The next day Aai said, “Anu, let’s give your small clothes, toys and cradle to Aunty Jui’s baby, shall we?”

“No!” yelled Anu. “That’s my ball and my cradle!”

“Okay, what about giving away these clothes then? They’re so small,” said Aai.

“No!” shouted Anu again. “I want to wear them, NOW!” So Aai put the small frock on Anu. She even put the little baby bonnet on her head.

Anu crawled all over the house.

She balanced the ball on her head and wandered around, calling, ‘Curd! Fresh curd!’ She played with the rattle: rat-a-tat-tat.

Anu climbed into the cradle. She wanted to lie down and suck her thumb.

But she didn’t fit! Her feet stuck out at one end, and she couldn’t keep her arms straight. The tight little frock began to pinch. Anu was fed up. This was no fun at all!

Anu said to her mother, “Aai, why don’t we give this frock and bonnet and cradle to Aunty Jui’s baby?”

“Give it all away? But then what will you do?” asked Aai.

“Aai, I’m a big sister now, aren’t I? Once you become a big sister you wear proper clothes, and sleep on the bed.”

“Oh really? I had no idea!” said Aai, smiling.

Anu wore her own clothes and said, “Aai, tell baby that her big sister has given her all this. You’ll tell her, won’t you?”

Anu jumped on to her scooter and went off to play.

Tell us: Did you ever want to stop growing and be a baby again?