One warm afternoon, rain falls while the sun still shines, and a little parade of foxes in fine robes crosses the meadow under a bright rainbow.
The sky turned strange around noon. The sun stayed bright, but soft rain began to fall anyway, each drop catching the light like a tiny jewel. A wide rainbow arched over the meadow, and Pip stopped in the middle of the path to stare at it.
"Look!" whispered Clover, pointing toward the tall grass. A line of foxes in silky robes was walking slowly across the meadow. Two foxes led the way with small paper lanterns, and a young fox behind them held a red umbrella over a smaller fox in a white robe.
A squirrel, a rabbit, and a young raccoon peeked out from the ferns, holding very still so they would not disturb the quiet procession.
"It is a fox wedding," said Owl, landing gently beside them. "They say foxes only hold their weddings during a sunshine rain like this, when the sun and the rain come together."
"Why today?" asked Pip. "Nobody quite knows," said Owl. "Far away, people have other names for this kind of rain, like a monkey's wedding."
The foxes passed under the rainbow and disappeared into the trees. The rain stopped, and the rainbow slowly faded. Pip and Clover smiled at what they had seen, then hurried home to tell Nutmeg all about it.
This story is fiction.
Scientists have named a new penguin species for the first time in more than 100 years. They call it Pygoscelis kerguelensis. It lives near the Kerguelen Islands, a remote group of islands in the Southern Ocean, not far from Antarctica.
For a long time, people thought these penguins were just gentoo penguins, a common type found in the area. But an international team of scientists studied gentoo penguins from ten different colonies around the world. They looked closely at body size, calls, and DNA.
The scientists found that gentoo penguins are not just one group. They are really four separate species, and one of them had never been given its own name before. Researchers from five continents worked together on the study, which was published in the journal Communications Biology earlier this year.
Learning the true number of penguin species can help experts protect each group in the right way, since different penguin groups can face different risks in their home waters.
Source: WBUR, Here & Now
Tuesday is bright and dry in Sapporo, while Osaka has a high chance of rain and Tokyo and Fukuoka stay mostly cloudy.
An umbrella is a good idea in Osaka today. In Sapporo, the sky stays clear, so light clothes are enough there.
Forecast by: Japan Meteorological Agency, forecast issued October 19, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
On this day, Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Sydney Opera House in Australia. The building, famous for its white, shell-shaped roofs, took many years to build. Today it is one of the most famous buildings in the world.
Source: History.com
The Monterey Bay Aquarium opened in California on this day, inside a building that used to be a fish factory. It was the first aquarium to show a living kelp forest, with tall underwater plants swaying like a real ocean garden.
Source: Britannica
The Return of the King, the third book in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings series, was published in the United Kingdom on this day. It finished the story that millions of readers around the world still enjoy today.
Source: Tolkien Gateway
Horoscopes are just for fun. Signs are listed by today's luck.
Overall This is your best day this week, so enjoy every bright moment.
Money A pleasant surprise brightens your money today.
Love Warm laughter with people you trust fills your whole day.
Lucky color Deep plum
Lucky item A velvet pouch
Overall This is a lucky day, so say yes to a new idea.
Money Good news about money arrives earlier than you expect.
Love Family time brings extra warmth to your evening.
Lucky color Pearl white
Lucky item A soft cushion
Overall A fresh idea excites you today, so write it down quickly.
Money A lucky bit of good news brightens your money today.
Love An honest talk brings you closer to someone you trust.
Lucky color Seaglass blue
Lucky item A small shell charm
Overall A cheerful surprise lifts your mood sometime this afternoon.
Money A fair deal today makes you feel good about spending.
Love An old friend's message makes your whole day brighter.
Lucky color Sky blue
Lucky item A striped scarf
Overall A balanced day helps you finish an old task at last.
Money A smart little plan helps your savings grow today.
Love Someone close offers a gentle compliment this evening.
Lucky color Lavender
Lucky item A small mirror
Overall Steady work today brings a small, satisfying result by evening.
Money A careful choice today keeps your savings nice and safe.
Love A calm chat over tea warms your heart tonight.
Lucky color Moss green
Lucky item A warm teacup
Overall A busy morning turns into a calm, easy afternoon.
Money Compare prices twice before you buy something today.
Love A kind word to a friend comes back to you warmly.
Lucky color Stone gray
Lucky item A small checklist
Overall A quiet, steady day is good for finishing small chores.
Money A simple budget today helps you avoid an unplanned cost.
Love A short call feels warmer than a text message today.
Lucky color Chestnut brown
Lucky item A leather bookmark
Overall A normal day goes smoothly if you keep your plans simple.
Money Small costs add up today, so check your wallet once.
Love A short message from a friend brings a quiet smile.
Lucky color Burnt orange
Lucky item A pocket notebook
Overall Today feels a little slow, so take one small step at a time.
Money Save your coins today and enjoy something you already have.
Love Listen closely, and a quiet friend may open up to you.
Lucky color Turquoise
Lucky item A travel journal
Overall A gentle, slow day is best spent on something you enjoy.
Money Avoid a big purchase today and wait a little longer.
Love A soft song or story brings comfort to your evening.
Lucky color Seafoam green
Lucky item A cozy blanket
Overall Today moves slowly, so rest and save your energy for tomorrow.
Money Hold off on big spending and wait for a better day.
Love A quiet evening alone feels better than going out tonight.
Lucky color Slate gray
Lucky item A soft blanket
We use since and for with the present perfect to say how long something has continued.
B. "Five years" is a length of time, so we use for, not since.
Answer: B. "Five years" is a length of time, so we use for, not since.
Tuesday morning was cool and clear, with just a hint of the warm sunshine rain that had passed through overnight.
"Don't forget the tea shop," Linda called from the kitchen as Lyn tied her shoes by the door.
"I won't," Lyn said, grabbing her bag. "It's right on my way back from the hotel."
Star trotted after her to the gate, tail wagging, as if she wanted to come along and help with the errand too.
"Not today, Star," Lyn laughed, scratching behind her ears. "Guard the house instead."
The hotel was busy with a tour group checking in, and the morning passed in a blur of suitcases and city maps. By the time Lyn's shift ended, the sky had cleared completely, and the streets smelled fresh from the earlier rain.
The little tea shop near the hotel had a bell over the door that rang softly as Lyn stepped inside. The owner, an older woman with silver hair, looked up and smiled.
"Back again so soon?" she asked. "What can I get you today?"
"Hojicha, please," Lyn said. "The roasted one. We're almost out, and we have a guest coming in November who really likes it."
The owner reached for a tin on the high shelf and shook it gently. "You're in luck. I just got a fresh batch in yesterday."
She measured out a generous bag and handed it over with a small paper fan as a gift. "For the warm days we still have left," she said kindly.
Lyn thanked her and hurried home, the warm, toasty smell of the tea leaves drifting from the bag the whole way.
"Got it!" she called out, holding up the bag as she stepped through the door.
Linda looked up from her list on the kitchen table and crossed off another line with a happy little flourish. "Futon, blanket, tea... just rice left now."
"That's an easy one," Lyn said, setting the bag down carefully. "We can pick some up this weekend."
Pinkysan wandered over to sniff the bag with great interest, then sneezed once and walked away, clearly unimpressed by roasted tea leaves.
That evening, as they sat on the veranda with a pot of the new tea between them, Linda glanced at the calendar. "Still no letter from John," she said softly. "I wonder when we'll hear from him next."
"Soon, I think," Lyn said, watching the steam rise gently into the cool evening air. "Soon."
(To be continued)