452 Matching Annotations
  1. May 2023
    1. .

      the end

    2. .

      she is writing to rukku

    3. viji is saying her goodbyes

    4. .

      she and her father talked

    5. .

      she declined her fathers offer

    6. father visited and offered her to go home

    7. .

      she wants to go to new school

    8. muthu and arul argued on i she should go

    9. and

      viji is being transfered to new school

    10. .

      viji was feeling much happier now

    11. get

      they re-visited their home locations

    12. .

      they revisited kutti

    13. .

      they re-visited kutti

    14. Kutti’s coat shone with cleanliness, sparkling in the sunshinelike a silk sari

      similie

    15. Kutti’s coat shone with cleanliness, sparkling in the sunshinelike a silk sari

      the girl said she would make his coat shine like that

    16. Muthu scowled. “I have to write I won’t be rude to myteachers one hundred times.”

      on the matilda movie she has to do that

    17. Celina Aunty’s words made my dream glimmeragain.

      personification

    18. .

      she liked it there

    19. she drew with lalitha

    20. The lines I drew for the sun’s rays came out pretty wobbly. Idropped a bit of blue paint on the bottom by accident, so I smearedit and made a river. Across it, I painted a bridge. On the bridge Ipainted four stick figures.

      she is drawing the bridge and them

    21. Her face glowed like a moon

      similie

    22. .

      she was introduced to the other school

    23. vanakkams

      greetings

    24. “Will you take me to see your sister sometime?”

      her now against her 5 seconds ago

    25. celina told her about he rsister

    26. “Children like Rukku?” Anger spurted out of me. “No one’s likeRukku!” I yelled. “No one!”

      why is she so rude to people so kind to her

    27. bungalow

      a type of house

    28. .

      she gave an easter egg to rukku's grave

    29. .

      arul helped viji

    30. “Stop it.” Arul yanked the pan out of my hands. “I miss her, too.So does Muthu.”

      why is she shouting with arul?

    31. u

      viji argued with arul

    32. “That’s because Rukku is gone, Arul! She’s gone because of me.If I hadn’t forced her to leave home—”

      i once saw a serie (flash) where the protagonist blamed herself for everything

    33. sulk

      silent

    34. He asked how I was doing, and when, as usual, I just said,“Fine,” he wouldn’t let me get away with it.“No,” he said. “You’re not fine, Viji.”I said nothing.

      mom asks me how school was and this is always how it plays out

    35. you might try thinkingabout being Good. About doing Good. Yes?”

      she will become christian

    36. “I don’t mind if you have no faith in religion, Viji. Just as longas you have faith in the goodness within yourself.

      my mother told me this berfore aswell

    37. celina tried to make viji feel better

    38. .

      she went to celina's offfice

    39. I’m not mean about any one religion,” I said. “They’re allequally silly.

      i agree

    40. “Don’t talk back.” Her face flushed redder than a brick.

      hyperbole

    41. Soon, I’d setthe whole place yawning.

      this same thing happens when augusto shouts "BREEEK"

    42. .

      she talked to celina

    43. Arul, who’s even a bit older, are allowed to stay for abit, until we have a safe, sure place to move to.

      their father will collect them

    44. Arul, who’s even a bit older, are allowed to stay for abit, until we have a safe, sure place to move to.

      where will they move?

    45. She says she wishes she had more space, so she could take inevery homeless kid, but she can’t.

      why could she take in rukku muthu viji and aarul but not any more?

    46. .

      celina tried to make her write

    47. when I felt like a rock was sitting on my chest,

      similie

    48. “Because you’re not talking much to anyone, Viji, and that’s nothealthy. Your thoughts are sitting inside you like a stone,

      similie

    49. Celina Aunty called me into the schoolroom andmotioned me toward one of the empty desks.“Sit,” she ordered. “Write.”“Write?” I said. “Why?”

      right when i was going to sleep my mother made me write and practice to pass a test

    50. .

      she now lives in the school

    51. I got a notebook, handmade paper, and pencils made fromrecycled scraps.

      its connecting to the start of the book

    52. kurtas

      a type of clothing

    53. but it was hard for me to actlike I was in good spirits.

      she will visit kutti and feel better

    54. but it was hard for me to actlike I was in good spirits.

      will she ever recover?

    55. .

      rukku died

    56. Arul answered for me. He said you were Christian,

      only now did i realize that the "you" is because this is viji's letter

    57. But by the time we stood by your bed, your own body was asstiff as a wooden doll’s and it was too late.

      she died.

    58. His words felt like a warm ray of sunshine slipping in through arain-soaked sky.

      Arul is going to be surprised with the friendliness of the hospital

    59. His words felt like a warm ray of sunshine slipping in through arain-soaked sky.

      similie

    60. His words felt like a warm ray of sunshine slipping in through arain-soaked sky.

      personification

    61. I tried a few times but kept choking up, unable to get beyondthe first sentences.

      when i get exited or sad the same happens to me

    62. .

      muthu was released from hospital

    63. He slipped his fingers through mine. They felt bony as askeleton’s

      similie

    64. hen I saw him—scrubbed clean by a nurse, with his hair cutshort and washed and brushed—I could hardly believe it wasMuthu.

      when i take a bath i look 10x prettier aswell

    65. raving

      used to emphasize something

    66. I ate and slept, but hardly spoke to the other girls in my room or tothe boys who slept in another part of the house

      she didnt make friends becasue she didnt want to replace rukku

    67. I ate and slept, but hardly spoke to the other girls in my room or tothe boys who slept in another part of the house.

      why did she not try to make friends to disctract herself

    68. I didn’t tell her how sick you were.I didn’t want to believe it.

      she wrote to her mother

    69. I didn’t tell her how sick you were.I didn’t want to believe it.

      repetition

    70. wrote to Amma, but I didn’t tell Celina Aunty whom I waswriting to

      appa will reicive the message and visit

    71. I wrote to Amma, but I didn’t tell Celina Aunty whom I waswriting to.

      what would viji write to her?

    72. “Life isn’t fair.

      famous quote

    73. .

      rukku and muthu were put in a hospital

    74. Muthu lay in beds near one another. You were each hooked upto a contraption that dripped medicine and food and water into yourveins,

      my cousin has once been in this situation

    75. “I hope so, Viji. Most people do, but . . .”

      rukku will die

    76. stupor

      being near to unconcious

    77. “Did you use mosquitonets?” “Did you boil the water before you drank it?” “Whatmedication did you try to give her?”

      doctors ask the exact same questions to my mother when i go to a hospital

    78. “I’m not coming,” Arul muttered.

      why is he not coming in?

    79. “Of course I’ll help.” Celina Aunty took the money. “And I’llkeep this safe for you.”

      she will give it back to her

    80. .

      they finally went to celina for help

    81. “Help!” I shook it until it jangled loudly, and a woman came out.Celina Aunty.

      celina will heal everyone

    82. Only a few adults had ever really helped us. And this was morethan just seeking help. This was trusting her—a stranger—completely.

      what is the problem with that?

    83. .

      they are going to celina aunty

    84. Arul wound your new doll’s hair around one of his wrists like ahandcuff.

      similie

    85. “Maybe we should light a candle in church for them?” Arulsuggested.

      what good will that do?

    86. When I think of it now, it seems so clear, so simple that Ishould have gone straight to Celina Aunty once your fever spiked.

      finally you understood what you have to do.

    87. But that night, I couldn’t pretend anymore. We couldn’t denyyou were worse

      why doesnt celina go to them

    88. But that night, I couldn’t pretend anymore. We couldn’t denyyou were worse.

      she is going to go to celina for help

    89. It sounded like you’d given up altogether. On him, on me, oneverything

      will rukku die?

    90. jolted

      shook

    91. I wondered ifmy lie about Kutti not loving us enough to stay had hurt you worsethan if I’d pretended he’d died.

      rukku will give up on everything

    92. she brought the news to everyone

    93. Maybe Kutti wanted a better life, so he left.

      kutti will come back to them

    94. “Maybe Kutti wanted a better life, so he left.”

      why is viji lying about it?

    95. .

      she sold kutti

    96. Then I remembered how Amma had shielded you from doctorsand hospitals.

      maybe a family member died in a hospital and she got the wrong impression

    97. Then I remembered how Amma had shielded you from doctorsand hospitals.

      why did she try to shield her from hospitals?

    98. .

      she sold kutti

    99. Without saying another word, I turned around and walkedaway

      why could she spare a simple thanks?

    100. they sold kutti

    101. nudged

      gently push

    102. And it wasn’t justmy feet that dragged. It was like my mind was dragging my heartalong, and it and the rest of my body didn’t want to come.

      similie

    103. My feet felt heavy as sacks full of scrap metal.

      similie

    104. .

      they are very sick and in a terrible financial situation

    105. I didn’t want to. I had no right to. I couldn’t do it.I could.I had to

      she will sell kutti

    106. But hunger was clawing so fiercely at mystomach that I shut my eyes, scooped up a handful of the swill, andstuck it in my mouth.

      she will get sick aswell

    107. inside was already wet. A rash had broken out on your back, makingyour skin as rough as sandpaper,

      similie

    108. g

      muthu and rukku are sick

    109. The wind picked up. It tore away the plastic tablecloth we’d usedas a door and sent it flapping like a bat across the dark graveyard.

      similie

    110. “Her fever’s worse, I think,” Muthu said. His own eyes still hada feverish glaze.

      muthu's words got into her and they wont go to celina

    111. “Her fever’s worse, I think,” Muthu said. His own eyes still hada feverish glaze.

      why dont they go to celina right now?

    112. In spiteof how brave you’d been with Kutti during Divali, I was scared I’dfind you cowering with fear when I returned.

      her being brave with kutti and now

    113. Your body was a tight knot.

      metaphor

    114. Purple rain clouds burst over us like rottinggrapes.

      similie

    115. Then they moved apart, and we went to work, trying to dredgeout at least a few bottles or tins from the sea of sewage.

      they didnt want to go too far away from viji and muthu

    116. Then they moved apart, and we went to work, trying to dredgeout at least a few bottles or tins from the sea of sewage.

      why did they work in the water instead of the Himalaya or blue hill

    117. dredge

      clean something made of water

    118. .

      sridar died and viji is trying to work

    119. “Don’t be.” Kumar churned the filthy water with his stick. “Kidsdie every day. You start feeling sorry, you’ll drown.”

      metaphor

    120. “Thought he went on holiday?” Kumar gave a bitter laugh. “Hegot sick from something. Kept vomiting and then . . .”

      they had someone die on them before

    121. “Thought he went on holiday?” Kumar gave a bitter laugh. “Hegot sick from something. Kept vomiting and then . . .”

      why are they so natural about his death?

    122. of water thatlooked and smelled like raw sewage.

      similie

    123. Gullies

      a deep hole made by water

    124. “No, no, Akka.” Muthu grinned weakly at me. “If you kept mefrom working that long, I’d fall ill from shock.”

      hyperbole

    125. e

      rukku and muthu are sick

    126. “You three stay here,” Arul said. “I’ll work alone today.”

      he will barely make any money and they will have to go to aunty

    127. “You three stay here,” Arul said. “I’ll work alone today.”

      why does arul pretend that viji is too weak to work all the time

    128. I would have given anything to see you throw a tantrum orcomplain.

      she is now wanting her to throw a tantrum but before she would do anything for her to not

    129. All through that starless night, your breath came in wheezy gasps asraindrops wriggled, like silver snake

      similie

    130. .

      she reflected on muthu's experience

    131. but I wasn’t sure he was right aboutCelina Aunty.

      she wont give up on going to school

    132. Muthu’s tale had horrified me,

      will she give up on school?

    133. muthu told the story of his school

    134. “I was sold to a ‘school’ once,” Muthu said. “A school where they‘taught’ us to make handbags. We had to cut and sew all day. Theykept us locked in. The man who called himself our owner only let usgo to the bathroom at dawn and at night after our work was done

      why did the school do that?

    135. But the woman at the orphanage was arakshasi.”

      metaphor

    136. “You’re the one being ridiculous,” he said. “I went to one ofthose ‘schools’ once. It was a prison.”

      metaphor

    137. “Because she’s trying to catch us and sell us,” Muthu said.

      why does muthu think that?

    138. Viji considered going to school?

    139. “Maybe we should go see the lady we met in church—CelinaAunty—tomorrow,” I said. “We could go to school and—”

      she will go to the adress alone

    140. That was a miracle.

      metaphor

    141. scrunched

      to make a loud crunch

    142. “We found a new waste mart man, but he’s worse than stingy.”Arul’s forehead was scrunched up in a worried frown. “He drove areally hard bargain.

      why did the new waste man not try to help the kids?

    143. .

      they spent the money on medicine

    144. I didn’t want youtraveling all alone to our palace.

      metaphor

    145. But in spite of the cough syrup, you weren’t any better the nextmorning.

      she has dengue

    146. Worse, you wouldn’t let me rub the repellent on you properly,because you didn’t like the sticky feel of ointment on your skin.

      why did she still not want repellent despite her sickness

    147. .

      she tried to make bead necklaces

    148. You were shivering and coughing, but you started stringingbeads while we sang out, “Bead necklaces, pretty bead necklaces!”

      she was just comforting herself

    149. You were shivering and coughing, but you started stringingbeads while we sang out, “Bead necklaces, pretty bead necklaces!”

      why did she sing that in the rain with no customers

    150. y

      rukku attempted to save worms

    151. They’redead. Gone. You can’t bring them back to life. None of us can.”

      why is she still trying to save the worms if she knows they wont revive

    152. “That worm’s dead, Rukku,” I tried to explain. Death was one ofthose things, like money, that I wasn’t sure how well youunderstood. “It’s never going to move again. Ever.”

      her understanding of money with her understanding of death

    153. “Cheee!

      onomatopeia

    154. everyone was bothered by mosquitos

    155. Paavum

      hurting another person

    156. “Rukku’s the sweetest of us all,” Muthu said. “That’s why themosquitoes like her best.”

      metaphor

    157. .

      rukku protected kutti

    158. You whispered to Kutti and stroked him until he was calmer.You were so focused on his fear, you didn’t seem to mind the noiseyourself.

      rukku never cares about herself and only vcares about others

    159. they went to the rich girl's house and they bargained

    160. “Mummy, you could vaccinate him,” Praba wheedled. “Please,may I get him some food?”

      why did the girl want the stray dog so badly?

    161. Not that it mattered. “I told you he wasn’t for sale.”

      she will sell him eventually

    162. they showed kutti to the family

    163. I’ll brush his coat so it shines like silk

      hyperbole

    164. “Please, Mummy,” the girl wheedled, like she hadn’t heard me.Did she think poor, low-caste kids like us didn’t count?

      they will sell kutti

    165. He disappeared around the back of the house and reappeared,carrying a few glass bottles.

      who pays for glass bottles and how does the waste man get money from it?

    166. frilly

      decorated with ornaments

    167. “No, but it was a rich neighborhood, so maybe they’ll pay morefor Rukku’s necklaces.”“Or maybe they got rich by being stingier, so they’ll pay less,”Muthu said.

      rich nice people to rich mean people

    168. .

      they planned on how to work

    169. “Any policemen there?” Muthu wanted to know. “Orwatchmen?”

      why would that matter

    170. I suggested. “At least if he chases usaway again, we might get another orange.”

      they will go to him and get another orange

    171. neem twigs

      medicinal twigs

    172. “Rich boys, for sure,” Arul said. “You have to be rich to wastetime going on escapades at night instead of catching up on precioussleep

      i do homework in the middle of the night

    173. boys entered the graveyard

    174. “Daring each other to explore a‘haunted’ graveyard?”

      they will come back later

    175. boys thought they saw a ghost

    176. nonchalant

      relaxed and calm

    177. “I’m telling you, this place is haunted,” came another boy’svoice. “I saw a ghost moving near that banyan tree yesterday

      why did they go to the graveyard if they were scared by it?

    178. .

      viji fed them the anti-sick powder

    179. “Tastes worse than poison,” hesputtered, swallowing it only after I promised to reward him with acookie.

      he and rukku will get sick since they did not drink as much

    180. scrounged

      looked for to get

    181. y

      they retreated to the graveyard

    182. Pale sunshine

      sunshine,supposed to be hopefull is now pale.

    183. surely our bead saleswould pick up again once we had a bigger stock of necklaces toshow.

      why do people like when there is many neckalces to sell?

    184. .

      she accepted a gift from a girl

    185. I turned the cookie package around in my hands, feeling like aprincess who’d just granted a favor to a pitiful subject.

      why does she not like receiving things from others and being rude about it?

    186. haughtiest

      arrogant and superior

    187. “Rukku,” I said, “will you teach me to make necklaces?”

      soon everyone will make necklaces

    188. I scowled at the girl. “Did you hear us beg?”

      why is she so mean to kind people

    189. they re-visited teashop aunty for the last time

    190. monsoon

      periodic wind in the indian ocean

    191. “My friends and I sell trash to make ends meet,”

      metaphor

    192. .

      they went to teashop aunty

    193. “Tea?” You scratched at a mosquito bite on your elbow. “Tea!”

      how did she remember teashop aunty by a mosquito bite?

    194. Silver pins of rain fell around us as we left the church.

      metaphor

    195. “Priests don’t accuse kids who are in God’s house,”

      metaphor

    196. they went to church and left

    197. Good for your souls,” I said. “But can we please use what’s leftof our money to take care of our stomachs, too?”

      they will imagine something to eat again

    198. sulkily

      in a bad mood

    199. e

      they found someone that can get viji to school

    200. like they could hear music. Like theywere alive. Alive the way you were alive, alive right there, right then,

      repetition