As his mother bled from a thorn scratch, Isuru cried. "Mother, if I hadn’t wasted our money, we could afford medicine."
Heartbroken, Amara did not beat him. Instead, she walked into the jungle (walaya) to collect firewood. A wild elephant charged at her. Isuru heard her scream. For the first time in his life, he ran toward danger, not away. He grabbed a flaming torch and scared the elephant away.
Amara smiled. "But you saved my life. That is better than gold."