The best kind of magic
A short story about a shy nine-year-old girl named Amudha who struggles with public speaking in school. Her grandfather gives her a blue stone, suggesting it has magical properties to help her overcome her anxiety.
Why it matters
This narrative explores themes of childhood anxiety, self-confidence, and the role of supportive family figures in a child's development.
N ine-year-old Amudha loved books and movies, especially Harry Potter. She could write wonderful poems that made people laugh. But Amudha had another talent too.
She was invisible. Not really invisible — but so shy that people hardly noticed her. Whenever she had to stand in front of the class or read from her textbook, her throat felt tight, as if it were stuffed with cotton.
One day, her science teacher, Jhumla Ma’am, called her. Jhumla Ma’am was a kind and pretty teacher who loved telling funny jokes to make the class giggle.
“Amudha,” she said warmly, “please read from page 10.”
Amudha froze. Her eyes grew wide. The cotton seemed to fill her throat again. All her classmates turned to look at her. She wished she could turn invisible and disappear.
Amudha took one tiny step forward and opened her book. Her hands shook like jelly.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in