Damru the Donkey didn’t take a bath everyday because he was terrified of water. He would wash his face and comb his hair to look fresh. 

His mother tried her best to make him change his ways, but Damru could not get over the fear of water.

Damru lived in Champakvan, ruled by King Shersingh the Lion. The King had launched a Cleanliness Mission, and all schools were talking about why everyone needed to bathe daily, and keep their homes and surroundings clean. 

King Shersingh said cleanliness was the best way to stay healthy and disease free.

Damru’s teachers also explained to their students what they can do to keep themselves clean. 

One day, when the children were going to start lunch, Lily the Giraffe pulled out a small bottle from her school bag. She squeezed two drops from it and rubbed them into her hands. A lovely smell filled the air.

“What’s that thing you rubbed into your hands?” asked Damru, curiously. “It smells so good!”

“It’s called a hand sanitiser,” said Lily.

“What happens when you use it?” asked Damru.

“Sanitisers are used to keep hands germ-free,” said Lily, pleased to be showing off. “That way, you don’t need to wash your hands before eating. Just two drops are enough to clean your hands!”

“This sanitiser is a wonderful thing. I can stay clean without touching water and Mummy won’t scold me,” thought Damru.

The next morning, Damru opened his piggy bank without telling his mother. On his way back from school, he bought eight bottles of sanitiser and hid them in the bathroom. 

Then he went to his mother and said, “Mummy, you’re always complaining that I don’t bathe. I’m going to take a bath right now. I’ll have lunch after that!”

Damru’s mother was happy to hear that. Damru had been in the bathroom for over 10 minutes when Mummy heard him shout, “Help! Help!”

She rushed in and found Damru hopping around in pain. There were red rashes all over his body. On the floor were eight bottles of sanitiser. Damru’s mother didn’t know what to do. She called Doctor Jumbo the Elephant, who rushed to the house.

“What happened?” he asked as soon as he entered. Then he saw Damru and the bottles of sanitiser and understood.

“There is nothing to worry about,” he told Damru’s mother. “He has rubbed sanitiser all over his body and that has caused the rash. I have given him an injection. He will be fine in a little while.”

Damru’s mother was relieved. “But where did the sanitiser come from? I don’t keep it at home!”

Damru began crying. “Mummy, I bought it. I took money from the piggy bank in the morning. I thought I could stay clean without using water!”

The doctor shook his head. “Damru, these sanitisers contain alcohol, which helps to kill germs. They also have chemicals. You are supposed to use just a drop or two to keep your hands clean. You used so much sanitiser all over your body and that harmed your sensitive skin. There’s nothing like water to keep your body clean. Baths keep you healthy and happy!”

Damru realised how dangerous it was to use too much of anything. He promised his mother that he would try to overcome his fear of bathing and never take money to buy anything without telling her.