Brave Hearts

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Eye Care Foundation

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Differently Abled But Not Disabled
were enjoying the fun all around by doing various kinds of acrobatics. At one place, on the ground, a stick was placed horizontally on two vertically fixed poles. Walter saw that every participant would take a start
from a distance towards the Walter Davis
poles, take a stroke on
reaching near them, would throw himself into the air to cross the horizontal pole balanced on the vertical poles. Walter enjoyed the fun seeing many children repeating the same action.
Little Walter sitting mutely on one side of the ground had the itching to do the same as the other children were doing. But alas ! He looked at his numb legs and at the crutches that were lying beside him on the ground. He was greatly disappointed.
He realised that while he could not even walk, the question of taking a high jump was far beyond him. Just then he remembered the words of his mother: “If you do not harbour any kind of disappointment or dejection, you will surely be able to do anything that you wish to."
Walter continued to enjoy the fun that was going on at the ground. One child jumped so high that he broke the record that was set earlier by another participant. There was loud applause for him. He was awarded the first prize in the event. Walter too joined others in giving the winner a big hand. Walter looked at the winner while the latter was returning to his place with the prize. The winner was of the same age as Walter.
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