Himali's unforgettable moment

Himali was a student at Weligama Maha Vidyalaya studying in Grade Nine. She was the best child in her class and everyone loved her. Her father was a fisherman and her mother was a housewife. They lived in a small hut near the sea. Every evening her father went to sea to catch fish. The next morning he sells the fish to the villagers and passers-by, to earn money. He then buys their basic needs, and books for Himali.

One evening Himali went to the beach to collect some seashells for the next day's environmental studies lesson. There she saw a lot of tourists, some of them were playing with their children and some of them were swimming. She walked along the beach collecting sea shells. Then she sat under a big coconut tree. When she looked at the sky, it was an orange colour and very picturesque. While she was watching the sky she heard a cry. She looked around the beach and saw some tourists shouting. She ran towards them. Then she saw a tourist drowning in the sea. The other tourists were scared and helpless.

As she was a good swimmer, she jumped into the sea, but the waves were so strong that she had to fight with the waves to save the man's life. Bravely she started to swim towards him. He went up and down in the sea. In a few minutes, she was able to hold him and quickly brought him to shore. One of the other tourists gave him First Aid and then he recovered. He rested under the shade of a coconut tree.

As the sky turned grey, Himali went back home and told her parents what had happened. Then her father said, "I am proud of my little daughter," and he and her mother hugged her.

The next day Himali went to school, but she didn't tell anyone of the previous day's incident, because she thought they would all laugh at her. Suddenly there was an announcement for assembly in the school's main hall. All the students went to the hall and waited for the Principal. Then the Principal came and said "I have some good news this morning. Yesterday, when a tourist was drowning in the sea a little girl jumped into the sea and saved him. I am happy to say that this little girl is from our school. Her name is…" Then she announced, "Himali in Grade Nine!" Himali was very happy but she was also a little shy. The Principal asked her to come up to the stage. She walked slowly towards the stage. On the stage she received an award for bravery and the Principal said "You are the Hero of the Year!" Himali was very happy and everyone clapped and cheered.

It was an unforgettable moment for Himali. Her teachers and friends all congratulated her and wished her well.
The next morning her photograph appeared in the newspapers. She was very proud.

Himali's unforgettable moment - Short Story