Kanhaiya ran through the dusty lane with his wooden horse clattering behind him.
BOOM went the drums. Kanhaiya's wooden horse fell from his hands. He peeked over the fence and saw a soldier sitting in the dust, groaning low.
Kanhaiya tiptoed closer. He held out his shiny red apple. "You can have this," he whispered.
Kanhaiya walked past a wooden cart. He spotted another soldier with a bandage on his head.
The soldier shook his head and pointed away. Kanhaiya pulled a dandelion from his pocket and tickled the soldier's ear. The soldier snorted a laugh.
Kanhaiya heard a sob and ran toward the banyan tree at the edge of the village.
A soldier hid behind the tree trunk, shaking hard. A drum hit loud nearby. Kanhaiya climbed up and sat close.
Tap-tap-tap went Kanhaiya's fingers on the soldier's knee. The soldier's breathing slowed.
Somewhere far away, the drums faded to a soft tap-tap.
The soldiers stood up. They shared Kanhaiya's apple — one big bite each.
Kanhaiya marched home with his wooden horse, feeling brave.
He waved at three grinning faces behind him. The village was quiet again.
