9 years and below
My favourite memory
One cold, misty night, the wind was gushing through the trees. Our walk along the lagoon was stopped by two passengers in a boat.
“Want a boat ride?” they asked. Before I could say, “No thanks,” my parents shouted, “Why not,” and jumped into the boat with all of us. “But Daddy, the water is too deep and Mummy, it’s too dark out there,” I tried to tell them but, drrrr… the boat started its journey along the lagoon.
The waves kept moving splish, splash! For a moment I felt like I was in a dragon’s cave.
Suddenly I hear it. Flop! Yes, I saw something jump. Flop! Something jumped right into the boat. “Got you!” cried the two passengers behind me. I peeped in and to my amazement I saw fish jumping up and down. “We’re catching fish for breakfast darling!” the passengers called out.
Fancy catching fish like that!!
Suddenly the boat took a turn. I held on tight to the boat. Wow! For the first time I saw the lagoon in its full form. So huge, so deep, so beautiful!
That boat ride was my best memory ever!
Madheeha Miftha (Grade 4)
Methodist College, Colombo 3
10 – 12 years
A fun trip to the beach
Once, I went to the Wellawatte beach with my cousins and family. I have a great habit of collecting seashells. I have a lot of shells now in my home. My cousins and I had a sandcastle competition where the person who wins the competition would get the seashells that I had collected the last time and painted. I had to work hard on the sandcastle, to keep my shells safely with me. I decorated my sandcastle with shells all around and a small flag at the top with ‘The Castle of Magic Shells.’ I won the competition and got to keep my shells safely with me.
A short while later, our stomachs were grumbling so we changed into dry clothes and had a snack. Our family watched the sun set before we went home.
Tamara Chand (11 years)
Belvoir College Int., Colombo 5
13 – 15 years
Unity is Strength
‘Unity is Strength’ is a wise old saying that that signifies the importance of unity. Unity is the word for togetherness. It is considered as a country’s most powerful element for success. The unity of a country is very much essential for its socio-economic development.
Unity gives us the strength to face difficult situations without becoming weak, either physically or mentally. It is proved that a united approach always lead to success. Staying united is the key to build strong relationships and a strong society. A number of proverbs have been written and a good deal of quotes, have emphasized the importance of unity.
‘United we stand, divided we fall’, ‘Where there is unity there is always victory’, ‘When spiders unite, they can tie down a lion’, ‘All for one and one for all’, are all great sayings by the wise.
A society can never do well without unity. Man has to depend on his friends, family and neighbours. Thus it is very important for unity to exist amongst them. Birds and animals also show a wonderful sense of unity. Ants though very small, when they unite they form a strong army. You cannot break a bundle of sticks but how easy it is to break them all one by one!
Accordingly, unity has become a crucial fact for the present society.
Nufla Nufair (13 years)
Thihariya Islamic Int. School
