I’m taking part in the #FallWritingFrenzy contest which is hosted by the wonderful Kaitlyn Sanchez and Lydia Lukidis. The photo which spoke to me was the Diwali one at the end, because being Indian, fall has always meant that special time of the year, the festival of lights–Diwali! So here’s a little story I wrote for the kiddies. Maybe I’ll turn this into a picture book! I hope you enjoy it.
***
Mr. Cuddlywuddles was gone. And on the day before Diwali! Leela’s favorite day was going to be the worst ever.
“Try to remember where you last put Mr. Cuddywuddles,” Ma said.
But all Leela could think of was his comforting softness that took the scary out of bedtime. Fresh hot tears ran down her cheeks.
Ma was making laddoos–Leela’s favorite. The house looked magical with string lights and marigold flowers, but Leela waited by the door, in case someone came by to return Mr. Cuddlywuddles.
In the evening, Ma would tell her the usual Diwali story–how Rama defeated Ravana and people lit thousands of diyas to light Rama’s way home.
Leela jumped up, picked up all the diyas she could hold. She laid them in a row from the driveway to the door. She lit them with tealight candles–so Mr. Cuddlywuddles could find his way home.
She waited and waited and fell asleep.
The next morning, something soft and fuzzy brushed her cheek.
The diyas had worked! Mr. Cuddlywuddles was back!
He looked so clean, like new, but Ma had probably washed him.
She hugged him and danced around the room. “Happy Diwali, Mr. Cuddlywuddles!”
***
