Too Polite for His Own Good
The Giggle Globe Gang walked down a quiet street that morning.
Birds chirped. Shops opened slowly. People smiled as they passed.
Milo cleared his throat.
“Okay,” he said seriously, “I’ve learned something.”
Luna looked up.
“Oh?”
“Yes,” Milo nodded. “In a new country, we must be very polite.”
Bobo clapped.
“I’m excellent at polite. I say sorry to chairs.”
Tiki muttered,
“That explains a lot.”
An elderly man walked toward them.
Milo remembered yesterday’s lesson.
He pressed his palms together quickly.
“Namaste!” Milo said loudly.
The man smiled and nodded back.
Milo froze.
“Was that good?” he whispered to Luna.
“Yes,” Luna said. “That’s a greeting.”
Milo beamed.
“I am doing great.”
A woman walked by.
Milo bowed again.
“Namaste!”
She smiled.
A child passed.
“Namaste!”
The child giggled.
A dog passed.
Milo paused… then bowed.
“…Namaste?”
The dog wagged its tail.
Bobo stared.
“Milo just greeted a dog.”
Tiki sighed.
“At least the dog felt respected.”
Soon, Milo began greeting everyone.
Too much.
Very much.
A shopkeeper tried to hand him change.
Milo bowed instead.
The shopkeeper waited.
Milo bowed again.
They stared at each other.
Luna gently touched Milo’s arm.
“You can take the money and greet.”
“Oh,” Milo said softly.
“So many rules.”
Then Milo noticed something else.
Some people nodded.
Some smiled.
Some said nothing at all.
Milo whispered, worried,
“Did I do something wrong? They didn’t greet back.”
Luna shook her head.
“No. People show respect differently.”
Bobo nodded seriously.
“I show respect by sharing snacks.”
Tiki added,
“I show respect by not talking. Rare, but powerful.”
Later, a small girl waved shyly at them.
Milo froze.
He didn’t bow.
He didn’t speak.
He smiled.
The girl smiled back and ran away laughing.
Milo felt something warm.
“That felt… right,” he said.
Luna smiled.
“Sometimes the best greeting is simply being kind.”
Milo nodded slowly.
“So politeness isn’t copying,” he said.
“It’s paying attention.”
Tiki zipped happily.
“Character growth detected.”
As they walked on, Milo raised his hand.
Not too high.
Not too low.
Just enough.
“Hello,” he said gently.
And this time, it felt easy.
😄 End of Story 4
Next story:
Milo misunderstands hospitality…
and thinks he’s in serious trouble 😄
(Theme: guests, generosity, and friendship)
Review The Giggle Globe Gang – India: Story 4.