“Your father is quite right. We want more parents like him.”

“Oh, you poor man!” Swami thought, “you don’t know what my father has done to you.”

“All right, go to your seat.”

Swami sat down, feeling sad. He had never met anyone as good as Samuel.

The teacher was inspecting the home lessons.

But today Samuel appeared very gentle.

“Swaminathan, where is your homework?”

“I have not done my homework, sir,” Swami said.

“Why-headache?” asked Samuel.

“Yes, sir.”

“All right, sit down,” Samuel said.

When the bell rang for the last period at 4:30, Swami picked up his books and ran to the headmaster’s room.

He found the room locked.

The peon told him the headmaster had gone on a week’s leave.

পিওন তাকে বলল যে হেডমাস্টার এক সপ্তাহের ছুটিতে গেছেন।

As soon as he entered home with the letter, Father said, “I knew you wouldn’t deliver it.”

“But the headmaster is on leave,” Swami said.

Father snatched the letter away from Swami and tore it up.

“Don’t ever come to me for help if Samuel scolds you again.

You deserve your Samuel,” he said.