The Blanket Fort

It had rained all evening, and Kabir and his little sister Noor could not go out to play. So they built a fort.

They took two chairs and put them back to back. They took the big brown blanket from Dadi's bed. Kabir held one side and Noor held the other, and they pulled it over the chairs. Now the fort had a roof.

Inside, it was a different world. The light was soft and brown. The rain sounded far away.

"We need a floor," said Kabir. They laid down two cushions.

"We need a lamp," said Noor. Papa gave them a small torch. They stood it in a steel cup, and it made a circle of light on the roof, like a moon.

"We need food," said Kabir. Amma passed in two biscuits and one banana, cut in half.

They ate. They lay on their backs and looked at the torch moon.

"What is outside the fort?" asked Noor.

"Rain," said Kabir. "And night. But they cannot come in."

"What is inside the fort?"

Kabir thought. "Us. And the blanket. And the smell of Dadi's blanket."

Noor sniffed. The blanket smelled of soap and sun and Dadi's hair oil. It was the safest smell she knew.

The rain went on. The torch moon shone. Noor's head slid down onto Kabir's arm.

A little later, Papa lifted one corner of the roof. Two children lay fast asleep on two cushions.

He did not move them. He only switched off the torch.

All night long the fort stood in the middle of the room, and kept them safe.