RALIA THE SUGAR GIRL

*Chapter 1: The Sugar Girl* Once upon a time, in the small village of Sunwala, lived a girl named Ralia. Ralia was not rich. She lived in a small mud house with her blind mother Antila, her crippled father Abdul, and her small brown dog Bubu. Her mother Antila could not see. Her father Abdul could not walk well because his leg was bad. So Ralia did everything in the house. She fetched water, she cooked, she washed, and she took care of everyone. But Ralia never complained. She always smiled. That is why people in Sunwala called her "The Sugar Girl" - because her heart was sweet like sugar. Bubu was always following her. Wherever Ralia went, Bubu went. If Ralia went to the stream, Bubu followed. If Ralia went to the market, Bubu followed. Bubu was not just a dog, he was her brother, her friend, her protector. One day, things became very hard. There was no food in the house. Her mother was crying because she was hungry. Her father was quiet because he felt useless. Ralia said, "Mama, don't cry. I will find something." She took her small basket and went to the big market with Bubu. She had only two coins. She wanted to buy garri. At the market, she saw an old woman fall down. The old woman's yams scattered everywhere. Everybody was just looking, nobody helped. Ralia ran quickly and helped the old woman. She picked all the yams and put them in the basket. "Thank you, my daughter," the old woman said. "You are very sweet and honest. What is your name?" "My name is Ralia," she said. The old woman smiled. She removed a small shining seed from her wrapper and gave it to Ralia. "Take this seed. Plant it behind your house. Your honesty will change your life." Ralia wanted to say no, she needed garri not seed. But she collected it because she respected elders. She used her two coins to buy small garri and went home. Bubu was barking at the seed as if he knew it was special. When she got home, she told her parents everything. Her father said, "Plant it, my daughter. We have nothing to lose." So Ralia went behind their small house, dug the ground, and planted the seed. She poured water on it. Bubu sat down near it and guarded it. That night, they ate the small garri and slept hungry, but Ralia still prayed. The next morning, Ralia woke up and heard Bubu barking very loud. BUBU! BUBU! BUBU! She ran outside. What she saw shocked her. The seed had grown overnight into a small beautiful tree with shining leaves, and on the tree were many sweet fruits that glittered like sugar. Her blind mother came out and said, "Ralia, what is this sweet smell?" Her father crawled out and said, "What is this light behind our house?" Ralia's sweetness and honesty had started to change their life.