Summary

Grandfather keeps unusual pets, including a python, since retiring from his railway job. Tutu was terrified of the python. Grandmother dislikes reptiles and tells him to get rid of it. When they go back to the bazaar to return the python, it escapes from the house. The python continually reappears around the house and Ranji grows more comfortable with it. The family goes on a short trip to Lucknow and the python stows away in the food basket and causes trouble on the train by scaring all of the other passengers.

In Chapter 8, Ranji is awoken by the sound of rumbling on the roof. A bear cub was searching through the fields for pumpkins to eat. Ranji enjoys watching the bear from a safe distance until one of the other villagers scares her off to protect his crops.

In Chapter 9, an unnamed young...