It was a Friday. My father and mother went to office and my brother and I went to school. My grandfather was not well and he was in hospital. Everyday, early in the morning, my parents went to see Seeya on their way to work. On this day also they went to see him.

Seeya was unconscious for one month and had been in hospital for almost two months. He was well looked after by the hospital staff and Milton our servant who stayed with him for
everything.

When school was over, I came back in the school van. Then my mother said that Seeya had passed away that morning at 10.30 a.m. I cried and cried and when my brother came home I told him, and he started crying too.

I cannot forget that day because my grandfather did lots of things for me and my family when he was well. He used to wait at the gate until I came after school. I know that he waited for hours, for my brother and me. This was an unforgettable day in my life.

How I spent my holidays

By Shadhaapathi Sridharan (10 years), Methodist College

I whistled happily on my way home after school. It was the last day of school and I had a one week break before me. I spent the first two days of my holidays staying with my grandparents.

I took evening walks with them and talked to them about my school. I also did some gardening for them. I was glad that they enjoyed my company.

The rest of my holiday was spent with my friends. We exchanged stamps and played table-tennis. Sometimes we gathered at my home to do our holiday homework.

Time seemed to pass quickly. Soon I had to go back to school. However, I enjoyed the holidays very much.

My birthday

By Azeer Aslam (Grade 3), St. Peter's College

My birthday was on June 14, 2009. We had a small party. My birthday cake was a small cake. My cousin gave me a satellite radio and my father's mother gave me a Spiderman robot. When finally everyone came, we started to cut the cake. Everyone sang 'Happy Birthday', to me. Then I was eight years old.

Then we started to have dinner. I had my favourite dish – Spaghetti – baked in the oven. After we had finished dinner, my cousins and I had real fun. After that they left and went home. That was the best birthday I ever had.

My favourite singer

By Nihara Wijeratne (11 years), St. Bridget's Convent

My favourite singer is Vanessa Hudgens. Her father's name is Greg Hudgens and her mother's name is Gina Guangco. Her full name is Vanessa Anne Hudgens. She was born on December 14, 1988. She is American.

Her favourite jeans are Frankie B. Jeans. Her favourite car is the Porsche Carerra GT. Her favourite singers are Alicia Keys and Celine Dion. Her favourite subject is Science. Her favourite music is Rock and her favourite song to perform is "Lets Dance".

She is a good singer and actress. In High School Musical her part was Gabriella Montaz. She is a fan of horror movies.

She is sweet and cute. She is pretty, with black hair. Most of the children are fond of her. She is popular because of High School Musical. She has a good voice. Even if she is smiling or crying, she is so pretty. I really like her.

Myself

By Jeffany Vonhagt (8 years), Sujatha Vidyalaya

My name is Jeffany Vonhagt. I am eight years old. I live in Panadura. I have one sister and no brothers. My school is Sujatha Vidyalaya. I am in Grade Three. My hobby is collecting stamps,
sea-shells and feathers.

I like to eat fruits very much. My favourite drink is apple juice. I like to play with my sister. My ambition is to be a teacher one day.

The bundle of sticks

By S. Dayalini (Grade 7) Sun City Campus, Vavuniya

There was once a man who had a quarrelsome family. He had tried in many ways to teach them not to quarrel but had failed. One day he called his sons together. He made them lay a bundle of sticks before him. He tied a strong cord firmly around the bundle of sticks.

He told his sons, one after the other, to take up the bundle and break it. They all tried, but they could not break the bundle. Then the father untied the cord and gave his sons the sticks to break, one by one.

This they did with the greatest ease. Then said the father, "you are like the sticks my sons. As long as you stand by each other, you are a match for all your enemies. When you quarrel and separate you are easily beaten.”

'Unity is strength'.

My birthday wish

By Kasun Dahanayake (Grade 5), Rahula Primary College, Matara

From the day I was born what I mostly heard was all about the war, people fighting with each other with no unity, differences between races, the armed forces carrying weapons, parents
screaming for the loss of their children and desolate children like me.

Daily there was some blood shedding, pain of mind and tears to someone. Our little creations were always based on weapons, fights, war-based games. We were always living in fear that we will lose our parents or whether we will be killed or harmed.

At last, with the dawn of my 10th birthday, we are at peace and all the fears that I had, have gone away. Now I can enjoy and join hands with my Tamil, Muslim, Burgher and Sinhala brothers and sisters and go around the country.

My birthday wish is that we will make our little world a beautiful and friendly place to live in.

The happiest day of my life

By Mohamed Munsif (11 years), Ikra International School, Puttalam

This day was Saturday April 9, 2009. On this day my elder brother Mufthas went to Riyadh, S.A. He got a job as a P.C. Technician at Al-Jarir Book Store.

We went with our family to Katunayake Airport to send off my brother. We all went by van at 6.30 a.m. My brother entered from the airport at 12 noon by Saudi flight to Saudi Arabia.

After that we visited our relations in Negombo. We had lunch in Negombo. At 2.30 p.m. we went to Kaleliya to visit the Ladies Arabic College where my mother studies. At 7 p.m. we returned home.
At the same time my brother arrived at Riyadh Airport and called by telephone and informed us of his safe journey.

That was the happiest day of my life.

My pet

By Menu Mandira (Grade 3), Ceylinco Sussex College, Kurunegala

My pet is a dog. It's four years old. It is very beautiful. It is playing with me. I like to play with it. It likes to drink milk. It loves me. I also love it.

Michael Jackson

By Subodhi Weerasekara (Grade 3), Mahasen Central College, Bakamoona

Michael Jackson was born in America. He was born in a black family. He was a black man. His family was poor.

He started his singing career at a small age. Though he was poor he improved his singing abilities very well. When he was young, people called him Pop King. Everyone likes his songs.

He died at the age of 50. When the news spread that he was dead, the fans of Michael Jackson started crying. Though he died, he will remain alive in the musical world.