Nabila and Hasina were going outside to play. The previous day had been very windy and they had been cooped indoors. They opened the door of their house and stopped short. The yard was full of scattered leaves and was a mess.

“Mummy!” cried the children, “do you want us to sweep the yard?” “Yes” replied their mummy, “that would be such a great help.” She was very busy baking, cleaning and cooking. She promised them a little party when they finished, to repay their kindness. “You will find the brooms and the bin in the garage, “she said.

Nabila and Hasina took the brooms and began to sweep. They swept all the leaves together into heaps, which they threw into the bin.

They were almost finished, when Nabila saw some pecan nuts by mummy’s vegetable patch. “Look Hasina,” she said, “these pecan nuts must have fallen with the strong winds.” They gathered the pecan nuts in a small box. They were sorely tempted to eat them but knew that the nuts had fallen from the neighbors’ tree.

They asked their mother if they were allowed to eat them. She replied that they were not. They had to return the nuts to their neighbour as it belonged to her. The girls took the box and set off to the neighbours house.

They rang the bell and waited. When the neighbour opened the door, she was surprised to see them. They gave her the box telling her they had found the nuts in their garden. She was touched by their honesty and asked them to wait. Moments later, she returned with a bigger box filled with pecan nuts which she gave to them. She said she was glad to have such honest neighbours and that in future, they could eat any of her fruit or nuts that fell into their garden.

They returned home very happy. They asked their mother to lend them her nut cracker and they enjoyed shelling the nuts. They kept a handful for their party and gave the rest to their mummy. What a fine party they had thereafter with juice, cake, sweets and nuts.