Answer the following questions.
(a) What was strange about the manner in which Mrs. Bramble addressed her son? What did he feel about it?
(b) Why was it necessary to keep Harold’s father’s profession a secret from him?
(c) When Mr. Bramble came to know that he was to become a father what were some of the names he decided upon? Why?
(d) Describe Mr. Bramble as he has been described in the story.
(e) Why was Mrs. Bramble upset when she came to hear that Bill had decided not to fight?
(f) Who was Jerry Fisher? What did he say to try and convince Bill to change his mind?
(g) How did Harold come to know that his father was a boxer?
(h) Why was Harold upset that his father had not told him about his true identity? Give two reasons.
(i) Do you agree with Harold’s parents’ decision of hiding from him the fact that his father was a boxer? Why/why not?
Answer the following questions.
1. Why do you think the writer visited Miss Beam’s school? (1)
2. What was the ‘game’ that every child in the school had to play? (9)
3. “Each term every child has one blind day, one lame day…” Complete the line. Which day was the hardest? Why was it the hardest? (9, 11, 15)
4. What was the purpose of these special days? (5, 9)