The Lost Child

‘The lost Child’ is a story about a child who goes to a fair with his parents. He is happy and excited and wants the sweets and toys displayed there. But his parents don’t buy them for him. Although, the things that the boy wants maybe important to him, they are not necessarily things that he needs. The fact that the boy is lost from his parents also holds significance. It is only when a person is lost can they be found and the boy has found that the most important thing for him is his parents. The little boy decides against letting the man buy him any of the things that he had previously wanted. The boy realises that the most important thing is not material possessions but rather his family. Also the boy is desperate to find his parents. Nothing that the man can do for the boy reassures him. Though his parents refuse to buy him anything the boy holds no ill will towards his parents.

Meanings of words and phrases

• alleys: a narrow passageway between or behind buildings.
• emerged: become visible
• gaily: a bright or attractive appearance
• clad: dressed
• brimming: to be full to the point of overflowing
• lagged: fail to keep up a pace
• fascinated: to attract the strong attention and interest
• lingering: to last for a long time
• receding : move further away into the distance
• suppress: forcibly put an end to
• tyrant: cruel and oppressive
• bustling: full of energy
• gaudy: unpleasantly bright in colour or decoration
• intercepting: obstructing someone or something to prevent them from continuing to a destination
• cautionary: a warning
• abreast: walk side by side and facing the same way
• throngs: crowd of people
• converging: meeting at a point
• whirlpool: a confused commotion and movement
• repelled: drive or force someone back or away
• hawked: carry about and offer goods for sale, typically advertising them by shouting
• murmured: say something in a low or indistinct voice
• plea: request
• heeded: pay attention to
• irresistibly: too attractive and tempting to be resisted
• overwhelming: very great in amount
• possess: to own
• forbidden: not allowed
• coarse: unrefined and of low taste
• shrieked: utter a high-pitched piercing sound, especially as an expression of excitement
• dizzy: a feeling of spinning around and being unable to balance
• whirling: moving rapidly round and round
• intently: with earnest and eager attention
• jerk: a quick, sharp, sudden movement
• flushed: red and hot skin, typically as the result of illness or strong emotion
• convulsed: an experience in which the muscles in the body shake in a sudden violent way
• hither and thither: in various directions, especially in a disorganized way
• panic-stricken: very frightened and worried about a situation
• wailed: cry loudly
• suppressed sobs: a noisy cry usually accompanied with short breaths
• shrine: a temple
• congested: a place that is extremely crowded
• lingering: lasting for a long time
• jostled: to push, elbow, or bump against someone roughly, typically in a crowd
• hefty: stout and broad
• thrust: to push suddenly or violently in a specified direction
• brutal: violent and harsh
• trampled: walk right over something or someone
• surging: a sudden powerful forward or upward movement, especially by a crowd
• stooping: to bend one’s head or body forwards and downwards
• steered: make way in a controlled manner
• soothe: calm gently
• persuasively: make someone want to do or believe a particular thing
• disconsolate: unhappy and unable to be comforted