Short story: Lila the Little Lantern

In a quiet village nestled between green hills, the nights were long and very dark. But in the middle of the village lived a small, bright lantern named Lila. She was not the biggest, and her flame was only a flicker, but she dreamed of lighting up the entire village one day.

Every evening, Lila watched as the larger lanterns were taken by the villagers to light up streets and homes. She stayed behind, hanging quietly on a hook in the shed. “Maybe I’m just too small,” she whispered sadly to herself.

One stormy night, as thunder boomed and the wind howled, all the power in the village went out. Darkness spread everywhere. The big lanterns, soaked by rain, had all gone out. People stumbled in the dark, worried and scared.

“Isn’t there any light left?” cried a little boy named Timo.

Just then, Timo’s grandmother remembered Lila. “There’s one little lantern in the shed,” she said. Timo ran out and found her, gently holding her up. “Please help us, Lila,” he whispered.

Lila’s heart glowed. Her tiny flame flickered to life, brighter than ever before. As Timo carried her through the village, the warm glow from Lila lit up the paths. People gathered around her, smiling and cheering. She was small, but she gave just the light they needed.

That night, Lila didn’t just light the way—she lit up everyone’s hearts.

From that day on, Lila was never left in the shed again. She became the village’s special lantern—the one that proved you don’t need to be big to shine bright.

Kids and Health

Why do I need to wash my hands?

“Did you wash your hands?” How many times did you hear that today? Probably a lot. But why are adults so hung up on hand washing? Why are they so in love with lather?

Why is hand washing so important?

Washing your hands is the best way to stop germs from spreading. Think about all of the things that you touched today — from the telephone to the toilet. Maybe you blew your nose in a tissue and then went outside to dig around the dirt.

Whatever you did today, you came into contact with germs. It’s easy for a germ on your hand to end up in your mouth. Think about how many foods you eat with your hands.

You can’t wear rubber gloves all day long, but you can wash your hands so those germs don’t get a chance to make you or someone else sick.

When should I wash my hands?

So when are the best times to wash your hands?

· when your hands are dirty

· before eating or touching food (like if you’re helping cook or bake, for example)

· after using the bathroom

· after blowing your nose or coughing

· after touching pets or other animals

· after playing outside

· before and after visiting a sick relative or friend

What’s the best way to wash my hands?

Now you have the when and the why of hand washing. But did you know that a lot of people don’t know how to get their paws perfectly clean?

The next time you’re told to step up to the sink and scrub up, remember these handy hints:

· Use warm or cold (not hot) water when you wash your hands.

· Use whatever soap you like. Some soaps come in cool shapes and colors or smell nice, but whatever kind gets you scrubbing is the kind you should use. Antibacterial soaps are OK to use, but regular soap works fine.

· Work up some lather on both sides of your hands (front and back!), your wrists, and between your fingers. Don’t forget to wash around your nails. This is one place germs like to hide.

· Wash for about 10 to 15 seconds — about how long it takes to sing “Happy Birthday.” (Sing it quickly two times or just once if you go nice and slow.)

· Rinse and dry well with a clean towel.

Quiz

1. Which Nigerian state is famous for the Argungu Fishing Festival?
2. What is the name of Nigeria’s national football team?
3. Who is the author of the novel Things Fall Apart?
4. What natural resource is found in large quantities in the Niger Delta?
5. What is the capital of Kwara State?
6. Which Nigerian musician is popularly called “Mummy GO”?
7. What is the color of Nigeria’s Army uniform?

Answers:

1. Kebbi State 2. Super Eagles 3. Chinua Achebe 4. Crude oil 5. Ilorin 6. Evangelist Funmilayo Adebayo 7. Green Did You Know?
2. The Nile is the longest river in the world.
3. Nigeria’s Nollywood is the second-largest movie industry by volume.
4. Some frogs can freeze without dying.
5. The first storey building in Nigeria is located in Badagry, Lagos.
6. The Great Wall of China can be seen from space with difficulty, contrary to popular belief.
7. The human body has 206 bones.
8. Nigeria’s currency, the Naira, was introduced in 1973. Riddles
9. What has legs but cannot walk?
10. What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?
11. The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?
12. What gets wetter the more it dries?
13. What has one eye but cannot see?
14. If you drop me, I’m sure to crack, but give me a smile and I’ll always smile back. What am I?
15. What is always in front of you but can’t be seen?

Answers:

1. A table 2. The letter “M” 3. Footsteps 4. A towel 5. A needle 6. A mirror 7. The future