THE BOY WHO DID NOT KNOW HIS AGE by Ananya Gulati

It all started in the ‘Contented Orphanage’ when the children were going to start their new school; everybody except Peter was bursting with delight. While his mates joyfully packed their school bags, Peter sedately lay on his framed bed. But what was the problem, did he not like going to school? No! He adored going to school, but he abhorred the fact that he did not know his age! Then which class should he be put in?
“I hope all the kids have packed their bags,” whispered Mr Wormwood, the master of the orphanage. He was a pleasant prudent fellow, who had curly hair. Suddenly he caught the eyes of Peter’s subtle face. He then pulled out an admission ticket for that school. Was it for Peter? Yes, it was, and Mr Wormwood had guessed his age. He put him in the sixth class.
The next day was the pleasantest day for Peter. But the teachers all said that he is not in sixth because a child this age can not solve such maths problems. Consequently, Peter was moved to a new class every day, but even until twelfth he seemed too clever and was excluded from the school. That day he went home crying, but Peter’s sharp mind did not stop him from thinking, he knew that he was a maths prodigy, so he had to work out a theory of calculating his age.
The talented boy set to work, he scrawled he erased all night. Until he knew it, he knew the theory. A grand sentiment took over him and, now in his whole school Peter was known to be ‘ A kid that does spectacles’.
By Ananya Gulati(age 11)