A Friend Like Simon – Kate Gaynor – Class 6, SCERT

Mathew meets a new boy named Simon, who behaves differently from other children. Simon does not like changes and gets upset easily. At first, Mathew does not understand him. But during a school trip, Simon stands up to Horrible Hettie, and Mathew realises Simon can be a good friend. Slowly, everyone learns to accept Simon and include him. The story teaches us to be kind to people who are different.

മാത്യു എന്ന കുട്ടി സൈമൺ എന്ന കുട്ടിയെ കണ്ടുമുട്ടുന്നു, സൈമൺ മറ്റ് കുട്ടികളിൽ നിന്ന് വ്യത്യസ്തമായി പെരുമാറുന്നു. സൈമൺ മാറ്റങ്ങൾ ഇഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്നില്ല, എളുപ്പത്തിൽ അസ്വസ്ഥനാകും. ആദ്യം, മാത്യുവിന് അവനെ മനസ്സിലാകുന്നില്ല. എന്നാൽ ഒരു സ്കൂൾ യാത്രയ്ക്കിടെ, സൈമൺ ഹോറിബിൾ ഹെറ്റിയെ എതിർക്കുന്നു, സൈമൺ ഒരു നല്ല സുഹൃത്താകാൻ കഴിയുമെന്ന് മാത്യു മനസ്സിലാക്കുന്നു. പതുക്കെ, എല്ലാവരും സൈമണിനെ സ്വീകരിക്കാനും അവനെ ഉൾപ്പെടുത്താനും പഠിക്കുന്നു. വ്യത്യസ്തരായ ആളുകളോട് ദയ കാണിക്കാൻ കഥ നമ്മെ പഠിപ്പിക്കുന്നു.

Questions from Textbook

1. What did Simon’s mum ask him to do?
   Simon’s mum asked him to say hello to Mathew when they met at the classroom door. She smiled kindly and encouraged Simon to greet Mathew because it was his first day at the new school. She wanted Simon to feel comfortable and start making friends, so she gently asked him to say a simple hello.
2. How did Simon react to his mother’s request?
   Simon did not respond to his mother’s request. Instead of saying hello, he turned away and looked down at the ground. He seemed shy and unsure. He did not make eye contact or speak. This showed that Simon found it difficult to talk to new people or handle new situations on his first day.
3. What was the only thing which was bad about the school?
   The only bad thing about the school, according to Mathew, was a girl named Hettie. He even called her “Horrible Hettie” because of her rude behaviour. She pushed others in the lunch queue, took their turn, and made mean faces. Everything else in the school was good, but Hettie’s behaviour made things unpleasant.
4. Why did Mathew and his friends call the girl “Horrible Hettie”?
   Mathew and his friends called her “Horrible Hettie” because she behaved badly every day. She pushed to the front of the lunch queue, even when it wasn’t her turn. She spoke in a rude voice and made mean faces at others. Her actions were unkind and selfish, so the children felt she deserved the nickname.
5. What was something unusual about Simon that Mathew noticed?
   Mathew noticed that Simon behaved differently from other children. Small things upset him, like someone bumping into him or the school bell ringing. He liked to keep his books and pencils arranged in the same way every day. He did not like changes at all. These habits made Simon seem unusual to Mathew at first.
6. What problem did Simon have about sitting in the classroom?
   Simon found it hard when he had to change his seat in the classroom. He liked things to stay the same, including where he sat. If the teacher moved him or something changed around him, he became upset. This showed that Simon felt safe only when everything stayed in a fixed and familiar order.
7. What did Simon do when Hettie tried to push her way to the front of the ice-cream queue?
   When Hettie tried to push ahead in the ice-cream queue, Simon suddenly shouted “NO!” very loudly. His shout surprised her so much that she got scared and ran away. This was the first time Simon reacted so strongly. His action protected Mathew and stopped Hettie from being rude again at that moment.
8. How did the opinion of other students about Simon change?
   At first, the other students did not understand Simon and thought he was strange. But over time, they learned why he behaved differently. They saw that he was kind and gentle, even if he didn’t talk much. Slowly, they accepted him and treated him like any other classmate. They realised differences are normal.
9. What does Simon’s story tell you about dealing with people who are different from us?
   Simon’s story teaches us to be kind, patient, and understanding with people who behave differently. Everyone has their own way of thinking and feeling. Instead of leaving them out, we should include them and try to understand their needs. Being different does not make someone less important. Friendship grows when we accept others.

Author

Kate Gaynor is the author of children’s books which address the issues of children with special educational needs, or health and social problems. She has published several collections of stories including A Friend Like Simon, Joe’ s Special Story and A Birthday for Ben.

Self Introduction

Imagine you are meeting a child in your neighbourhood for the first time. How would you introduce yourself?

1. Hi! My name is Mathew. I live in this neighbourhood, just a few houses away. I like playing outside, reading storybooks, and riding my bicycle. I also enjoy drawing and making up fun games. I saw you playing here and thought I should come and say hello. What is your name? Maybe we can play together sometime or talk about our favourite games. It’s really nice to meet you today.
2. Hi! I’m Mathew. I live close by, and I like playing cricket and drawing pictures. I saw you outside and thought I should come and say hello. What do you like to do for fun? Maybe we can play together another day. It’s nice meeting you.
3. Hello! My name is Mathew. I’m new to this neighbourhood, and I’m happy to meet someone my age. I enjoy reading comics and playing outdoor games. What about you? I hope we can become friends and have fun together.
4. Hi! I’m Fidha. I live just down the street. I like cycling, playing with my dog, and making new friends. I saw you playing here, so I wanted to introduce myself. What’s your name? Maybe we can play later.
5. Hey! My name is Shinto. I love playing football and building things with blocks. I noticed you live nearby, so I wanted to say hello. What games do you like? It would be fun to play together sometime.

Conversations

Mathew Meets Simon

• Mathew: Hi Simon, do you want to play with us?
• Simon: Play with us?
• Mathew: Yes, we are making a new game.
• Simon: I like to sit here.
• Mathew: That’s okay. Maybe later?
• Simon: Maybe later.
• Mathew: I can show you the game anytime.
• Simon: Show you the game anytime.

Simon and the Teacher

• Teacher: Good morning, Simon. Are you ready for class?
• Simon: Ready for class.
• Teacher: Your seat is the same as yesterday.
• Simon: Same is good.
• Teacher: Would you like help with your work today?
• Simon: Help with work.
• Teacher: I’ll sit with you for a few minutes.
• Simon: Sit with me.

Mathew Talks to His Friends About Simon

• Friend: Why doesn’t Simon play with us?
• Mathew: He likes being alone sometimes.
• Friend: Does he not like games?
• Mathew: He likes things to stay the same.
• Friend: Oh, I didn’t know that.
• Mathew: We can still be kind to him.
• Friend: Yes, we should.
• Mathew: Maybe he will join us one day.

Simon and Hettie at the Ice‑Cream Van

• Hettie: I’m next! Move!
• Simon: No!
• Hettie: Why are you shouting?
• Simon: No pushing.
• Hettie: Fine, I’ll go back.
• Mathew: Thank you, Simon.
• Simon: Thank you, Simon.
• Mathew: You helped me today.

Mathew and Simon on the Bus

• Mathew: Can I sit with you, Simon?
• Simon: Sit with you.
• Mathew: What’s in your lunchbox?
• Simon: Sandwiches.
• Mathew: Do you want to share?
• Simon: Share.
• Mathew: Thank you, Simon.
• Simon: Looking out the window.

Character Sketches

1. Simon – The New Boy
   Simon is a quiet and gentle boy who joins Mathew’s school. He behaves differently from other children. He likes things to stay the same every day. He keeps his books and pencils in the same order and gets upset when something changes. Loud sounds, sudden bumps, or moving seats make him uncomfortable. Simon does not talk much and often repeats what others say. He enjoys being alone and does not always join games. But he is kind and caring in his own way. When Hettie tries to push in the ice‑cream queue, Simon bravely shouts “No!” to stop her. Slowly, everyone learns to understand him better and accept him as a friend.
2. Mathew – The Narrator
   Mathew is the boy who tells the story. He is friendly, curious, and wants to understand others. At first, he does not know how to behave around Simon because Simon acts differently. Sometimes Mathew feels confused or annoyed, but he also tries to be kind. He invites Simon to play and talks to him on the school trip. When Simon helps him by stopping Hettie, Mathew realises Simon can be a good friend. After that, he becomes more patient and caring. Mathew learns an important lesson about accepting people who are different. He also helps other children understand Simon better. Mathew shows that friendship grows when we include everyone.
3. Hettie – “Horrible Hettie”
   Hettie is a girl in the school who behaves in a rude and selfish way. She always pushes to the front of the lunch queue and takes other children’s turns. She speaks in a mean voice and makes angry faces. Because of this, Mathew and his friends call her “Horrible Hettie.” She does not think about others’ feelings and wants everything her way. But when she tries to push ahead at the ice‑cream van, Simon shouts “No!” loudly. Hettie gets scared and runs away. This moment shows that her behaviour is wrong and hurtful. Hettie’s character teaches us how unkind actions can affect others and why we should treat people with respect.
4. Simon’s Mum
   Simon’s mum is warm, gentle, and supportive. She smiles kindly at Mathew on the first day and encourages Simon to say hello. She understands Simon’s needs and tries to help him feel safe in new places. Her behaviour shows patience and love. She knows Simon finds it hard to talk to new people, so she guides him softly without forcing him. Even though she appears only briefly, her character helps us understand Simon better. She shows that parents of children who behave differently often work hard to support them. Her kindness also helps Mathew feel comfortable meeting Simon for the first time.
5. The Teacher
   The teacher is caring, patient, and understanding. She explains to the class that Simon will join them and that he will sometimes get help from a special teacher. She tries to include Simon in activities without making him uncomfortable. She also encourages Mathew to sit with Simon on the school trip, helping them become friends. The teacher notices Simon’s needs and supports him gently. She teaches the class to accept differences and treat everyone kindly. Through her actions, she shows how important teachers are in creating an inclusive classroom where every child feels safe and welcome.

Diary

1. The Day I First Met Simon

   Dear Diary,

   Today something new happened in school. A boy named Simon joined our class. When I reached the classroom door, his mother smiled at me and asked him to say hello. But Simon didn’t look at me. He turned away and stared at the ground. I felt a little awkward, but I still smiled at him. In class, he sat quietly and didn’t talk to anyone. He arranged his books and pencils very neatly, all in the same line. He didn’t even move them once. During break, I asked him if he wanted to play with us, but he shook his head and stayed alone. I felt confused. I wondered why he didn’t want to join us. Maybe he was shy or scared. I hope he feels better tomorrow. I want to try again to be his friend.

   ഇന്ന് സ്കൂളിൽ പുതിയൊരു സംഭവം നടന്നു. സൈമൺ എന്നൊരു ആൺകുട്ടി ഞങ്ങളുടെ ക്ലാസ്സിൽ ചേർന്നു. ഞാൻ ക്ലാസ് മുറിയുടെ വാതിൽക്കൽ എത്തിയപ്പോൾ അവന്റെ അമ്മ എന്നെ നോക്കി പുഞ്ചിരിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് അവനോട് ഹലോ പറയാൻ ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു. പക്ഷേ സൈമൺ എന്നെ നോക്കിയില്ല. അവൻ തിരിഞ്ഞു നിലത്തേക്ക് നോക്കി. എനിക്ക് അൽപ്പം അസ്വസ്ഥത തോന്നി, പക്ഷേ ഞാൻ ഇപ്പോഴും അവനെ നോക്കി പുഞ്ചിരിച്ചു. ക്ലാസ്സിൽ, അവൻ നിശബ്ദനായി ഇരുന്നു, ആരോടും സംസാരിച്ചില്ല. അവൻ തന്റെ പുസ്തകങ്ങളും പെൻസിലുകളും വളരെ വൃത്തിയായി അടുക്കി വച്ചു, എല്ലാം ഒരേ വരിയിൽ. അവൻ ഒരിക്കൽ പോലും അവ അനക്കിയില്ല. ഇടവേളയിൽ, ഞങ്ങളോടൊപ്പം കളിക്കാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നുണ്ടോ എന്ന് ഞാൻ അവനോട് ചോദിച്ചു, പക്ഷേ അവൻ തലയാട്ടി ഒറ്റയ്ക്കിരുന്നു. എനിക്ക് ആശയക്കുഴപ്പം തോന്നി. അവൻ ഞങ്ങളോടൊപ്പം ചേരാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കാത്തത് എന്തുകൊണ്ടാണെന്ന് ഞാൻ ചിന്തിച്ചു. ഒരുപക്ഷേ അവൻ ലജ്ജിച്ചിരിക്കാം അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഭയപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കാം. നാളെ അവൻ സുഖം പ്രാപിക്കുമെന്ന് ഞാൻ പ്രതീക്ഷിക്കുന്നു. അവന്റെ സുഹൃത്താകാൻ ഞാൻ വീണ്ടും ശ്രമിക്കണം.

2. When I Started Understanding Simon
   
   Dear Diary,

   Today I understood Simon a little more. I noticed that he gets upset about small things. When someone bumped into him by mistake, he suddenly looked worried and almost cried. When the school bell rang loudly, he covered his ears. I didn’t know why he reacted like that. At first, I thought he was strange. But then I realised he just feels things differently. He likes everything to stay the same. He keeps his desk neat and doesn’t like changes. I used to feel annoyed when the teacher asked him to join our games, because he never wanted to. But now I think he needs time. Maybe he is not used to being around many children. I want to be more patient with him. I think he is a good boy, just different from us. And that is okay.
   
   ഇന്ന് എനിക്ക് സൈമണെ കുറച്ചുകൂടി മനസ്സിലായി. ചെറിയ കാര്യങ്ങൾക്ക് പോലും അവൻ അസ്വസ്ഥനാകുന്നത് ഞാൻ ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചു. ആരോ അബദ്ധത്തിൽ അവനെ ഇടിച്ചപ്പോൾ, അവൻ പെട്ടെന്ന് വിഷമിക്കുകയും കരയാൻ തുടങ്ങുകയും ചെയ്തു. സ്കൂൾ മണി ഉച്ചത്തിൽ അടിച്ചപ്പോൾ, അവൻ ചെവി പൊത്തി. എന്തുകൊണ്ടാണ് അവൻ അങ്ങനെ പ്രതികരിച്ചതെന്ന് എനിക്കറിയില്ലായിരുന്നു. ആദ്യം, അവൻ വിചിത്രനാണെന്ന് ഞാൻ കരുതി. പക്ഷേ പിന്നീട് എനിക്ക് മനസ്സിലായി, അവൻ വ്യത്യസ്തമായി തോന്നുന്നു എന്ന്. എല്ലാം അതേപടി തുടരുന്നതാണ് അവന് ഇഷ്ടം. അവൻ തന്റെ മേശ വൃത്തിയായി സൂക്ഷിക്കുന്നു, മാറ്റങ്ങൾ ഇഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്നില്ല. ടീച്ചർ അവനോട് നമ്മുടെ ഗെയിമുകളിൽ ചേരാൻ ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടപ്പോൾ എനിക്ക് ദേഷ്യം തോന്നിയിരുന്നു, കാരണം അവന് ഒരിക്കലും അത് വേണ്ടായിരുന്നു. പക്ഷേ ഇപ്പോൾ അവന് സമയം ആവശ്യമാണെന്ന് ഞാൻ കരുതുന്നു. ഒരുപക്ഷേ അവൻ കൂടുതൽ കുട്ടികളുടെ കൂടെയുള്ളത് ശീലിച്ചിട്ടില്ലായിരിക്കാം. അവനോട് കൂടുതൽ ക്ഷമ കാണിക്കാൻ ഞാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു. അവൻ ഒരു നല്ല ആൺകുട്ടിയാണെന്ന് ഞാൻ കരുതുന്നു, നമ്മളിൽ നിന്ന് വ്യത്യസ്തനാണ്. അത് ശരിയാണ്.

3. The Funfair Day

   Dear Diary,

   Today was the best day! We went on our school trip to the funfair. Our teacher told me to sit with Simon on the bus. I wasn’t sure at first, but I agreed. Simon took out his sandwiches and even shared them with me. He didn’t talk much, but I felt happy that he trusted me. At the funfair, something surprising happened. When we were waiting for ice‑cream, Horrible Hettie came and tried to push in front of us. She said, “I’m next!” in her usual rude voice. Suddenly, Simon shouted “NO!” very loudly. I was shocked. Hettie got such a fright that she ran away. I thanked Simon, and he repeated my words softly. After that moment, I felt closer to him. I realised he is brave in his own way. He may be different, but he is a wonderful friend. I’m glad I got to know him better today.

   ഇന്ന് ഏറ്റവും നല്ല ദിവസമായിരുന്നു! ഞങ്ങൾ സ്കൂൾ യാത്രയ്ക്ക് ഫൺഫെയറിലേക്ക് പോയി. ബസിൽ സൈമണിനൊപ്പം ഇരിക്കാൻ ഞങ്ങളുടെ ടീച്ചർ എന്നോട് പറഞ്ഞു. ആദ്യം എനിക്ക് ഉറപ്പില്ലായിരുന്നു, പക്ഷേ ഞാൻ സമ്മതിച്ചു. സൈമൺ തന്റെ സാൻഡ്‌വിച്ചുകൾ പുറത്തെടുത്ത് എനിക്ക് പങ്കുവെച്ചു. അവൻ അധികം സംസാരിച്ചില്ല, പക്ഷേ അവൻ എന്നെ വിശ്വസിച്ചതിൽ എനിക്ക് സന്തോഷമായി. ഫൺഫെയറിൽ, അത്ഭുതകരമായ എന്തോ സംഭവിച്ചു. ഞങ്ങൾ ഐസ്ക്രീമിനായി കാത്തിരിക്കുമ്പോൾ, ഹോറിബിൾ ഹെറ്റി വന്ന് ഞങ്ങളുടെ മുന്നിലേക്ക് തള്ളാൻ ശ്രമിച്ചു. പതിവ് പരുഷമായ ശബ്ദത്തിൽ അവൾ പറഞ്ഞു, “ഞാൻ അടുത്തതാണ്!”. പെട്ടെന്ന്, സൈമൺ വളരെ ഉച്ചത്തിൽ “ഇല്ല!” എന്ന് വിളിച്ചു. ഞാൻ ഞെട്ടിപ്പോയി. ഹെറ്റിക്ക് ഭയന്ന് ഓടിപ്പോയി. ഞാൻ സൈമണിന് നന്ദി പറഞ്ഞു, അവൻ എന്റെ വാക്കുകൾ മൃദുവായി ആവർത്തിച്ചു. ആ നിമിഷത്തിനുശേഷം, എനിക്ക് അവനോട് കൂടുതൽ അടുപ്പം തോന്നി. അവൻ തന്റേതായ രീതിയിൽ ധൈര്യശാലിയാണെന്ന് എനിക്ക് മനസ്സിലായി. അവൻ വ്യത്യസ്തനായിരിക്കാം, പക്ഷേ അവൻ ഒരു അത്ഭുതകരമായ സുഹൃത്താണ്. ഇന്ന് അവനെ നന്നായി അറിയാൻ കഴിഞ്ഞതിൽ എനിക്ക് സന്തോഷമുണ്ട്.