“Mommy! Didn’t I tell you!! Didn’t I tell You!!”

I still remember that day. I think, No, I am sure; I was in the 1^st standard.
We were all taken to the ground and asked who wants to run?

All most all of us came forward, but the PT sir selected some of us (I think 10 of us), I was one among them.
We were all asked to stand in a horizontal queue and were told that a whistle will be blown and at that we had to run and reach the tree in front us, where our Class madam was standing.
It seemed long long way away.

But when we were also told that who would reach that tree first will be given a chocolate and a trophy!! That didn’t seem that long way away!!

We all had become serious and our ears were waiting to hear just that one thing.!!!!!

Pheeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwww!!!!

We all ran as if there was no tomorrow!

After we had reached the finish, I even didn’t notice who had come 1^st. I was just panting!!
My class teacher came over to me and hugged me. She gave me a glass of water and 2 melody toffee!! It was then I realized that I had come 1^st!!

I was told that I would be given the trophy on the annual day, which was at the weekend.

That day I eagerly waited for my mom to return from work. As soon as she returned, I told her that I would be given a trophy in front of everyone on the annual day. My mom didn’t know how to react to the little kid’s fancy idea and played along saying yes I would.

On the annual day, we (me and my Mom, My dad had been out of station) were seated at the back rows of the hall. And I was feverishly telling my mom, that my name would be called. This time my mom had to tell me that “I just wish they call you name out, but even if they don’t call your name, it doesn’t matter, I will get you a trophy”.
 I realized that my mom feared that it might all have been a misunderstanding and I might end up disappointed if my name wasn’t called out!!

But then, suddenly my name was called out, my mom was ecstatic and relieved. She prodded me to go on to the stage. And I just bolted to the stage, received the trophy, ran back to my mom and gave the trophy&certificate and kept telling her “Mommy! Didn’t I tell you!! Didn’t I tell You!!”
I could see that my mom had a tear or 2 in her eyes…!!

This was my 1^st ever prize, I have won a lot many after that. But this one remains the most special one!!

Co-incidentally, I finished my school days with a 100 mtr gold medal in my 12^th standard!!
Began and ended my schooling with a gold medal in 100 mtr dash!!