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“Is there anything you want me to bring from Singapore?” Father asked Hasini as he packed his clothes into a suitcase. He was getting ready to leave for Singapore the next morning, to attend a conference. Instead of answering father's question Hasini asked a question of her own.

“But father, who will lock the doors at night when you are not at home for five days?”

“Do not worry. Grandpa and grandma will be staying with you till I come back. You know grandpa will lock the doors better than I.”

“Yes,” smiled Hasini. “Last week you forgot to lock the backdoor and in the morning mother thought a thief must have unlocked it.”

Father too laughed at the memory. “You still did not answer my question,” he reminded Hasini.

“Can you bring me a ballerina doll?” said Hasini. “A ballerina doll who is this size,” she said pointing one hand towards the ceiling and the other hand towards the floor.

“You will have to bring a giraffe, father,” giggled Marshi who was near by, reading a book.

Hasini continued as if she had not heard her elder sister. “And father please make sure the ballerina is wearing a pink tutu,” she said.

“I will try to find a ballerina for you, but I cannot make any promises. We have a very tight schedule. There might not be enough time for shopping,” explained father.

Hasini spent the next few days daydreaming about the new doll her father would bring her from Singapore.

“I am thinking of my new doll grandma. Father said he would bring me a ballerina.”

“Yes, Hasini,” said grandma. “If father does not find one, I am sure he will bring you something else.”

“I want only a ballerina,” insisted Hasini. “I do not want anything else.”

Hasini waited impatiently for father to come home from the airport on Saturday. The moment father walked through the front door she ran to him.

Before father could answer, mother took Hasini's hand and suggested Hasini should let father have a wash and a cup of tea before she asked him any questions.

Hasini looked at father's suitcases and wondered if the ballerina was inside one of them. Finally when father came to the sitting room Hasini asked him again about the ballerina.

“No, Hasini,” said father. “There was very little time for shopping. None of the shops I went to had dolls dressed like ballerinas. So I bought you something else instead.” Father opened one of the suitcases and took out a shopping bag. “This is for you.”

Hasini peeped into the bag. She saw a yellow elephant smiling at her from inside the bag. “I do not want this. I want a ballerina,” said Hasini and ran out of the room, crying.

That evening when grandpa was watching the National Geography channel on TV, he called to Hasini. “Come and watch this programme with me,” he said to Hasini.

Hasini stood near grandpa and watched two children, dressed in old, shabby clothes walking across a desert. One child was carrying a pot of water on her head. The other had some dried twigs in his hands.

“They do not have anything to eat. Their village has not received a drop of water for the past six months. They have to walk for miles to find water. They do not have toys to play with, and they do not even know who a ballerina is.”

“I am sorry, grandpa,” said Hasini recalling how she had cried when father had not brought her the doll she wanted.

She looked at the yellow elephant still sitting on the chair. She thought he looked sad even though there was a smile on his lips.

“I am sorry,” she told the elephant. “From now on I will remember there are others who are not as lucky as I am. I will be happy with what I have.”

She hugged the yellow elephant and went in search of father. “Thank you, father,” she said. “I am happy I have a beautiful yellow elephant to play with.”

- Aditha

Be kind to your domestic aides

Dear children,

All of us lead busy lives. Sometimes we have to seek the help of a domestic aid as we find it difficult to do everything all by ourselves.

Hence some of your parents too must be keeping domestic aides at your houses to get their assistance.

Do remember to treat them politely. Always remember that what they are doing is a great service. Never undermine the work they do.

Sometimes we hear occasions where domestic aides are not properly treated. There are certain masters who treat their aides in a harsh manner. Some are poorly paid and their needs are not being attended to. Their work is never appreciated.

If there is an aide at your place always be kind to him or her. Tell your parents to buy them a gift whenever they can.

Whenever there is a family party or a similar occasion be polite to offer them a dish of sweetmeat. Try not to criticise them for the slightest mistake they do. Always keep in mind that despite the payment they get, we are in debt to them because if not for their presence the workload would be too much for us.I am sure you will set an example to others by being kind to your aides.

Remember that as the popular proverb goes one can pay back the loan of gold, but one dies forever in debt to those who are kind.

Bye for now, Sanju

Annual Islamic Day of UoC	Art competition at Pradeepa hall	Grand farewell at Munawwara Junior College

The Muslim Majlis of the University of Colombo (UoC) organised their Annual Islamic Day ceremony at the R V Samaranayake auditorium recently. Here students of D S Senanayake College singing the Islamic song. Picture by Ruzaik Farook	Here children living in the Maligawatta housing scheme, Colombo participating in an art competition which was held at the Pradeepa hall recently. The competition was organized by the National Housing Development Authority under the advice of Construction Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister, Wimal Weerawansa.	Students of the Munawwara Junior College, Akkaraipattu presenting a musical item at the grand farewell of their Principal, A R A Jawath held at their School premises recently. Picture by ILM Rizan, Addalaichenai Central Corr

The Yellow Elephant

- Aditha

Be kind to your domestic aides

Dear children,

Bye for now, Sanju