*A Funny Accident*

    Joseph and his sister, Peggy, were playing a TV game in their bedroom. They were primary three student and primary one student respectively. Both of them had a round and short figure, like an aubergine. But Joseph was a little bit taller than Peggy. Besides, Joseph’s hair was brown while Peggy’s hair was rose-red. Both of them were very lovely. They had white and smooth skin, red cheeks and big eyes. When they were concentrating on the game, their mother came back home suddenly. They immediately ended the game and turned off the television. Then they quickly returned to their desk pretending to do their homework very hard.

    “My kids, have you finished the homework yet?” their mother, Karen, came in and asked.
    “Almost. But the homework is very difficult and it takes much time.” Joseph replied.
   Peggy raised her hand and said in her childish voice, “Yes, I agree with Joseph!”

    Karen smiled. She then took out a square yellow box slowly from a shopping bag and put the box on the desk which her children were sitting by. The box was as large as a hand. She opened the box and took out a twinkling crystal ball from it cautiously. It was as large as an orange.

   Joseph and Peggy stared at it with widely opened eyes. They screamed, “Wow! It is very beautiful!”
   “Yeah, of course,” Karen smiled, “it is very expensive.”

    “Ringgggg, ringgggg” the telephone rang suddenly. Karen went out of the room to answer the phone. The little kids were still staring at the crystal ball.

    “It is really very beautiful! Will it be much more beautiful if we put some colours on it?” Joseph suggested.
   “Good idea!” Peggy exclaimed.

    They then took out a set of crayons and drew a small rainbow on the crystal ball. They felt very exciting. Then they drew small trees, tiny hills and small flowers on the ball.

    However, when they stopped drawing, they frowned. “Oh, it is very ugly!” Joseph said.
   Peggy agreed, “Yes! My hands are so dirty with the colours! I don’t like them!”
   “Let’s wipe away the colours, Peggy!”
   “Yes! Use my handkerchief to do that."

   Then Peggy took out her Minna No Tabo handkerchief from her school bag. Peggy wiped the ball with it. However, the colours were still there. Joseph then wiped the ball harder and harder. But they still could not get the colours away. They were so scared. When they were desperately cleansing the ball, Karen came in.

    Joseph immediately held the crystal ball and hid it behind him. Peggy seated closely to Joseph in order not to let her mother discover the ugly coloured ball. Karen asked, “What are you doing kids? Still appreciating the crystal ball?” The little kids shook their heads simultaneously. Her mother felt strange. She was going to ask them another question, but the phone rang again. “Oh no, I think it is the same person again.” Karen signed and went to answer the phone.

   Joseph and Peggy heaved a sigh of relief. When Joseph was going to put the crystal ball back onto the desk, the ball slipped out of his hand and hit the floor. A small “bang” sound was given out and the crystal ball split into pieces. The little kids were agape with frightening. Just at this moment, Karen came in.

    “Kids, I’m back! What are you doing?” Karen smiled.

   Joseph and Peggy only looked at their mother but did not say a word. Karen felt strange.

   She looked at the desk and asked, “Where is the crystal ball?”

    The little kids still kept silent and they lowered their heads with fear. Looking around, Karen finally noticed that there were glass-pieces on the floor and she realized that the crystal ball had broken!

    She then screamed, “Oh, you two had broken the crystal ball!”

    The little kids nodded at the same time. Karen went out of the room immediately.

    Joseph and Peggy raised their heads after Karen leaving the room.

    “Oh, Mum must be very angry!” Peggy cried.
   “Yes, I think she is now going to take something to beat and punish us, like what she did when we had done something wrong in the past.” Joseph murmured and there were tears in his eyes.

    A minute later, Karen came into the room again. She was carrying a broom and a dustpan. She then swept the glass-pieces into the dustpan carefully. Joseph and Peggy were confused with their mother’s action. After sweeping, Karen went out again.

    “What is Mum doing?” Peggy asked with puzzle.
   “Sweeping? I don’t know.” Joseph felt puzzled too.

    About two minutes, Karen came back.

    She smiled at the little kids and said, “You have done a great job!”

    The two kids were so shocked with what Karen said. They looked at each other with confusion.

    Karen then explained, “The crystal ball can bring fortune to where it breaks. So I took it home and wanted to break it, but the two phone calls stopped me to do that. So you two kids have done a great job and have brought fortune to our home!”

   After explaining, Karen hugged them. Joseph and Peggy were in their mother’s arms. They felt released and they giggled. Both of them felt that their mother’s arms were very warm at that time.