Children

Sunny Stories:

The purple Vesak lantern

Every year Marshi and Hasini looked forward to the Vesak holidays. They loved to paste new tissue paper on the bamboo structures of the old Vesak lanterns father had made four years ago. Mother made glue for them called paappa by mixing flour with hot water in a bowl. She helped them paste tissue paper on the lanterns. Father took the bulbs from the box in the store room and hung them on the front wall.

In the evening after retuning from the temple he helped Marshi and Hasini to light the two lanterns.

But this year, two days before Vesak father and mother travelled to India to attend the wedding of one of father's business colleagues. Grandpa and grandma came to stay with Marshi and Hasini till father and mother returned.

The day before Vesak, Marshi and Hasini sat in their sitting room looking sad.

They remembered how they had pasted the lanterns with red and white tissue paper last year. They were planning to use purple and white paper this year. But now, without mother and father to help them there would be no lanterns to hang on the mango tree in the garden on Vesak day.

"You must not ask grandpa to climb the ladder to hang the bulbs or the lanterns" mother had warned them before she left.

"We will do all the decorations we usually do on Vesak day next month. Poson too is an important day and we can celebrate it by hanging lanterns and bulbs" promised mother.

Suddenly the doorbell rang. Aunty Sherine and Arnold were at the door. Aunty Sherine had made a chocolate biscuit pudding and brought some to give Marshi and Hasini.

While grandma talked with Aunty Sherine about India and what mother had told her about the wedding when she called that morning, Arnold walked into the sitting room.

"Hi," said Arnold. He was older than Marshi and Hasini and usually did not take much notice of them. But today he was feeling sorry for them because he realized they must be missing their parents.

"What are you doing for Vesak?" he asked.

"Nothing," said Marshi.

"We will go to the temple in the evening," said Hasini.

"Is that all? What about the lanterns and the bulbs? Won't you hang them in the garden like last year?"

"Without father and mother we cannot make the lanterns."

"And we cannot hang them all by ourselves." They explained.

"Are the lanterns in the store room?" Arnold asked.

"Yes. The bulbs too."

"Let us find them. Let us paste new tissue paper on the lanterns," said Arnold.

"But you are a Christian." said Marshi. "Do you know how to make Vesak lanterns?"

"Sure. I can do anything" he assured her.

"Who will hang them on the mango tree?" Hasini wanted to know.

"We will ask my father to help us" Arnold had a solution to all their problems.

Grandma made the paappa for them. Grandpa agreed to walk the short distance to uncle Lakshman's store to bring tissue paper. "Purple and white. Purple and white. Grandpa please do not forget purple and white" chanted Hasini. "Bring candles as well" reminded Grandma.

After many mishaps, including the moment when Kalu decided to lap up the bowl of paappa, they got one lantern ready.

"This will do," said Arnold.

"Better than nothing" agreed Marshi.

Hasini simply covered her mouth with her hand and giggled.

Arnold kept a blob of white paste on Hasini's nose. "This is the most beautiful lantern in the world," he said in a stern voice. "Yes. It is" agreed Marshi and Hasini. They did not want to make Arnold angry. Not when he had the bowl of paappa in his hands.

On Vesak day, when they returned from the temple with grandma and grandpa, uncle Alex took father's ladder out of the garage and climbed it to hang the bulbs on the wall and the lantern on the mango tree.

"It looks beautiful from here," said Arnold standing on his front doorstep. Marshi and Hasini walked towards Arnold. Through the open doorway Marshi saw a candle lit in front of the statue of Jesus. She recalled the glow of the clay lamps she had seen that evening at the temple. She realized there was no difference between the light cast by the lamp and the light cast by the candle. Both lights dispelled darkness and showed you the right path. Every religion gives one clear message thought Marshi to herself. The message of love.

"I told you I can do anything" Arnold reminded them. "I am sure our lantern is the most beautiful purple lantern in the world."

"It is a bit lopsided" said Marshi.

"The frills are uneven" said Hasini.

"But...yes, it is the most beautiful lantern in the world" they agreed with Arnold.

The wind rustled the white tissue paper as if to say "Yes".

- Aditha
[email protected]

Agreeable friends!

I talked to you about being kind to animals sometime ago. I think it is important to write about it once again. I am sure some of you may be having pets at home. Have you ever spent some time to observe their behaviour? If you do, you will realize how interesting it is to find out that each of them has particular behaviour patterns. Cats normally love to have a long nap after each meal. Have you ever heard that a cat is labeled as 'self-centered' because it will not move around your legs once its tummy is filled.

Dogs are the opposite. They are always ready to protect you, and are least bothered about meals. Anyway , we all dearly love both cats and dogs as they have been excellent domestic animals for years. However much 'self-centered' a cat may be, it is such a lovable little creature whom most of you would love to keep as a pet. How is your relationship with squirrels? Amidst your busy schedule find some time to maintain a feeding table for them in your garden or at a safe place in your house. It is a pleasure to observe how they nibble their 'meals.' Some of you may be rearing cows at home to get milk. Calves are lovable and their behaviour is so adorable. Have you ever observed the innocent beauty of their eyes? Never be ungrateful to make your cow's plight end in the merciless hands of a butcher. I am sure any kind hearted person will not do that. Find some time to observe how these animals behave. Each of them has an innocent story to tell you. As George Eliot had said "animals are such agreeable friends. They ask no questions, they pass no criticisms." Bye for now,

Sanju : [email protected]

An ideal student

An ideal student is always good
In all his learning activities
First and last he or she will be
An obedient and honest student
In the school not only to his or her class teacher
Or subject teacher but to all teachers
And to the principal.
He or she should aim at learning something
From each teacher he or she meets anywhere
And he or she should apply the moral lessons
Learnt in school in his or her life till he or she dies.

Risma Farwin Meeadh
Vision International School
Kandy

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