First published in 1972. The story is about Sita, a girl who lives with her grandparents in a hut on an island. One of the walls of their hut leans against a rock and the other three walls are made of mud. They lead a very simple lifestyle. While her grandfather works outside, Sita and her grandmother work in the house. Suddenly, Sita's grandmother becomes extremely ill and Sita's grandfather plans to take her grandmother to the hospital in town. He leaves in a boat with three of his goats and tells Sita that he will be back in a few days. He also warns her of the rain, saying that it might cause a flood and that if the level of the water goes very high, she must climb the peepal tree on the island.