Chapter 3: The Little Girl

Thinking About the Text (Questions & Answers)

I. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each.

1. To whom was Kezia afraid?

   Kezia was afraid of her father.

2. Who were the people in Kezia’s family?

   Kezia’s family consisted of her father, her mother, her grandmother, and herself.

3. What was Kezia’s father’s routine?

   Every morning, before going to work, he would come into her room and give her a casual kiss. In the evening, he would come home and she would hear his loud voice in the hall.

4. What was her father’s mood on Sundays?

   On Sundays, her father would stretch out on the sofa, put his handkerchief on his face, his feet on one of the best cushions, and sleep soundly and snore.

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).

1. Why was Kezia afraid of her father?

   Kezia was afraid of her father because he seemed like a giant to her, with a loud voice and big hands. He often spoke to her harshly, making her feel nervous and intimidated.

2. Who were the people in Kezia’s family?

   Kezia’s family included her father, mother, and grandmother. Her grandmother was the only one with whom she felt comfortable and understood.

3. Why did Kezia try to please her father?

   Kezia tried to please her father by making him a pin-cushion as a birthday gift. She wanted to show her love and make him happy, despite her fear of him.

4. What was the result of her efforts?

   Her efforts resulted in a severe scolding and a beating from her father. She had mistakenly filled the pin-cushion with papers from his important speech, leading to his anger.

5. What did Kezia’s father do on Sundays?

   On Sundays, Kezia’s father would rest. He would lie on the sofa, put a handkerchief over his face, place his feet on a cushion, and sleep, often snoring.

6. What was the difference between Kezia’s father and Mr. Macdonald?

   Kezia’s father was strict and disciplinary, making Kezia afraid. Mr. Macdonald, their neighbour, was a loving and playful father who laughed with his children, a stark contrast to Kezia’s father.

III. Answer each of these questions in two or three paragraphs (100–150 words).

1. Describe Kezia’s changing relationship with her father.

   Initially, Kezia's relationship with her father was marked by fear and anxiety. She saw him as a towering, authoritarian figure with a loud voice, and she would stammer when talking to him. His habit of giving her a "casual kiss" in the morning felt like a ritual rather than an act of affection, and his scolding for small mistakes, like her pin-cushion mishap, intensified her fear. She found solace only with her grandmother, who understood her sensitivity.

   However, her perception began to change after her mother fell ill and her grandmother went to the hospital. Kezia was left alone with her father at night. During a nightmare, her father lovingly carried her to his bed, comforted her, and stayed with her until she felt safe. It was then, feeling his warmth and seeing him sleep soundly after a hard day's work, that she realized his immense care and love for her. She understood that his strictness was perhaps due to the burden of responsibility and his different way of showing affection. This incident transformed her fear into understanding and a newfound affection, leading her to feel that her father had a "big heart" after all.