Chapter 3: The Little Girl
- Who is the little girl in the story?
Kezia is the little girl. She is sensitive, shy, and initially scared of her strict and authoritarian father. - Why was Kezia afraid of her father?
He was cold, stern, spoke harshly, and never showed affection, which made her feel nervous and frightened around him. - What was Kezia’s daily routine with her father?
She would stand quietly to say goodbye or answer questions. She was intimidated by his presence and never felt free. - How did Kezia feel in front of her father?
She felt nervous, stammered while speaking, and thought her father was a figure to be feared, not loved. - What was Kezia’s relationship with her grandmother?
She was close to her grandmother, who loved and comforted her, and also encouraged her to get closer to her father. - What did Kezia’s grandmother suggest?
That Kezia should make a gift for her father’s birthday to improve their bond and express affection. - What gift did Kezia make?
She stitched a pin-cushion using yellow silk and stuffed it with paper, unknowingly using her father’s important speech. - What mistake did Kezia make?
She tore up her father’s important speech paper to fill the pin-cushion, not realizing its importance. - How did her father react to the ruined speech?
He was furious, scolded her harshly, and beat her with a ruler, deepening her fear. - How did Kezia react to the punishment?
She was heartbroken, cried bitterly, and felt misunderstood and unloved, calling her father a ‘giant’. - Who comforted Kezia after the beating?
Her grandmother held her lovingly, trying to calm her and help her sleep. - What did Kezia call her father?
She once referred to him as a “giant” due to his strictness and cold attitude. - What changed Kezia’s perception of her father?
When her mother was in the hospital, her father took care of her with unexpected gentleness and love. - What did Kezia see one night that surprised her?
Her father sleeping beside her to comfort her during a nightmare and warming her feet, showing his soft side. - What lesson did Kezia learn about her father?
She realized he loved her deeply but was not good at expressing emotions. He worked hard for the family. - What is the central theme of the story?
Parental love, misunderstood relationships, and how emotional distance can hide affection. - Why was Kezia’s father called a ‘figure to be feared’?
Because of his coldness, discipline, lack of emotional bonding, and commanding behavior at home. - What did Kezia observe about Mr. Macdonald’s family?
He played with his children, laughed with them, and was gentle—unlike her own father. - What did Kezia envy about the Macdonalds?
She envied their open affection, playfulness, and how the children felt loved and relaxed with their father. - Why did Kezia’s father stay at home one night?
Her mother was hospitalized and grandmother went with her, so he stayed home to care for Kezia. - What was Kezia’s nightmare?
A horrible dream about a butcher with a knife and a rope, which terrified her. - How did her father respond to her nightmare?
He comforted her, lay beside her, and warmed her feet under his legs, gently calming her. - What realization did Kezia have after this incident?
That her father had a big heart and loved her, even though he rarely showed it openly. - How did the story portray a typical father-child bond?
It reflected how strictness and lack of expression can lead to fear, but love is often hidden beneath. - Why did the author show contrast with Mr. Macdonald?
To highlight how different parenting styles impact children emotionally and help Kezia reflect. - How does Kezia’s character evolve?
She grows from being afraid to understanding her father’s love, gaining emotional maturity. - What is the tone of the story?
Emotional, reflective, soft, and heartwarming as it explores fear, misunderstanding, and hidden affection. - What is the symbolic role of the pin-cushion?
It represents Kezia’s attempt to connect and show love to her father but ends in misunderstanding. - What message does the story convey?
Parents may not always express love the way children expect, but their care is deep and real. - What does Kezia finally understand about love?
That love doesn’t always need words or gifts—it can be shown through silent care, protection, and presence.