Simran Kaur and the Fence

Three Days

Simran Kaur counted everything. Fourteen red doors on her street. Twelve fridge magnets. Seven streetlights from her bedroom window. Thirty-two steps to the school bus.

On Monday, she counted a boy sitting by the fence at the edge of the playground. He sat on the ground with his knees pulled up, his back against the chain-link, while everyone else played. Simran didn't know his name. He was in Ms. Park's class — the other Grade 2.

On Tuesday, he was there again. Same spot. Same knees. The football game roared past him. Two girls played hopscotch near the door. Nobody stopped.

On Wednesday, he was there again.

Three days. Same fence. Same boy. Same nobody.

Simran sat with Maya and Ethan at lunch. Maya was drawing a robin — she was still on birds. Ethan was building something out of juice boxes.

"Who's that boy by the fence?" Simran asked.

Maya looked up. "I think his name is Aiden. He started last week."

"He sits there every day," said Simran.

Ethan shrugged. "He probably likes it there."

Simran looked at the boy through the window. He didn't look like he liked it there. He looked like he was waiting for something that wasn't coming.

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Explore More

• The Five Kakars — Articles of Sikh Faith — What the Five Kakars are and why they matter
• Simran Kaur and the Picture — The third story in the Five Kakars series
• The Drumbeat: A Holla Mohalla Story — A story about courage and community

About This Story

This is the fourth story in the Simran Kaur series — five stories set in Toronto, each woven around one of the Five Kakars (the five articles of Sikh identity given by Guru Gobind Singh Ji to the Khalsa in 1699). In this story, the Kirpan — often misunderstood as a weapon — is shown as what it truly is: a promise of mercy and protection. The word kirpan comes from kirpa (compassion) and aan (honour). Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave it to the Khalsa as a reminder to always stand with those who cannot stand for themselves. Maya, Ethan, and Ms. Adeyemi, who appear in this series, were first introduced in Simran Kaur and the Lost Sketchbook.