CG Board Class 10 English Solutions Lesson 8: Unit 3 Reading B: Including All My Friends (2026-27)

The poem also addresses the painful reality of bullying. “Bad guys” or bullies attempt to bother these children by uttering hurtful words about their skin color, hair, speaking manner, or physical disabilities. However, the children refuse to listen to or be discouraged by these negative remarks, knowing that such bullies are morally wrong. The poem reminds us that although some children may need a special tube to breathe or a special chair (wheelchair) to move, human beings are all fundamentally the same underneath. We all play, laugh, and sleep. The poet concludes that mean people are mistaken because they only judge others “skin-deep” (by outer appearance), whereas true value lies in seeing beyond outer physical differences with compassion and understanding.

• English Note: Randy Bassett and his wife Susan are co-founders of “Opening Hearts”. Motivated by their own children, they work tirelessly to help improve the lives of children with special needs and their families. They have received local and provisional awards for their noble efforts.

1. Backyard – An area at the back of a house /
2. Guys – A informal word used to address a group of boys or girls / , ,
3. Special tube – An apparatus used by people who have difficulty in breathing /
4. Special chair – A wheelchair used by people with physical disabilities /
5. Hide and seek – A children’s game (Luka-chhippi) where one hides and others search /
6. Skin-deep – Not very deep, superficial, limited to outer appearance – ,
7. Bother – To annoy, disturb, or trouble someone / ,

They like to play with me

We play games like hide and seek

And climb the backyard tree

We run and jump and ride our bikes

And play the whole day through

And when a new friend comes around

We let them join us too

Some bad guys came to bother us

And we knew what they would say

Bad words about our skin or hair

Or how we talk and play

We didn’t want to hear their words.

We know that they’re not right

There so much more to all of us

If we use more than our sight

We all have different skin and eyes

We all have different hair

Some need a special tube to breathe

Some need a special chair

But really we are all the same

We play, we laugh, we sleep

The mean guys had it wrong because

They only look skin-deep.

• a. Poet and his relatives
• b. A disabled child and his friends
• c. The boy and his classmates
• Correct Answer: b. A disabled child and his friends

ii. What did the bad guys do?

• a. Played and talked to us
• b. Said bad words about us
• c. Said that they’re our friends
• Correct Answer: b. Said bad words about us

iii. Why are we all the same?

• a. we all look alike
• b. we are all playing
• c. we all are human beings
• Correct Answer: c. we all are human beings

• a. Everyone should be treated alike. -> (✓)
• b. Some people need special care. -> (✓)
• c. New friends are not allowed in the play. -> (X) (False, because new friends are always welcomed in the poem)
• d. All children have the same kind of hair and skin. -> (X) (False, because the poem states everyone has different skin and hair)
• e. There is more than what we can see. -> (✓)
• f. Mean people see differences in children. -> (✓)
• : : a, b, e, f

The ‘bad guys’ mentioned in the poem are the mean, insensitive bullies who make fun of children with special needs. They are called ‘bad guys’ because they use hurtful words regarding the physical appearances, speech, skin, or disabilities of these children instead of accepting them with love.

The ‘bad guys’ bother the children about four main things

1. The color and texture of their skin
2. The type or color of their hair
3. The way they talk
4. The way they play

If we use more than our sight (i.e., if we look with empathy, understanding, and kindness rather than just eyes), we can realize that beyond outer physical differences, all human beings share the same emotions, need for love, joy, and basic humanity.

This line is spoken because the comments of the bullies were full of prejudice and hurtfulness. The children chose to ignore their negative remarks to maintain their self-respect and happiness.

This line expresses the self-confidence of the children. They know that having a disability or a different appearance does not make them inferior, so the bullies’ harsh words are morally wrong and false.

This line highlights that some children face medical challenges requiring supportive medical apparatus, but such physical needs do not diminish their right to play and make friends.

This line encourages people to look beyond physical appearance and judge others through heart, compassion, and character.

This line criticizes the shallow nature of bullies who judge people solely on the basis of outer skin, hair, or appearance, ignoring their inner beauty and humanity.

1. Description 1: “When a person puts on this device he is able to listen better. It can be stressful when we use it for the first time. Everything sounds different and probably louder…”

• Name of Device: Hearing Aid

1. Description 2: “It is used as a mobility tool. It is used to detect objects in the path of a user. Its length depends upon the height of the user. It extends from the floor to the waist… white cane.”

• Name of Device: White Cane

1. Description 3: “It is a device that enables people with motor disabilities including those caused by polio. It can support deformities like ankle, knee-ankle and hip-knee… calipers / artificial limbs.”

• Name of Device: Calipers / Braces / Artificial Limbs

1. Description 4: “This device comes in various models which allow manual movement. It can be moved by the hands of the seated person or by another person… wheelchair.”

• Name of Device: Wheelchair