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Tamil· 1 min read· Memory from 2021

A School Festival

A memory shared by Stephen Charles · Vavuniya, Sri Lanka

This animated true story shares a relatable and nostalgic childhood memory of trying to sneak out of a school festival. During an "Oli Vizha" (Festival of Light) event, the lengthy prize distribution ceremony left the narrator and his friends feeling bored and restless. Eager to escape the monotony, they devised a plan to sneak out through a secret back route, narrowly avoiding a strict teacher by hiding behind a large water tank .

Their stealth mission almost ended in disaster when they slipped into an empty classroom and a friend accidentally knocked over a flower pot, creating a loud crash . Terrified that the teacher would catch and punish them, they were miraculously saved when another passing student quickly covered for them, yelling that the wind had knocked it over. Just as the boys were about to finally make their escape, the sounds of the much-anticipated drama and music began. Drawn by the entertainment, the boys—and even the strict teacher—rushed back to watch the show. The story humorously concludes with the thought that if the fun, musical events had been scheduled at the beginning, they never would have tried to sneak out in the first place.

Stephen Charles

Vavuniya, Sri Lanka

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