Chapter 17 – Lessons from the Backyard

The lady's house was more than a roof: it was a living school. In the backyard, among fruit trees, scratching chickens, and rabbits in small cages, Salimo began to discover a different world. The mornings smelled of wet earth and the constant sounds of animals.

The patient woman gave him small tasks. First, sweeping the yard and changing the water in the bowls. Then, collecting the eggs and cleaning the cages. Salimo performed each task with unusual care, almost as if he were handling something sacred.

He watched the animals carefully. He noticed how the chickens stirred when food arrived, how the rabbits preferred quiet corners, how the dogs ran to protect their space. There was a silent logic to it all, and he was beginning to understand it.

At night, while reviewing my schoolwork, I also thought about my backyard lessons. It was as if I were learning two literacy skills at once: letters and numbers and practical life skills. Both, I felt, would be important in the future.

You Can: Life teaches everywhere. It's up to you to observe and transform every detail into a lesson.