Grandpa's Yellow Umbrella(Rehani Natasha Perera) Grandpas Yellow Umbrella
By Rehani Natasha Perera

Timmy and Tammy Mcmarrow were twin boys who lived in the suburbs of a big city. They were good little boys who listened to their parents and spoke to God every day. So they were loved by everyone even though they got into silly mischief now and then as little boys often do.

When they woke up smiling from ear to ear on their 8th birthday, little did they know that something yellow and something magical was just around the corner, looking for them. The sun smiled as it poured into their room, the sparrows sang and the tulips and pansies danced in tune. It was going to be a jolly day with plenty of fun and surprises; they felt it in their bones.

A party was thrown for them and many of their friends were to come. Their mother Mrs. Mcmarrow had baked a jolly 3 layered cake with plenty of pink, purple, green icing and lots of fruit. Beautifully wrapped presents were given to them, games were played and goodies eaten in handful. When everything was over and everyone was heading back home, it was Grandpa and Grandma Mcmarrow’s turn to arrive.
As every little boy or girl, Timmy and Tammy adored their Grandparents. They were kind and generous with white fluffy hair and toothless smiles that lit up their faces. They were late but they brought gifts……Or so the twins thought!

After having a cup of tea and piece of cake, they said happy birthday and left the place. The twins were confused, Oh Yes they were. Where was the gift that they had waited for? The old Mcmarrows had given them nothing, except, forgetting to take back an old yellow umbrella which stood in a corner of the kitchen.

They sighed and said good night to their smiling parents and went to bed.

They thought that was it for the day but the day was just beginning.
When the clock struck twelve, the cuckoo bird sang and the clouds fell heavy with rain. Thunder struck loud and lightening lit up the skies, but most of all a strange whirring sound filled the whole house. The twins woke up, frightened and shaken. They clung to each other in fear but as brave little boys they slowly got up to investigate the strange whirring sound.

The floors of the stairs creaked beneath them as they slowly made their way downstairs. A strange white light peeked from the kitchen and the whirring got louder as they got closer. Making sure to not make a sound they too peeked from behind the kitchen door. And that’s when they saw……
A big yellow umbrella with a golden top, turned upside down spinning in mid air. Oh that was not all; it had 2 big eyes with lashes as thick as a horse’s mane and a mouth grinning widely at THEM!

“Hello little ones,” said the umbrella. The twins caught their breath and opened their mouths to scream in fear.
“Oh dear oh dear please do not scream, my ears hurt already with the noise of this big city! I will not cause you any harm. let me introduce myself Timmy and Tammy Mcmarrow,” the umbrella said and saw the twins gaze in surprise at the mention of their names.
“I can transform myself into different things, I can show you two how to become a flower”, suddenly the big umbrella turned into a collosal yellow flower and started talking. “I can even change my color” and it made itself pink and then blue. It was all like a dream to the twins.
“Can you please stay till morning so that we can play with you”, said the twins.
“Oh yes I can” said Griselda.

So off the twins went to bed and they dreamed about playing with the umbrella, and at last the morning shot bright.
So the twins eagerly dressed themselves and rushed to the kitchen door. the old yellow umbrella stood still leaning to the kitchen door. Without even greeting their mother good morning, as they always do, they went directly to the garden with the umbrella, but everything stood still.
Tammy said, “Griselda, are you there?” But no answer was given.

Suddenly their mother called them for breakfast so they went with the umbrella and kept it near the kitchen door and while they were eating grandpa came saying that he had forgotten his umbrella and forgotten to give the twins the birthday presents and gave two small parcels and went away with the umbrella.

The twins were very sad to miss the umbrella but so keen to open the parcels. They opened the parcels and saw each twin was given a pair of socks, each printed as “it was all a dream.”

They didn’t identify the meaning in it nor did they remember the big yellow umbrella while they grew up.

As readers, what will be your conclusion? There’s enough liberty to make your own.

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