BAG OF RICE
Little Jairan comes from a large Tehran family. She is four years old
and is often left to her own devices, because her parents both have to
work and her brothers and sisters are all too busy with their homework.
Nobody seems to have any time for her.
One day she manages to convince a neighbour, Mrs. Khanoom, to take
her shopping with her. The old lady doesn't really have much time for
the little girl, but she does have to use her coupons to get rice. Her
own son refuses to accompany her and, since the old woman doesn't see
very well and finds it hard to walk, she hopes that Jairan will be able
to help her. And so it is that these two make their way through the busy
streets of Tehran only to discover that the shop has already closed.
Exhausted, Mrs. Khanoom sinks down on to the pavement. Encouraged by a
female passer-by, however, Mrs. Khanoom decides to try another shop.
Finally, the little girl and the old lady find themselves with a
heavy sack of rice at a bus stop. The bus is jam-packed and so it is no
surprise when the rice sack bursts in the midst of the crush. Mrs.
Khanoom is at the end of her tether how unlucky can you get! She
quietly prays to God for help and, indeed, the other passengers actually
help to collect up all the spilt rice. But Jairan and Mrs. Khanoom have
to change buses once again; this time they no longer have just the one
sack but several plastic bags. From the bus stop Jairan can hear the
squeals and laughter of children playing. She'd so much like to join the
other children, but Mrs. Khanoom has her mind firmly set on her rice.
It's all a bit too much for the little girl; Somewhat overwhelmed, she
stops a man on a motorbike and asks him to help with the bags. The man
looks into her sad young eyes and, in a flash, decides to transport all
the rice back to the apartment . . .
