On a misty autumn evening, a tiny fairy named Echo floats above the quiet valley and answers the animals with her soft, glowing voice.
Rusty the fox cub and Hazel the little rabbit walked to the valley beyond Mossy Hill. The leaves were red and gold, and a thin mist lay over the grass.
"Hello!" Rusty called, standing up on his back legs. Then something bright rose into the sky. It was a tiny fairy with shining wings, and she was singing his word back to him in a sweet, clear voice.
"My name is Echo," she said. Glowing rings of light spread out around her, and small musical notes floated inside them. "I live near the old gray stone. I like to give your voice back to you, a little softer and a little prettier."
Hazel waved her paws and called, "Thank you, Echo!" The fairy turned in a slow circle, and the valley sang the words back three times, each one more gentle than the last.
Owl, who was passing by, smiled. "A kind voice always comes back to you," he said. Rusty and Hazel stayed until the stars came out, and Echo sang them a quiet song for the walk home.
This story is fiction.
On Nu'utele, a small island in Samoa, the forest is growing back and birds are nesting again. People removed the rats and wild pigs that lived there. Pigs dig up the soil, and this stopped young plants from growing.
The work took place from March 2025 to May 2026. Teams made 12 trips to the island and spent more than 130 days there. Samoa's government, several conservation groups, and people from the nearby area of Aleipata worked together.
Now small native trees are spreading across the forest floor. Some are already knee-high. Scientists found nests of the shy ground dove and the Samoan starling, and they even found a kind of land crab that nobody had recorded on the island before.
The good news is also for people. Villagers can now grow giant taro, a big root vegetable, in places where crops failed before.
Source: Good News Network
Saturday brings rain to Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka, while Sapporo stays dry and mostly cloudy.
Take an umbrella if you go out in Tokyo, Osaka, or Fukuoka. It is warm in Fukuoka, so wear light clothes.
Forecast by: Japan Meteorological Agency, forecast issued October 23, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
On this day, the United Nations Charter came into force after enough countries agreed to it. The Charter is the group's founding paper. It was signed in San Francisco in June 1945. Every year, October 24 is United Nations Day, a day to think about peace and working together.
Source: United Nations
On this day, a V-2 rocket flew from White Sands in New Mexico, in the United States. It carried a camera. The rocket went up about 65 miles (105 km), and the camera took the first photo of Earth from outer space. The camera was broken when the rocket landed, but the film was safe.
Source: Smithsonian Magazine, NASA
On this day, a group of friends met in Sheffield, England, and started Sheffield Football Club. Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest wrote its rules. Today the club is known as the oldest football club in the world that is still playing.
Horoscopes are just for fun. Signs are listed by today's luck.
Overall This is your best day this week, so enjoy every happy moment.
Money A good choice today makes your savings feel safe.
Love Someone close to you gives you a warm smile.
Lucky color Rose pink
Lucky item A small ribbon
Overall A happy surprise comes your way, so keep your eyes open today.
Money A small gift or a tip helps your money grow a little.
Love You and a friend share a big laugh this afternoon.
Lucky color Moss green
Lucky item A cozy sock
Overall A short walk gives you a fresh idea and a happy mood.
Money You find a good price on something you need.
Love A new friend shares your favorite hobby.
Lucky color Sky blue
Lucky item A pair of sneakers
Overall You feel brave today, so try the thing you have been putting off.
Money A little planning helps you save for something fun.
Love A friend is glad to see you and tells you so.
Lucky color Golden yellow
Lucky item A bright badge
Overall A fun idea comes to you, and a friend likes it too.
Money Share a cost with a friend and both of you save.
Love A funny story brings you and a friend closer.
Lucky color Turquoise
Lucky item A marker pen
Overall Your good ideas come easily today, so write them down.
Money Choose a useful thing over a shiny thing today.
Love Listening well makes someone feel very happy.
Lucky color Lemon yellow
Lucky item A sticky note
Overall A calm day helps you finish a task you started last week.
Money Be careful with small buys, because they add up.
Love A shared snack with a friend makes you feel close.
Lucky color Plum purple
Lucky item A red pen
Overall A tidy desk helps you think clearly and finish your work.
Money Count your coins and enjoy a small, planned treat.
Love A quiet talk with a classmate brings you closer.
Lucky color Mint green
Lucky item A ruler
Overall Take it easy today, and a small chore will feel quite nice.
Money Keep your wallet closed and enjoy what you already have.
Love A kind text to a friend makes both of you smile.
Lucky color Coral red
Lucky item A pencil
Overall You feel a little sleepy today, so take short breaks.
Money Be careful not to lose small things like coins.
Love Music with someone you love makes the day better.
Lucky color Lavender
Lucky item Headphones
Overall Things move a little slowly today, so be patient with yourself.
Money Skip the shopping today and save for a better day.
Love A small thank-you note cheers up someone you know.
Lucky color Charcoal gray
Lucky item A thick book
Overall The day feels slow, so rest and drink something warm.
Money Wait one more day before you buy something new.
Love Time with your family makes the evening feel soft and warm.
Lucky color Cream white
Lucky item A warm cup
Use many with things you can count, much with things you cannot count, and a lot of with both.
B. Homework is uncountable, so we use much, not many.
Answer: B. Homework is uncountable, so we use much, not many.
On Saturday morning, the sun was low and the air was cool. Lyn picked up the envelope by the door.
"Do you want to come with me, Star?" she asked.
Star was already standing at the door with her tail curled high. Pinkysan watched from the step and gave one small, sleepy blink.
"Take your scarf," Linda called from the kitchen. "It is colder than it looks."
Lyn wrapped her scarf twice around her neck, and they set off along the quiet road. Dry leaves crunched under Star's paws. Crunch, crunch, crunch.
At the corner, the red mailbox stood in the morning light. Lyn held the letter up and read the address once more.
"Here we go," she whispered. She slid the envelope into the slot, and it dropped inside with a soft click.
Star gave one short bark, as if to say, "Good job!"
On the way home, they passed a garden full of orange persimmons. A woman was picking them into a basket. She waved, and Lyn waved back.
"Those look sweet," Lyn said. Star sniffed the air and wagged her tail.
"Would you like one?" the woman asked. She gave Lyn two soft persimmons and smiled at Star. "One for you, and one for your family."
"Thank you so much!" Lyn said. She put the persimmons in her pocket, and they felt warm and heavy, like two small lanterns.
When they got home, Linda had tea ready on the veranda. "Did it go in?" she asked.
"It did," Lyn said. "Now we wait."
"Waiting is the hard part," Linda said with a laugh. She poured the tea. "I keep wondering what small gift he is bringing from Kyoto."
"Maybe sweets," said Lyn. "Or tea."
Pinkysan jumped onto the rail and looked at them as if she knew the answer and was not going to tell.
"She has a secret," Lyn whispered, and they both laughed.
(To be continued)