When Mrs Lim asked who would look after Nibbles, the class hamster, over the holidays, Wei Jie's hand shot up before anyone else's.

"I'll take the very best care of him," he promised proudly, imagining how impressed everyone would be.

For the first few days, Wei Jie fed Nibbles faithfully. But soon, cartoons and computer games filled his afternoons, and the little cage was pushed further and further into a dusty corner of his room.

Then, one quiet morning, he noticed that Nibbles had not touched his food and lay curled up, unmoving, in the corner. Wei Jie's stomach twisted with guilt. He had made a promise, and he had broken it.

That very afternoon, he cleaned the cage, refilled the water bottle, and gently coaxed Nibbles to nibble a slice of carrot. Slowly, over the week, the little hamster grew lively again.

When school reopened, Wei Jie returned Nibbles safe and well — and he had learned that a promise is only worth as much as the effort you are willing to put into keeping it.