1 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: Hello friends, and welcome to sleep Tight Stories. Did you 2 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: know that we have a fun collection of clothing you 3 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: can wear. Check out our collection by visiting sleep tightstories 4 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 1: dot org and clicking merch Thank you. I'd like to 5 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:40,880 Speaker 1: say a great, big happy birthday wish Tomafalda, who celebrated 6 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: her ninth birthday on August fourteenth, Happy birthday to you. 7 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: I hope you had a very special day. It's that 8 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: magical time of year again when we are getting ready 9 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 1: to head back to school. Some of us have already 10 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:05,320 Speaker 1: started and some are going to be over the next 11 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 1: few weeks. This story is about a girl who is 12 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 1: so excited about going to school that she can't sleep. 13 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: Chuscott has a disability and she has not been able 14 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: to go to school. She is nine years old. Now, 15 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: the students and villagers all get together to help find 16 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: a way for her to be able to attend and 17 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 1: to day is that day she can finally go to school. 18 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 1: Chescott goes to school. Chescott woke up early that morning. 19 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: It was a very special day and she was too 20 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: excited to sleep. She eagerly looked out of the room 21 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 1: through the window next to her bed. It was springtime 22 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:17,519 Speaker 1: and the apricot trees were in full bloom. Two magpies 23 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 1: had already begun their day and were busy looking for 24 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 1: insects to eat her. Amiale was awake too. She could 25 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 1: hear her in the kitchen making gurgurt tea. Chiscott had 26 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: been awake for the last hour. This was a day 27 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:47,400 Speaker 1: she was going to remember for a long time. Can 28 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: you guess why? No? It was not Losar, the New 29 00:02:54,280 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: Year festival that was many months away, nor was any 30 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:05,079 Speaker 1: special day in her village like the Goonpa festival or 31 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 1: a wedding day. Today was going to be Chuskitt's first 32 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 1: day at school at nine years old. She had waited 33 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 1: a long long time for this. The school was not 34 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 1: very far from her home. To get there, you had 35 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: to walk up the main road just before the prayer wheel. 36 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 1: You took the path to the left of the road 37 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: that ran along a narrow stream near the poplar trees. 38 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: You crossed the stream by jumping over the big rocks. 39 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: Once you got to the other side, a short walk 40 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:05,119 Speaker 1: up slope took you to the school. All the children 41 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 1: of skitpoo Yule Chuscott's village walked to school every day 42 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: and with ease, but not little Chuscott. She had a 43 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 1: disability and could not walk. Chiscott was born with legs 44 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 1: that did not work like everyone else's. Her father had 45 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 1: taken her to the village Amchi and then to the 46 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 1: doctors in Live, but no amount of medicine had helped 47 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 1: her walk. At first, Chiscott did not realize that she 48 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 1: was in any way different from Stobdan, her younger brother, 49 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: or her cousins. But soon there were many things she 50 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: could not do as easily as them. That does not matter. 51 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 1: Her Abelat would tell her whenever she felt sad, you 52 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 1: can stitch better than any of them, and you draw 53 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: very well. Abelet often brought her some color pencils from Loo. 54 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 1: Chiscott would sit at the kitchen window every day and 55 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: draw what she saw while her Amiley cooked. She could 56 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: see her family's animals being taken to graze every morning. 57 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 1: She could see the blue waters of the stream that 58 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:48,280 Speaker 1: flowed near by, and she would be the first one 59 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 1: to announce the arrival of a visitor to their house. 60 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 1: Chiscott used a chair fitted with wheels to move around. 61 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 1: Elders called it a wheelchair. You could move it in 62 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 1: any direction forward, left, right, and even backward. By moving 63 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: the wheels with your hands. You only needed to have 64 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 1: really strong arms to push the weight of your body 65 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 1: and the chair. When Aballey first brought the wheelchair home, 66 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: everyone in her family was very excited. Now I won't 67 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 1: have to carry Chuscut everywhere. I can wheel her around, 68 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: said Amilay, with tears of happiness in her eyes. And 69 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 1: I will be able to go wherever I want, said 70 00:06:55,440 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 1: Chuscut excitedly. Please, please, could I ride on your wheelchair 71 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 1: once in a while, beg Stubb Dan. He wanted to 72 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: wheel it around too. It looked like fun. Billa, the 73 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: big black cat, jumped onto the wheelchair and stretched across 74 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: the seat. Yes, this is far more comfortable than the 75 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: sackcloth I sleep on, she purred slowly. Just get learned 76 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 1: to use her wheelchair. She would ask her mother to 77 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 1: seat her in the wheelchair outside her home every evening. 78 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: From here she would watch children returning from school, chattering 79 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: and laughing merrily in groups. In a while, the evening 80 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: bus would return from the city, bringing people back from 81 00:07:56,560 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 1: work in the marketplace. How much more exciting the world 82 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 1: was from here than from the kitchen window. One evening, 83 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 1: When Chiscott was sitting outside the house with her grandfather, 84 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 1: a young boy came up to her. He carried a letter, 85 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: which he handed over to her grandfather. Julli the bus 86 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: driver asked me to give this to you, he said. 87 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: My name is Abdul, he said, turning to Chiscott. I 88 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: study in class six at the government school. I have 89 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:44,959 Speaker 1: often wondered why you don't come to school, Julli. Abdul 90 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: said Chiscott. I have never been to school. The past 91 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:53,680 Speaker 1: to the school is too uneven and pebbly, and my 92 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: wheelchair will get stuck. Besides, I cannot cross the little 93 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 1: in front of the school. It would be very difficult 94 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:07,680 Speaker 1: for my parents to carry me to school and back 95 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:12,840 Speaker 1: every day. But would you like to come to school, 96 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: asked Abdul. Of course, replied Chiscott. I hear my younger 97 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: brother talk of all that he does at school. I 98 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 1: want to study like all of you, make friends, play games, 99 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: wear a uniform, and even write exams. Sometimes my brother 100 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:38,679 Speaker 1: teaches me songs that he has learnt at school, and 101 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: I love it. You may not believe this, but I 102 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:48,440 Speaker 1: sometimes dream of carrying a school bag, even eating a 103 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 1: packed lunch. Enough enough interrupted her grandfather. Stop dreaming, Chiscott, 104 00:09:56,920 --> 00:10:00,560 Speaker 1: you know you cannot go to school. I have told 105 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 1: you this many times. Learn as much as you can 106 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 1: at home. Mama Ley, please, pleaded Chuscott softly, with tears 107 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:19,319 Speaker 1: in her eyes, as her grandfather walked away angrily. Mamma 108 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 1: Ley does not understand how I feel, said Chuscint. I 109 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 1: remember the day my brother recited his tables with such pride, 110 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 1: even the time he learned to read. My parents were 111 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:40,840 Speaker 1: very happy as they have never been to school. I 112 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 1: too want to learn to read and do math. Do 113 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 1: you understand I do, said abdulh Chuscott. I will see 114 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 1: you again. I must go now. My mother will be 115 00:10:53,760 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 1: waiting for me Julie. The next day, Abdul went straight 116 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 1: to the headmaster's room after assembly. Julie Headmaster, he said, 117 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:11,559 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you about a girl from 118 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:15,080 Speaker 1: our village who does not go to school. Her name 119 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 1: is Chiscott. She is Stubdan's sister. Oh, yes, replied the headmaster. 120 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: I know her. She is disabled, isn't she? Yes. She 121 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: uses a wheelchair to move around, but cannot reach school 122 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 1: as the path from her house is too rough and uneven. 123 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 1: I was wondering if we could do anything to help her. Headmaster, 124 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 1: we could all get together and level the path and 125 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: also build a small bridge across the stream. That's very 126 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 1: thoughtful of you, Abdul, said the headmaster as he patted 127 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: him on the back. What made you think of chuscat 128 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:12,199 Speaker 1: and her problems, Headmaster? Last week we read about the 129 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: fundamental rights of citizens in our class. All children have 130 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 1: a right to education. That includes Chuscutt as well, does 131 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 1: it not. Yes, you are right, Abdul. Let me discuss 132 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: this with the other teachers, replied the headmaster. The next day, 133 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: the head master called all the teachers to a meeting. 134 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 1: He shared Abdul's ideas with the group and asked the 135 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: teachers what they felt impossible, said one of them. How 136 00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:00,200 Speaker 1: can we have a disabled child in our school? How 137 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 1: will she be able to write, play or go to 138 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 1: the toilet like the other children do. That's exactly what 139 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 1: we have to work out, said the headmaster. I hear 140 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:16,200 Speaker 1: that in the village of mentalk Yule the village Education 141 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 1: committee has helped build a special toilet for one of 142 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:24,199 Speaker 1: their disabled children. We could ask them what they have done, 143 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 1: but first we will have to get Chuscut to school. 144 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:31,560 Speaker 1: Then we will think of ways of helping her do 145 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 1: the things in school. Two weeks later, there was great 146 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 1: excitement at the government school. All the children had gathered 147 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 1: outside in the playground. They had come to school without 148 00:13:51,520 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 1: their school bags. There were going to be no classes today. 149 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: The teachers divided the children into groups. One group worked 150 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 1: in front of Chuscott's house and another on the path 151 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: along the stream. A third group, with some of the 152 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 1: older children, worked hard to help some of their teachers 153 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 1: build a strong wooden bridge across the stream. The children 154 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 1: laughed and sang as they removed stones and rocks, leveled paths, 155 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 1: and carried wooden planks to the stream. The headmaster went 156 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 1: from one group to another, making sure that all went 157 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 1: according to plan. Chuscatt's parents provided everyone with hot tea 158 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: and biscuits. Chuscott's grandfather sat under a willow tree by 159 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 1: the stream, watching the busy school children. I never dreamed 160 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: I'd see a day like this, he thought to himself, 161 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: as he wiped a tear that rolled down his cheek. 162 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: At the end of the day, it was a tired 163 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 1: but happy group of children that returned to their homes. 164 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:40,400 Speaker 1: The path from Chuscott's home to the school was now ready. 165 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 1: Chuscott was going to school for the first time in 166 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 1: her life, and that's why she was so excited.