Every Day Can Not Be A Feast of Lanterns
by Katie V.
Once in ancient China there was a boy named Huihu. He had just been to his first feast of lanterns. Since it was the year of the dragon, he saw many dragon lanterns that glowed from inside. He had marveled at the silk robes with embroidered flowers on the back, incense with pungent smells and red banners with New Year greetings that were hung up everywhere!
When he came home, he was disappointed that his village was no- where near as interesting as it was at the feast of lanterns! For days he moped. His family and friends, of whom he had many, got sad themselves just being around him. Even in calligraphy class all he did was write the word upset!
He finally decided to talk with his mother. She told him to go into the heart of the village and find a man named Lao Lao. So after school he went to Lao Lao's house. The house was tiny and drab with only one room and only little hints of decoration but the garden was grand! It had benches, fishponds, a pavilion for contemplation and little bridges so your feet would not get wet when you went to look at the fish. Huihu knocked on the door and Lao Lao let him in.
Huihu was invited to tea and rice with Lao Lao in his garden. Huihu told his story and Lao Lao nodded and said, "Every Day Can Not Be A Feast Of Lanterns. I get my happiness from my beautiful singing bird. You must find something to love and you will feel much better."
As Huihu was walking home he remembered the beautiful singing bird with the purple throat. He decided that he would walk around his garden and find a special place to call his own. As soon as he got home he spotted the young plum tree fresh with fruit. "That will be my place!" he said. He picked a juicy plum and slid down to the base of the tree. As he sat he decided to pick five of the plums for Lao Lao. The next day when he brought them, Lao Lao was very happy with the sweet taste of the plums.
When Huihu got home, he realized how kind Lao Lao had been and he visited him every day for many years. Their followers were friends, too.
And now that it has come to you, try to be kind to everyone, because you never know when you will meet a Lao Lao descendant. If you do this, every day will seem like a feast of lanterns.