without
water
with
water
24-25
Abdul thought for a moment,
and then he took a deep breath.
“But Grandma,” he cried out, “my
teacher told me that a watery stool
can be very dangerous. If the body
loses water, it’s like a plant that isn’t
watered. First it gets weak, and then it
dies! We have to give Seri enough to
drink so she won’t be weak like this.”
In one glass
of WATER
Grandma could feel how much
Abdul believed in what he was
saying, and she was very proud that
her grandchild had a chance to go
to school and learn new things. But
still, no one had ever given any food
or drink to a child with watery stools
as long as she could remember.
Then, while Abdul looked at her with
pleading eyes and waited for her
response, she thought of one of her
own dear children she had lost after
only 2 days of watery stools. And
what about little Tini next door, who
had died the same way? Grandma
sighed and said gently to Abdul,
“Perhaps your teacher is right. Maybe
we should try a new way. What does
she say we ought to do?”
In one glass
of WATER
mix one
level teaspoon
of SUGAR
and one pinch
of SALT
Abdul looked at his grandmother
with new respect, put Seri into her
arms, and urged her to follow him.
Quickly, he put some water on to boil*
and afterwards (while they waited for
it to cool) he told Grandma the simple
recipe that would help Seri. Grandma
could hardly believe that one level
teaspoon of sugar and a pinch of salt
in a glass of boiled water would be the
right thing to give Seri, but she was
determined to let Abdul try.
*The delay caused by boiling may not be wise. See the discussion on p. 15-3. (Editor’s note.)