First Flight - Prose

S. No. Chapter Name

1 A Letter to God
2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
3 Two Stories About Flying
4 From the Diary of Anne Frank
5 Glimpses of India
6 Mijbil the Otter
7 Madam Rides the Bus
8 The Sermon at Benares
9 The Proposal
 A Letter to God
By GL Fluentes
Lencho, a hardworking farmer, lived with his family in a small house in a valley.
He eagerly waited for rain to water his crops. When it arrived, he was happy, but
soon a hailstorm destroyed everything.
Despite the loss, Lencho had strong faith in God and wrote a letter requesting 100
pesos to replant his crops and support his family.
He addressed the letter "To God" and dropped it at the post office.
The postmaster, amused but moved by Lencho’s faith, collected donations from his
colleagues.
They managed to send 70 pesos instead of the full amount.
Lencho, on receiving the money, was disappointed and assumed the post office staff
had taken the rest.
He wrote another letter to God, asking for the remaining money and calling the
postal workers "crooks."
 A Letter to God
By GL Fluentes
Lesson Learned:
Unwavering faith can bring help in
unexpected ways, but appreciation is
equally important.
Character Qualities:
Lencho: Strong believer, simple-
minded, and persistent.
Postmaster: Kind-hearted,
understanding, and charitable
Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to
Freedom :

The Inauguration: On May 10, South Africa held its first democratic government
ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, marking the end of apartheid.
A Historic Event: International leaders and dignitaries attended, making it the largest
gathering of its kind in South Africa.
Leaders Sworn In: Thabo Mbeki and F.W. de Klerk took oath as deputy presidents,
while Nelson Mandela, accompanied by his daughter Zenani, became the first Black
President of South Africa.
Symbol of Unity: Both the old and new national anthems were sung to promote
racial harmony. The South African military pledged allegiance to the new government.
Reflection on Apartheid: Mandela acknowledged the sacrifices of his people and
the cruelty of the past government. He vowed to work for peace and equality.
Courage & Love: He defined courage as overcoming fear and believed love is more
natural than hate.
Freedom for All: He stated that true freedom is indivisible—even the oppressor
must be free from hatred to achieve real liberation.
Lesson Learned:
True freedom means equality for all, not just
a privileged few. Mandela teaches us that
leadership is about forgiveness, unity, and
fighting for justice.
Character Traits of Nelson Mandela:
Brave & Determined – Never gave up on
freedom.
Selfless & Compassionate – Prioritized his
people over himself.
Visionary Leader – Promoted peace and
unity over revenge.
 His First Flight – Two Stories About Flying
A young seagull was scared to fly while his siblings flew away.
His parents tried to encourage and scold him, but he stayed on the ledge.
He felt very hungry and begged his mother for food.
His mother tricked him by holding food just out of reach, making him
jump.
As he jumped, he started flying, gained confidence, and enjoyed it.
Theme:
Facing fear helps us grow.
Message:
Courage begins with a small step.
Character Traits:
Seagull: Scared but learns bravery
Mother: Strict but caring
 BLACK AEROPLANE - Two Stories About Flying
The narrator was flying his old Dakota plane from France to England,
excited for breakfast with his family.
He faced a dangerous storm but chose to fly through it instead of turning
back.
Inside the storm, everything went dark—his compass and radio stopped
working.
Out of nowhere, a black plane appeared, flying without lights.
The unknown pilot signaled him to follow and guided him through the
storm.
After some time, he saw an airport and landed safely.
When he looked back, the black plane had disappeared.
The control tower staff told him no other plane was in the sky that night
 BLACK AEROPLANE - Two Stories About Flying
Main Idea:
•A thrilling experience of an
unknown pilot guiding the narrator
to safety.
Lesson Learned:
•Faith and courage can lead to
unexpected help.
Pilot's Nature:
•Adventurous, hopeful, and curious.
 From the Diary of Anne Frank
Anne Frank, a 13-year-old girl, starts writing a diary because she feels
lonely despite having family and friends.
She believes "paper has more patience than people" and decides to
confide in her diary, naming it "Kitty."
She shares details about her family, school life, and personal experiences.
Anne worries about the upcoming school exams, which will decide if she
moves to the next grade.
She gets punished for talking too much in class and is asked to write an
essay on "A Chatterbox."
She humorously justifies her talkative nature, saying she inherited it from
her mother.
Her teacher, Mr. Keesing, enjoys her essays and eventually stops scolding
her for talking.
 From the Diary of Anne Frank

Key Idea: Writing is a

way to share thoughts and
feelings.
Message: Positivity and
hope help in difficult times.
Anne’s Nature: Smart,
lively, expressive
GLIMPSES OF INDIA 1. Baker from Goa
In Goa, bakers are called "Pader" and are an important part
of life. Their work comes from old Portuguese traditions.
The baker comes twice a day, and people recognize him by
the sound of his bamboo stick.
Bol (sweet bread) is an important part of weddings, and
cakes and bolinhas are made for festivals like Christmas.
The baker is usually plump, which is seen as a sign of
prosperity.
He wears a knee-length frock (kabai) or short trousers and
keeps track of payments on walls.
 1. Baker from Goa
. Main Idea: Baking is an
important tradition in Goa.
Lesson: Traditions help us
stay connected to our past.
Goa Baker’s Nature:
Cheerful, hardworking, and
simple
 2. Coorg
Coorg is a beautiful place in Karnataka, known for its green
hills, forests, and coffee farms.
The best time to visit is from September to March.
The Kodavu people live in Coorg. They are brave, kind, and
independent.
Some people say the Kodavus came from Greece, as part of
Alexander’s army stayed there and married locals. Others think
they have Arab roots because their clothes look like the Arab
Kuffia.
Coorg is also great for fun activities like river rafting,
trekking, and camping.
 2. Coorg
Main Idea: Coorg is a place full
of natural beauty, history, and
culture.
Lesson: A place’s traditions and
nature make it special.
Kodavu People’s Nature: Brave,
friendly, and independent.
 Tea from Assam
Rajvir and Pranjol travel by train, enjoying tea and seeing green
tea plantations.
Pranjol is used to tea estates and reads a detective novel, but
Rajvir is excited to learn more.
Rajvir shares stories about tea:
•A Chinese emperor found tea when leaves fell into his boiling
water.
•Bodhidharma, an Indian monk, chewed tea leaves to stay awake.
Tea first grew in China (2700 B.C.) and later spread to Europe in
the 16th century.
They visit Dhekiabari Tea Estate, where workers are plucking
fresh tea leaves.
 Mijbil the Otter
Maxwell’s Decision – The author, Gavin Maxwell, decided to keep an otter in Iraq after losing his
dog.
Arrival of Mijbil – A friend brought him an otter from the Tigris marshes, and Maxwell named him
Mijbil (Mij).
Mij’s Playful Nature – At first, Mij was shy, but he soon became mischievous and active.
Mij’s Love for Water – He turned the bathtub into his playground, splashing water everywhere
and quickly learning to turn the tap on.
Travel to England – Maxwell had to take Mij to England, but airline rules made transporting him
difficult.
Mij’s Airport Trouble – Maxwell left Mij in a box, but when he returned, the box was damaged,
and there were bloodstains.
Chaos on the Flight – Mij escaped on the flight, scaring passengers and causing confusion.
Mij in London – In England, Mij adjusted well, walked on a leash like a dog, and had funny habits.
People’s Reactions – Many people mistook him for a baby seal or a squirrel and were curious
about him.
 Madam Rides the Bus
Valli’s Curiosity – A young girl named Valli loved watching people and dreamed
of riding the bus to town.
Gathering Information – She listened to others and learned the bus fare (30
paise one way), distance (6 miles), and travel time (45 minutes).
Planning the Trip – She saved 60 paise and secretly planned her ride.
Bus Ride Adventure – She acted maturely on the bus, amusing the conductor,
who jokingly called her “Madam”.
Enjoying the Journey – She loved the scenery but got annoyed when people
showed concern for her.
Reaching Town – She didn’t get off as she had no extra money and refused a
cold drink.
A Sad Sight – On the way back, she saw the same cow she had earlier admired,
now dead, which shocked her.
Back Home – She returned without her mother knowing about her
adventure.
 Madam Rides the Bus
Main Idea: A simple journey
teaches life lessons.
Lesson: Curiosity leads to
learning, and experiences
bring maturity.
Character Traits:
•Valli: Smart, observant,
independent.
 The Sermon at Benares
Siddhartha Gautama’s Journey – Born as a prince, he first saw
suffering at 25, which deeply moved him.
Search for Truth – He wandered for seven years seeking wisdom
and meditated under a peepal tree until he found enlightenment.
Becoming Buddha – After seven days, he gained knowledge and
became Gautama Buddha.
Meeting Kisa Gotami – A woman, Kisa Gotami, lost her son and
desperately searched for help.
A Lesson on Death – Buddha told her to find mustard seeds from a
house where no one had ever lost a loved one.
Realization – She failed to find such a house and understood that
death is a natural part of life.
 The Proposal
Lomov’s Visit – Ivan Lomov, a wealthy man, visits his neighbor, Stephan
Chubukov, to propose to his daughter, Natalya. Chubukov is surprised but happy.
First Argument – Land Dispute – Lomov and Natalya start arguing over Oxen
Meadows, each claiming ownership. Lomov gets stressed and leaves after
Chubukov joins the fight.
Natalya’s Regret – Chubukov reveals that Lomov had come to propose.
Natalya feels guilty and asks her father to bring him back.
Second Argument – Dog Dispute – When Lomov returns, another argument
starts over whose dog is better—Guess or Squeezer.
The Proposal and More Fighting – Lomov faints, and Chubukov quickly
announces the engagement. However, the couple keeps arguing, showing their
quarrelsome nature.