Sunny Stories:

No More Secrets

During the school holidays Sandun went to Nishan's house every afternoon to play cricket. Romesh too, who lived on the same street as Sandun and Nishan joined them. They played the whole afternoon in Nishan's backyard and stopped only when the sun decided to go home. The bat belonged to Nishan but the green tennis ball belonged to Sandun.

Sudu with the tennis ball

Every evening after the game of cricket Sandun walked home carrying the tennis ball in his hands. Every now and then he threw the ball high up in the air and waited right under the ball, ready to catch it when it started to fall to the ground. Sandun pretended he was a player in the National Cricket team who was going to get an important wicket by taking a difficult catch.

Two days ago, as he walked home from Nishan's house, Sandun threw the ball high in the air. But today, instead of falling right into Sandun's hands the ball fell on the wall of the house by the side of the road. Sandun watched with horror as the ball bounced from the wall and hit one of the front windows of the house. The glass on the window broke into pieces, making a loud noise. The ball fell back onto the bed of anthuriums under the window.

Sandun held his breath and waited. He thought uncle Sumathi or aunty Shama, would run out of the house and start to shout at him for breaking their window. To his surprise no one came out except for Sudu, uncle Sumathi's dog who dived into the anthurium plot and retrieved Sandun's tennis ball. Sandun jumped onto the wall and whispered to the dog.

“Good dog. Give me the ball.”

But Sudu growled at Sandun. It kept the ball in its mouth and looked at Sandun as if telling Sandun “come and get it if you can.”

Sandun decided to forget his tennis ball. He jumped down from the wall and ran all the way home. He realized he would have got into trouble if the owners of the house had seen his ball breaking the glass on the window. He felt sad about what had happened but was too scared to tell uncle Sumathi it was he who had broken the window.

When he got home he decided to tell his mother about the broken window.

“Mother,” said Sandun.

“Did you enjoy your game of cricket?” asked mother.

“Yes, mother...” Sandun started to tell mother about the window.

“You are thirsty” mother completed the sentence for Sandun, because this was what he always said after he came home from playing cricket.

“Yes, mother,” said Sandun, realizing he did not have the courage to tell her how the ball had shattered the glass on uncle Sumathi's window. He decided to stay quiet because, after all, no one except the white dog knew about it.

That night Sandun could not sleep. He knew it was wrong not to have admitted he broke the window. Finally when he fell asleep he dreamt the dog was chasing him, still carrying the tennis ball in its mouth.

The next morning, when they were having breakfast, Sandun decided to tell his parents his secret. Sandun felt ashamed of what he had done. He was scared his parents would be angry with him, but he knew he had to tell them.

After explaining what had happened to father and mother, Sandun said, “I will give all the money in my piggy bank so that uncle Sumathi can mend his window with the money.”

Father and mother smiled. “I do not think the money you have will be enough to buy a new glass pane,” said father. “I will give you the balance, but first you must go and tell uncle Sumathi what happened.”

With a thumping heart Sandun rang the doorbell of uncle Sumathi's house. He looked at the broken window and felt guilty. He hoped uncle Sumathi would not be too angry with him. When uncle Sumathi heard how the ball had accidently bounced on the wall and crashed into the window, he smiled. He ruffled Sandun's hair and said “That is fine son. It was brave of you to have told me you are the one who did it.” He laughed and added “I can send your father the bill after I get the window fixed.”

“Woof, woof” said Sudu. “Sudu's got something to give you” said uncle Sumathi. Sudu dropped the tennis ball at Sandun's feet.

“Thank you, Sudu,” said Sandun. “I am sorry I ran away yesterday. From now on, I will be brave and own up when I make a mistake.”

-Aditha

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Respect your teachers!

Dear children,

Hope you are enjoying your August school holidays. For nearly one month you will be missing your friends and teachers at school. Your teachers must be preparing study notes for lectures in the new term.I know you appreciate the efforts made by your teachers to brighten your future.

Teaching is a noble profession. As the popular anonymous saying goes teaching creates all other professions. You might have read the life stories of eminent people who have commented on the impact their beloved teachers had on their lives. There are great teachers who are dedicated to their profession and their greatest pleasure in life is to see their students doing well in the future making maximum use of their education.

Today with the advancement of technology there are several new devices from which you can gain knowledge. Internet (E-learning) is the most prominent one among them.

However the role of the teacher is still important and cannot be replaced with any technological advancement.

As computer tycoon Bill Gates (Microsoft Chairman) himself has stated “Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.”

Bye for now,

Sanju:- [email protected]

My best friend

1 My best friend is Saveen Silva.
2 He is eight years old.
3 He is in grade three.
4 He is a very good friend.
5 He studies at St.Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa.
6 He likes to eat buns.
7 He likes to drink milk.
8 His favourite colour is blue.
9 His favourite subject is English.
10 He likes to play cricket.
11 His ambition is to become a doctor.
12 I love my best friend very much.
13 I wish him a bright future.

I P Nirmal Perera, grade 3B, St.Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa