The Dreamcatchers

Summer vacations were about to come, and Yash was stressed about his homework, projects and most importantly, which summer club to join.

- Ashima Kaushik

To distract himself, he started cleaning his cupboard, where he found his favourite old sweater. He picked it up and held it against his cheek. It was handmade. Yash liked the soft wool and colourful pattern, and it gave him an idea—Yash decided to join the Knitting Club!

“That’s not what boys do!” said Amit, swinging his cricket bat around in the common area, where the children were filling up their summer activity forms. He had chosen the cricket club, and so had Ritwik and Samir. Achint simply shook his head and said, “You'd be better off joining the Chess Club with me.”

Ronit and Nikita had signed up for the new Robotics Club and were bragging about it to no end—“We are going to make robots and take over the world!”

Yash finished his homework quickly that day, and decided to go to Romi’s Craft Corner to look at knitting supplies.

There were so many shades of threads and yarn, and so much variety in texture. Suddenly, he heard giggles. It was Anu and Dimple, his classmates. They were there to buy some craft materials, and were laughing at Yash.

Just then, Mr Romi, the owner of the shop, came to the section opposite them to stack new ribbons and laces and said, “This shop is for everyone!”

Yash felt a little better and continued gazing at the spools, pins, needles, spindles and crochet yarn. What would a beginner need?—he wondered.

Almost as if in response to his thought, the next shelf had starter kits, and as luck would have it, they were on discount!

Yash purchased a kit and turned up at the Knitting Club session next week. He noticed that all the girls around him were giggling and whispering. Of course, they are making fun of me, he thought and tried to ignore the fact that they all sat as far away from his desk as they could.