In one small wonderful little town lived a family: a mum, a dad, and their little daughter Erin. The town was wonderful because nobody else lived there. There was no shop, no school, no daycares. Erin 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 groceries home. Once a week he would leave 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 socializing.
One dark evening, there was a knock at the door.
Who's there?
Mum asked in surprise.
Please open up! We're lost and can't find our way home!
A child's voice was heard.
Erin nearly fell off her chair with happiness! 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 forest and wild animals.
The guest asked.
Of course, of course, please stay! Come on, I'll show you my room. I did everything and decorated it myself.
Erin said joyfully to the girl.
The girls disappeared down the long hallway.
What's your name?
Erin asked the girl.
Mum calls me Annie.
Oh, so Anne. Can I call you Annie too?
Of course.
And that's how the girls became friends.
The adults settled comfortably in the living room. The woman told them that they actually had nowhere to go. They once lived in a big beautiful city, the woman went to work, and her daughter — Annie, went to school. But one terrible day a hurricane 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.
Erin's dad listened carefully to this frightening 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, loads of nails, and much more needed to build a new beautiful house.
Several days passed. Annie and her mum lived with Erin's family, while Dad slowly built new housing for the new residents of the tiny town.
A week passed and the new beautiful house was ready. Annie and her mum moved in and became Erin's neighbours. That's how the town grew bigger.
Cold autumn arrived. The town's new residents often visited Erin and her family. The mums shared new recipes with each other, Dad told funny stories, and the girls shared dreams about more children coming to town, and all of them playing and having fun together.
And suddenly, one beautiful sunny day, there was a knock at the door.
Who's there?
Erin'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 thunderstorm in our town, lightning struck our house and now we have nowhere to live. We ran away, and Mum and Dad were at work. We were so scared that we ran headlong wherever our eyes took us and here we are — we ran to you.
Well then, come in, stay for the night. And tomorrow I'll go look for your mum and dad, they're probably worried and looking for you.
The next day they did just that. Dad set off to find the unexpected guests' parents, while the children stayed behind to wait.
Erin'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 stopped believing we'd find our beloved children.
The children's mum cried out.
That evening everyone gathered around the table and had a real celebration. Both Annie and her mum were grateful to Erin's family, and the mum and dad of the little children who got scared by the lightning and ran from the town.
And suddenly there was a terrible roar. Everything around became pitch dark, and the frightening sound approached at the speed of light.
Everyone hide in the cellar! Open the hatch and get down quickly!
Erin's dad shouted.
Finding themselves all in the dark, cold earthen cellar, everyone could hear the house collapsing, the house where just moments ago they'd all been sitting and drinking delicious tea with biscuits. Cupboards fell, chairs flew around the rooms, dishes fell to the floor and smashed.
Several hours passed, and the roar subsided. Erin'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 hurricane had swept through and destroyed everything around.
Where will we live now?
Erin's mum asked.
Don't you worry! You helped us when we had trouble, and we won't leave you without help in your situation.
The father of the boy and girl who got lost suddenly shouted.
Annie and her mum picked 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 Erin, her mum, and her dad.
That's how the wonderful little town slowly turned into a big friendly settlement called Kindness Light.
