In one small, peculiar little town lived a family: mum, dad and their little daughter Olivia. The town was peculiar because no one else lived there. There was no shop, no school, no kindergartens. Olivia studied at home with her mum: learning letters and numbers, dancing to songs on old records.
Mum took care of the house: cooking meals, creating a cosy home. Dad brought food into the house. Once a week he'd venture beyond the town limits and walk to the neighbouring village, where there was just one shop. That's how the family lived, without friends and without company.
One dark evening, there was a knock at the door.
Who's there?
Mum asked, surprised.
Please open up! We're lost and can't find our way home!
A child's voice called out.
Olivia nearly fell off her chair with excitement! She couldn't believe she'd get to chat with other children, learn something new and interesting, play fun games with them and share her dreams.
The door opened and on the other side stood two people — a little girl about six years old and a woman — her mum.
We're lost and can't find our way home. Could we stay with you for the night? There's nothing around but dense bush and wild animals.
The visitor asked.
Of course, of course, please stay! Come on, I'll show you my room, I did everything and set it up myself.
Olivia said excitedly to the girl.
The girls disappeared down the long hallway.
What's your name?
Olivia asked the girl.
Mum calls me Sophie.
Right, so Sophie it is. Can I call you Sophie too?
Of course.
And that's how the girls became friends.
The adults settled comfortably in the lounge room. The woman told them that they actually had nowhere to go. Once they'd lived in a big, beautiful city, the woman went to work, and her daughter — Sophie — went to school. But one terrible day a cyclone swept into the city and destroyed everything in its path. The houses were blown away by the terrible wind and now they had nowhere to live.
Olivia's dad listened carefully to this awful story. He offered the woman and her daughter to stay the night, and in the morning announced that he wanted to help them. Opening his old shed, Dad began pulling out tools: hammers, a saw, heaps of nails and much more that was needed to build a new, beautiful house.
Several days passed, Sophie and her mum lived with Olivia's family, whilst Dad gradually built new accommodation for the new residents of the tiny town.
A week passed and the new, beautiful house was ready. Sophie and her mum moved in and began living next door to Olivia. That's how the town grew bigger.
Cold autumn arrived. The new residents of the town often visited Olivia and her family. The mums shared new recipes with each other, Dad told funny stories, and the girls shared dreams about how more children would come to town, and they'd all play and have fun together.
And suddenly, one beautiful sunny day, there was a knock at the door.
Who's there?
Olivia's father asked.
Please open up.
A frightened boy's voice was heard.
Dad hurried to open the door and saw before him a very small boy and a little girl.
Where are your parents?
We got lost. There was a terrible storm in our town, lightning struck our house and now we've got nowhere to live. We ran away, and Mum and Dad were at work. We were so scared that we ran flat out wherever our eyes took us and here we are — we've run to you.
Well then, come in, stay the night. And tomorrow I'll go and look for your mum and dad, they're probably worried sick and looking for you.
The next day, that's what they did. Dad set off to find the unexpected guests' parents, whilst the children stayed behind to wait.
Olivia's dad walked for a long time, left in the morning, and only reached the children's town by evening. There he quickly found the boy and girl's parents and brought them to his house.
Thank you so much! What would we have done without you? We'd already lost hope of finding our beloved children.
The children's mum cried out.
That evening everyone gathered around the table and had a proper celebration. Both Sophie and her mum were grateful to Olivia's family, and the mum and dad of the little children who'd been frightened by the lightning and run away from town.
And suddenly there was a terrible roar. Everything around became pitch black, and the frightening sound approached at the speed of light.
Everyone hide in the cellar! Open the hatch and get down quickly!
Olivia's dad shouted.
Finding themselves all in the dark, cold underground cellar, everyone could hear the house collapsing, the house where moments ago they'd all been sitting drinking lovely tea with biscuits. Cupboards toppled, chairs flew around the rooms, crockery fell to the floor and smashed.
Several hours passed, and the roar subsided. Olivia's dad was the first to emerge from the cellar. Finding himself outside, he couldn't believe his eyes — their house was completely destroyed. Not a single wall remained intact. Such a terrible cyclone had swept through and destroyed everything around.
Where will we live now?
Olivia's mum asked.
Don't you worry! You helped us when disaster struck us, and we won't leave you without help in your situation.
The father of the boy and girl who'd got lost suddenly called out.
Sophie and her mum took up the idea too. And within a few days, through their own efforts and as a united team, a new beautiful house was built for Olivia, her mum and dad.
And so the peculiar little town gradually transformed into a big, friendly settlement called Kindness Light.
