JENNY'S WISH

December arrived and Jenny couldn’t wait for Christmas to come. Every year during this time, Jenny along with her parents and her little sister Jerry, used to spent holidays by visiting various tourist places. But for the last three years due to Jenny’s father’s work pressure and mother’s new business they hardly got time to go somewhere. Last year January, there had been a plan to visit one of the famous tourist places near to their house, But, their planning went in vain due to the outbreak of COVID and implementation of lockdown.
After three months of complete lockdown, from July last year people had got the liberty to step outside their houses for doing their jobs and fulfilling their needs. Unlike several corporate sectors who had reopened their campuses. Schools and colleges were still continuing with their online teaching system. Thus, forcing many students to sit back at home and study, growing frustration in learning. From little kids to senior students all have to spend long hours sitting in front of an electronic device whether it’s a smart phone, laptop or a computer to attend their classes. On the other hand poor and financially backward students who doesn’t have a device to study are not getting the opportunity to learn.
Similar kind of situation and conditions were faced by Jenny, who was constantly finding ways to escape from this method of learning. Every day she used to find new ways of bunking classes. Since the outbreak of coronavirus and lockdown, the world of little Jenny was confined into the small rooms of her two storey house. Like majority of other families, the pandemic situation also took away well established and secure jobs of Jenny’s parents. Jenny’s father Joseph Jordan, was a civil engineer who was used to work in one of the prominent construction companies of the UK. Jenny’s mother Joanne Jordan was a business woman. But due to COVID situation, her company lost many projects, forcing her to shut down the business. Jenny’s little sister Jerry, a four year old very charming sweet girl was used to be very busy all the day playing with her mother’s old phone. Most of the time, Jenny’s mother try to find ways to snatch away her old phone from her younger daughter’s soft, little and warn hands. But most of the time it was Jerry who with her sharp movements and innovative ideas used to win over her mother. There used to be a fixed timing of shouting and scolding regarding this issue.
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On the same day evening Jenny’s mother found Jenny sitting in the front garden. She went near her child and said, “What happened dear Jenny? Is anything wrong dear?”
Jenny turned around, Joanne observed tears on her face and to a surprise to her mother, Jenny hugged her tightly and started wailing.
Joanne not making out what really happened to her daughter, quickly said,
“What is troubling you so much dear?”
A quick reply came from her elder daughter as if she just burst out all her feelings in one go.
“I want to go out on a family trip in this Christmas holidays with you, dad and Jerry to one of the nearest amusement parks and wanted to play with snowballs and most importantly want to spend time with all of you. Whole day doing online classes, I am becoming frustrated. It pains my eyes generating an irritation which I don’t like at all. You all are busy with your works hardly we get any time to spend together. And Jerry, at the time when she need to play in outdoors, were confined to her room and playing that stupid Doll Universe game on your old phone. Please Mom take a leave and let’s go out somewhere.”
In reply her mother said,
“I can understand my child, the current pandemic situation has changed all our lives. Me your dad we both have lost our business and job. We are finding other ways of living, so that we both can make your and Jerry’s life better. Yes, as your parents, we couldn’t give much time to both of you but during the initial days of lockdown, we had spent lovely times together. Played many fun games, studied together, watched movies, and also done many other activities.
Coming to the issue that you feel irritated and frustrated in doing classes online, you should take short breaks between your classes and take a walk around the house. I will talk to your dad and will soon go somewhere during this winter holidays. You now go and find Jerry and play games with her. Jenny erased her tears from her face and ran towards her sister’s room happily and cheerfully.
Joanne was now in a deep thought, she could arrange or plan a trip to any amusement park but it means spending a lot of money. Which she and Jenny’s father couldn’t afford now, when they were struggling to earn money for their daily living. With a thoughtful face she slowly entered their room. She observed her husband busy with some paper work. By the sound of her footsteps he looked up and said,
“What happened Joanne, Is anything wrong?”
“Jenny was not happy”
“What happened to her?”
Jenny’s mother told him anxiously everything about the conversation that she had with Jenny.
After listening to everything very patiently, John smiled and went towards the cupboard at the corner of the room. He opened it, pulled out a white envelope. Closed the cupboard and stood in front of Joanne. Joanne now curiously looked at the envelope with a questioning look. John opened the envelope and she saw four entry tickets of an amusement park named THE SNOWY PARK.
With a surprising look, she said,” But…” John abruptly paused her and said,
“I got a new job in a new start-up company. They offered me a very good package. After the Christmas holidays, from new year I would be joining this company.”
Suddenly at that time, a text message appeared at Joanne’s phone and the message was
Congratulations, you have been selected for the post of “Associate Maths Teacher” in ABC Public School. Here’s your appointment letter
Thank you
Hr, ABC Public School
Both Joanne and John looked at each other and with a joyful smile both hugged each other. Soon after that John said,
“Since the inception of the Christmas holidays I was observing Jenny’s behaviour. I observed a change in her behaviour and I finally got hold of a letter which I found on her table.”
Saying this he took his hand into his shirt’s pocket and took out a small piece of read coloured paper. On which on white colour it was written
20.12.2020
Jenny’s Wish
To visit one of the amusement parks nearest to my house
Jenny

As this news reached Jenny, she was very happy, and hugged her parents joyfully and on the next day they went happily to THE SNOWY PARK and spent some good family time.