This is a funny play from Class 10 English "Footprints Without Feet" textbook. It is Chapter 10. The story happens in the future and shows how a simple book stops a big war. Let’s learn it with a smile!
About the Author
The play is written by Claire Boiko. She was an American writer. She loved to write funny plays and stories for children. She made learning fun with her words. This play is full of jokes and surprises.
What’s the Story About?
The story is a play (like a drama). It happens in the year 2040. A smart person named Historian is reading from a big history book in a museum. She tells what happened long ago in the 25th century (year 2400+).
Scene 1: Planet Mars
Aliens live on Mars. Their leader is Think-Tank. He is very proud and thinks he is the smartest. His helpers are Noodle, Oop, Omega, and Iota.
Think-Tank says Earth is weak. He wants to attack and rule it.
His team finds a strange thing from Earth – a book of nursery rhymes called "Mother Goose".
They do not know what a book is. They think it is a sandwich! They try to eat it. No taste.
Then they think it is a hat. No.
At last, they open it and read funny rhymes like:
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
They get scared! They think Earth people eat sandwiches that talk (books). They think the rhymes are secret codes for war.
Scene 2: Library on Earth
The aliens set up a small room in a library to study the book. They wear big funny space hats.
They read more rhymes:
Twinkle, twinkle, little star...
They think stars are bombs!
Mistress Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?
They think Earth has silver bells and shells that attack!
Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle...
They think a cow can jump over the moon! They are shocked.
Scene 3: Back on Mars
Noodle (the smart helper) tells Think-Tank that the book is just for kids. But Think-Tank is too proud. He says Earth will attack Mars with cows and dogs.
He orders everyone to leave Earth fast. They run away to another planet.
They never come back to trouble Earth.
Result: A simple children’s rhyme book saves Earth! No war happens. Everyone laughs.
The play is full of silly mistakes. It shows how wrong ideas can stop big plans.
Who’s Who in the Story
- Historian: A wise lady in 2040. She tells the story from a book.
- Think-Tank: Boss of Mars. Very proud, thinks he knows everything.
- Noodle: Smart helper of Think-Tank. He is polite and clever.
- Oop: Funny alien. Tries to eat the book.
- Omega: Reads the rhymes. Gets scared.
- Iota: Helps read. Wears funny hats.
- Apprentice (Noodle): Same as Noodle. He is the only one with sense.
All are aliens from Mars.
Themes and Moral
Themes
- Silly Mistakes: Wrong ideas can make big people run away.
- Power of Books: Even a small kids’ book can stop a war.
- Pride is Bad: Think-Tank is too proud, so he loses.
- Teamwork: Noodle helps, but Think-Tank does not listen.
Moral
- Don’t Judge Fast: Understand things before you act.
- Books are Strong: Simple words can change the world.
- Listen to Others: Smart people listen to helpers.
- Laugh at Fears: Many fears are just funny mistakes.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are easy words from the play with simple meanings:
- Alien – Person from another planet. Example: Think-Tank is an alien.
- Mars – Red planet next to Earth.
- Earth – Our home planet.
- Invade – Attack to take over. Example: Think-Tank wants to invade Earth.
- Nursery Rhymes – Short fun poems for small kids. Example: Humpty Dumpty.
- Sandwich – Bread with something inside. Example: Aliens think book is sandwich.
- Code – Secret words. Example: They think rhymes are codes.
- Proud – Thinks too much of self. Example: Think-Tank is proud.
- Apprentice – Helper who learns. Example: Noodle is apprentice.
- Century – 100 years. Example: 25th century = 2400+.
- Museum – Place to keep old things.
- Twinkle – Shine with small light. Example: Twinkle star.
- Fiddle – Small music toy (violin).
- Contrary – Opposite. Example: Mary is contrary = she likes opposite things.
Now read the play and laugh at how a kids’ book saved the whole Earth!