Mr. Lamb is an old man. He lives in a big house with and has a big garden of his own. His doors are always open and every one is welcomed there. He spends most of his time in reading books or sitting in his garden. While serving in the army his own leg was blown off in a bomb explosion. Now he has a tin leg. Mr. Lamb has reconciled himself with his physical impairment. Children call him ‘Lamey Lamb’ but he is not at all disturbed. His attitude towards life is positive.

Derry is a boy of fourteen year. He has an ugly face and it has been burnt by acid. People hate him. Derry gets into his garden not to steal or pick up apples. He enters in it there because he likes the place and thinks it to be empty. He enters the garden by climbing over the garden wall though the gate is always open. 

Derry has developed a negative attitude towards life. He has got inferiority complex in his mind. He thinks people despise and hate him on account of his ugly face. So he wants seclusion. Even his parents are worried about Derry. He has got dejected and disappointed from life. In the beginning he thinks that Mr. Lamb is like other people of the world. But to his utter perplexion, he finds him a different man on the earth. By coming in contact with Mr. Lamb, there comes a sea-change in the view point of Derry. He infuses in him zeal and the way to understand the world. He helps in creating self-confidence to overcome his physical ugliness. He motivates him to think positively on life, people and things. In the end Derry promises to return though his mother compels him not to go there. Derry is deeply shocked on seeing Mr. Lamb killed. He weeps bitterly and says ‘I have come’. He realises him only friend from the world. Thus, Mr. Lamb removes all his negativity from the mind of Derry.

Derry is a young boy of fourteen who has developed inferiority complex due to his burnt face. So he has withdrawn himself and avoids the company of people. He is unable to save himself from the tantalising remarks of the public. He wants loneliness and seclusion.

Considering the garden to be an empty space, Derry climbs over the wall and enters. Mr. Lamb speaks to him and Derry feels apologetic. Derry assures that he has not come to steal. Lamb asks him to stay. Derry tells that people are afraid of him. Even he is afraid of himself on seeing his face in the mirror. Seeing him troubled, Mr. Lamb tells that inspite of his one tin leg, he is happy. In the streets, kids call him ‘Lamey Lamb’ but he never minds. He enjoys sitting in the sun and reading the books. He is always cheerful and tries to comfort him. All come to his garden for apples and pears. They are not afraid of him. These words create confidence in Derry and he is drawn towards him. Mr. Lamb tells that flowers and weeds are one and the same thing for him. Instead of considering himself impaired he has got two legs, ears, eyes, hands, a brain and a tongue. He can do better than the rest. Mr. Lamb teaches Derry the way to go on with the world. All these facts draw Derry towards Mr. Lamb.

Mr. Lamb is a considerate man who has a positive view towards life, people and things. Inspite of his one leg, we cannot see any sign of seclusion, loneliness, disappointment and dejection in life. Kids call him ‘Lamey-Lamb but he does not mind. According to him world exists every where.

To overcome his loneliness and disappointment, he sits in the sun and reads books. His garden, gate and heart is open for the people. Whosoever comes in, he is always welcome. He has friends everywhere. People and children come to him for apples and pears. Everybody knows him and his gate is always open. They come and sit there. He tells that he prepares toffee with honey for the children. There is nothing that does not interest him. He thinks that life means growing. He enjoys people and the buzzing of the bees in his garden. He rather feels amused at everything. Hence, the signs of loneliness and disappointment are quite untouched from him.