Question

Summary of keeping it from harold

Answer 1

Mr and Mrs Bramble were immensely proud of their son Harold. Harold was ten years old, a prodigy and an exceptional child by all standards. An intellectual, he won prizes in competitions. He was very classy and so superior that even his parents developed a complex. Harold was a model of excellent behaviour and he respected his parents a lot. Mr Bramble was a professional boxer and had been proud of his fame but ever since Harold was born, he had kept this as a secret. Harold was told that his father was a commercial traveller. Mr Bramble who had thrived on his feats in the boxing ring, trembled to see his name in print now. Both Mr and Mrs Bramble were secretly a little afraid of their son and did not wish to fall in his esteem. Mr Bramble was already thirty-one years old and he had decided to have his last boxing match and then retire. A week away, Bill Bramble was scheduled to have his last fight, the twenty-round contest with American Murphy at the National Sporting Club, for which he was training at the White Hart down the road.
Mrs Bramble sends Harold for a walk but she is surprised to see her husband and her brother, Major Percy Stokes in the doorway. She is shocked to know that Bill has decided not to fight and there is lot of discussion regarding his decision with Percy Stokes. Mrs Bramble makes it clear that this step was unacceptable to her, even if she did not like her husband’s profession. Bill Bramble was supposed to win five hundred pounds, and one hundred and twenty, even if he lost. This money was very much needed to cater to Harold’s education. The trainer, Jerry Fisher, enters at this juncture and he is also shocked to discover that Bill has decided to back out at the eleventh hour.
Jerry begs, pleads, cries and tempts Bill but he is stead fast in his decision because this fight will be covered by all newspapers and Harold will discover this secret. Tempers are running high, and at this critical moment, Harold makes his entry. Mr Jerry Fisher feels cheated, he wants his revenge. So he spills over the entire story to Harold, despite all opposition. Bill feels let down in front of his son and tells him frankly that he was not a man of wrath but just a professional boxer and he is withdrawing from his last match. Harold who had been watching all, suddenly surprises everyone. He is angry with his parents for hiding this secret but the content of his speech takes everyone’s breath away. Harold reveals that he was betting his pocket money on the defeat of Jimmy Murphy and his friends would have been awefully proud of him, had they known that his father was ‘Young Porky’. He even requests for a photograph of his father to impress his friends. This talk encourages Jerry Fischer and Bill also goes to complete his training. Harold reverts back to playing games with his mother and continues with his affectionate chat.

Answer 2

Keeping it from Harold is a story written by PG Wodehouse. It is about how Mr and Mrs Bramble hide Bill's profession from Harold. They don't want to tell him that Bill is a professional boxer because they think Harold is a gifted child and shouldn't be associated with a sport not meant for the gentry.
The story revolves around how Bill decides to withdraw from the twenty round contest with American Murphy at the National Sporting Club. Although he has been training hard for this one, Bill is too afraid to fight as he will be in the news and Harold will find out about him. His trainer, Jerry Fisher does all that he can to persuade Bill to fight. Mrs Bramble too is upset to hear that Bill has decided to withdraw as she thinks about the prize money they would have received (if Bill won) and how it will help to fund Harold's education.
When the three are arguing, Harold enters the scene. Feeling cheated, Jerry tells Harold about his father's profession. Everyone thinks that Harold will hate his father for being a fighter. However, much to everyone's surprise, Harold complains to Bill that if he doesn't fight, Harold will lose his pocket money that he has betted on the match. He tells them that his friend at school will stop bullying him if they know that his father is Young Porky.
Harold requests for a photograph of his father to impress his friends. This talk encourages Bill to go and complete his training.