Cheeku the Rabbit had recently returned from Canada. Nothing from Champakvan appealed to him any longer.

Whenever someone talked to him, he started praising Canada. He would say, “The cities in Canada are large and beautiful. The streets are so clean. The food is delicious. The government services are excellent.”

One day Cheeku met his friend Jumpy the Monkey in the park. Jumpy asked, “Cheeku, you have been to Canada. New Year is near. Tell us some unique ways to celebrate New Year and have fun.”

“Definitely, Jumpy. This New Year, let’s do something to make Champakvan light up as brightly as Canada.”

“Cheeku, I am talking about celebrating New Year’s Eve, not about transforming Champakvan into Canada,” Jumpy teased.

“Jumpy, why do you have such small thoughts? Think big like the Canadians. Only when you think big will you be able to achieve bigger things.”

Jumpy thought that ever since Cheeku had returned from Canada, he had been behaving strangely. It was time to teach him a lesson.

After some thought, Jumpy said, “So tell me. What do you think should be done on New Year’s Eve?”

Cheeku said, “Come, Jumpy. I have a big idea. Let’s go to the lake and discuss it. I will tell you what we can do.”

Jumpy went along. 

Upon reaching the lake, Cheeku said, “Imagine if we began constructing a dam on the lake at New Year! It would be so beneficial for everyone.”

Jumpy realised that Cheeku was going to spoil the New Year celebrations with his big plans.

What will we animals do with a dam? The Canadians seem to have taken over Cheeku. He is bent on transforming Champakvan into Canada. I have to do something about this, Jumpy thought.

Jumpy pretended to agree and said, “You have such brilliant ideas! We never thought of this. There are so many benefits of a dam. It gives electricity, and it helps with conservation of water and fishing too.”

While they were talking, others noticed them and began joining in. Gina the Giraffe, Blacky the Bear and Jumbo the Elephant were curious to know what Jumpy and Cheeku were talking about.

Cheeku said, “Jumpy, these are the usual benefits of a dam. Think out of the box. Let’s do something different, something big! Like the Canadians.”

Jumpy was confused. He said, “Cheeku, I cannot think beyond these ideas. Why don’t you tell us more?”

Delighted to hear this, Cheeku answered arrogantly, “Jumpy, I have seen many water parks and swimming pools in Canada. Both adults and children enjoy them. We should think of something like that. A small dam on the lake could be quite helpful to us.”

Jumpy was scratching his head. The others, too, stood there clueless. They had arrived late and were unable to understand what was going on. 

Suddenly, Jumpy thought of an idea and said, “The Canadians would dive into these swimming pools from large diving boards, wouldn’t they?”

Cheeku replied with pride, “Yes, of course. Why not? I also learned how to dive from a diving board there.” But then he ended up mocking Champakvan. “But I know, Jumpy. You won’t be able to dive from a diving board into a swimming pool. There aren’t any pools around here.”

Jumpy’s friends were sad to hear this, but he had a plan. He said, “Cheeku, for New Year, why don’t you teach us how to dive using a diving board? The hill above the lake can be the diving board, and the lake can be the swimming pool. Unlike us, you have returned from Canada, so it might be easier for you.”

Cheeku was very happy to be praised. He was filled with energy. He threw his shirt off and waved it in the air like a hero and then, without any further thought, dived right into the water.

While basking in the praise, he had forgotten that a lake and a swimming pool are not the same. He crashed into the lake. The water was icy cold. Swimming was difficult, yet he struggled on.

Jumpy and his friends were laughing at him from the lakeside. “He was so full of himself. Canada is like this … Canada is like that. Now let him enjoy a Canadian swimming pool in the lake!”

Suddenly, Cheeku seemed to be drowning in the lake. Jumpy and his friends were worried. But Cheeku came out of the water after some time. He was shivering, and all of them thought that Cheeku’s Canada craze was finally over.

Jumpy handed Cheeku his shirt and said, “Cheeku, we are off to make some arrangements for New Year’s Eve. You can continue planning to build a dam. You think big like the Canadians. We have our feet on the ground.”

Saying so, Jumpy and his friends walked ahead. Jumpy was sure Cheeku had learnt his lesson and given up on his Canada craze.

Cheeku stopped them and said, “Happy New Year, dear friends. I forgot to tell you something.”

“What is it?” all of them asked.

“The swimming pools in Canada have hot water instead of cold. We need to do that here as well.”

After hearing this, Jumpy and his friends ran away. They realised that Cheeku’s Canada craze hadn’t gone away. They were afraid he would begin another tale.

Cheeku stood there smiling as he watched them go.