STORIES FOR YOUNG ONES - V

Sharing some stories I have been telling my three grandchildren

WHY EVENING COMES SO LATE

Image courtesy: Canva 

Krishna looked at his grandmother with his beautiful big eyes.

“When can I see the new baby, please?” he asked.

His Aunt had brought him a little sister, Mom had told him.

“When Evening comes,” Naani said with a smile.

“Oh! Where is Evening now? When will it come?” Krishna wanted to know.

Naani pointed to the clock.

“You know how to read the time on the clock, right?” she asked.

Krishna gave a big nod, making his curly black hair bounce.

“When the small hand touches 5, Evening will come,” his grandmother replied.

He was satisfied, but only for a few minutes.

He glanced again at Naani.

So she asked him if he would like to know why Evening comes so late.

Krishna quickly sat beside her, eager to know.

Naani told him it was all because of the Sun. It is the reason why Evening arrives so late. 

The Sun likes to linger on, and does not let Evening into their big blue playground, the sky.

Of course, being winter, the Sun is too lazy to get up early in the morning.

Krishna giggled.

“Yes, it is just like you,” Naani tickled him, and he gave a little peal of laughter.

Naani continued: “Evening also wants a big playground. It keeps telling the Sun to go so that it can play for a long time.

“But when the Sun does go away, it gets cold quickly and Evening runs home. As soon as Evening leaves the sky, Night comes running.”

“And Night is so black that we need lights to see?” asked the wise Krishna, all of six years old.

“Indeed, Night is the strongest child which plays in the sky. It does not get tired easily, so it keeps playing for a long time,” she explained.

“Then after a long rest, Morning gets up from its sleep,” Naani added.

Krishna stretched out his arms and legs lazily. “Like this?”

“Just so,” Naani replied.

“Now Morning tells Night to go and rest, and let it play with the nice, warm Sun.

“Do you know the Sun is very lazy in the winter? It does not want to get up so early. So Morning blows white, woolly clouds on it to wake it up.

“Remember when you went to school and it was very cold, Krishna? You said you were walking in the clouds because they had covered the roads and the sky!” Naani said.

“Yes, so Morning blows the clouds like this, in big huffs and puffs? Like the Big Bad Wolf?” Krishna puffed out his chubby cheeks.

“Yes! How did you know about huff and puff?” she pretended to be surprised.

“I saw it in the video of the Three Little Pigs story,” Krishna said proudly. “But when does the Sun come out then, Naani?”

“Well, Morning has to huff and puff and also tickle the Sun,” Naani continued, covering Krishna’s eyes with her hands.

“The Sun opens one eye, so there is some light,” she said, removing her hand from his left eye. “Then it opens its other eye, and there is more sunlight,” she added as she uncovered his right eye.

“When it becomes very bright, Morning’s eyes start hurting, and she says good-bye to the Sun.

“Afternoon is waiting, and rushes into their blue playground. Then the Sun and Afternoon spend a long time together.

“They are best friends,” Naani concluded.

“So now the Sun is playing with its best friend?” Krishna asked.

“Yes, it is, child,” she answered.

Krishna decided he would not disturb the two friends.

He would take a small nap instead.

He hoped Evening would be playing in the sky by the time he woke up.

Then he would go to the hospital to see the new baby, he thought in excitement.

Holding his grandmother’s hand, he was soon fast asleep.