When we grow up, life gets complicated and some things that brought us joy, happiness and peace start fading away little by little. Most of our giggles, laughter and freedom stick with our childhood. Stepping forward in life journey means we are slowly departing from childhood. Even so, we all have some memories, and incidents that are capable of keeping our inner child alive. They have power to keep the aroma of the good old days around us.
That evening I was returning home from the academy. My busy schedule always made me angry, impatient and senseless. I laughed and talked rarely because I had much more to think and do.
I was on my way alone. Years ago this road made me cheerful because with each step that I took forward I knew that the most comfortable place in the whole universe; home, is at the end of this road. Eventually, today I’m on the same road but with a heavy heart remembering the workload at home which expects my arrival.
I passed several kids on my way, who were screaming their lungs out. There was hardly any vehicles on the road, making it a great place for children to play. Their screams almost made deaf.
“Why are the schools still closed?” I asked myself, knowing the answer very well.
The crisis in the country made them play more instead of studying. The same crisis made me work more instead of relaxing, which I needed the most. How unfair!
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I sighed and kept walking. In front of me was the high ground which always made me tired and sweaty while walking through it. I had my eyes set on my feet, so I wouldn’t see how long I have to walk. 

Suddenly, I was pushed backwards and I almost fell on the road. “What was that?” I couldn’t imagine. Within a moment I started on my feet and looked for the ‘thing’ which bumped into me.

It was one of those screaming boys. He was laughing too except screaming. He passed me and ran back to join his friends even without apologizing. 

All the limits of my anger fell apart. I turned back and walked toward the group of kids while a lot of rude words popped at the edge of my tongue. I wanted so badly to pull that boy’s ear.

Even when a person burning with anger heading toward them, they didn’t see me. All of them were pointing fingers at the sky and screaming, laughing in excitement. What was so important that they even forgot to apologize and even notice me. I stopped and looked above following their glances.

It was a kite!

 A small one made out of a blue and white striped polythene bag. Yet it took the attention of the entire group. A little above that, there was a red one and there was a green one too.

Suddenly the sky was full of kites. Large ones, small ones in different shapes and colors. All of them were floating in the sky joyfully, freely. The ones which were flying very high in the sky; near to heaven, seemed like black dots.

I couldn’t move a finger. I was rooted to the ground. And I was looking at the kites like a maniac. In the next moment, the aroma of my little days was around me. I saw me as a kid running up and down this road with a kite in my hand, surrounded by friends. My happiness and enthusiasm were the same as these kids’ today. At that time a kite could carry all my worries away.

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“Hey! Can I join you?” I heard my voice of mine speaking. “I can help your kite to reach the top of the sky.” 

At first, they looked at me with doubtful faces and then they gave me the ball of yarn.

“Here,” they screamed. “Help us to fly our kite higher than that green one.” 

Then I understood. It was a competition between two groups. I wondered where the other group was. Neither I could see them nor hear them. Only the kite was there.

I took the yarn and ran to the top of the high ground. This time it didn’t make me tired. The kite flew higher, and kids scream again. I handed them the yarn back but didn’t leave. We flew the kite together. 

Time flew with the kites. Finally, I headed back home at dusk, laughing and screaming about our victory in the kite competition, promising the kids to join them again tomorrow. By the time I reached home, a bright smile was on my lips and amazingly I was with a light heart after a long time.


Sathini Sasmini Weerasinghe

1st year

Department of Linguistics

Faculty of Humanities