No Shortcuts to Success

Tan-tan, tan-tan... The school bell rang for dismissal.

- Dr Ranjana Jaiswal

Jumpy Monkey slung his bag over his shoulder and began walking home with his friends, Meeku Mouse and Damru Donkey.

“How is your preparation going, Meeku?” Jumpy asked. “Examinations are starting next week.”

“I stay up late every night these days to study,” Meeku replied.

“Studying late at night does not help much. I have heard that whatever you study just before the exam surely comes in the paper,” Damru said.

“Really?” Jumpy said in surprise. “I will try that too.”

Jumpy went home. In his mind, he decided from that day onwards he would also study late at night and just before the exams.

Let me study English today, he thought. But his English books were not on the table where he thought he left them. Worried, he began searching all over the house.

Then he remembered that the previous night he had been studying on the balcony and had left the books there.

Jumpy ran to the balcony, and tears filled his eyes.

In the heavy rain at night, all his books had become wet. The letters had blurred, and reading had become difficult.

"My exams start next week and my notebook is soaked. What will I do now? How will I write my paper," he cried.

Because of worry, he could not sleep all night.

Early in the morning, he noticed a light glowing in the window of the house opposite. That house belonged to his friend Blacky Bear.

Jumpy called Blacky.

“Hello, Blacky. Is everything all right at your home? Why is the light in your room on so early?” he asked.