In Dragon Valley, a small carp named Ember tried to climb a tall waterfall for the very first time.
Dragon Valley is a green, misty place at the far edge of Enchanted Forest. A tall waterfall rushes down its cliffs into a clear pool below. Owl says an old story lives here: a fish that swims all the way up the falls will shine, just for a moment, like a tiny dragon.
Ember, a small orange carp, swam to the valley to try it herself. She watched the white water crash down and took a deep breath. "I think I can do it," she said, though her fins trembled a little.
Ember leaped again and again. Each time, the strong water pushed her back into the pool. Pip and Clover sat on the rocks nearby, cheering every try. "You are getting higher!" Clover called out.
On her tenth try, Ember leaped higher than ever and landed on a mossy ledge near the top. She caught her breath, then made one last jump over the final rock. A soft golden light, shaped like a tiny dragon, glowed above her before fading away.
Ember swam back down, tired but glowing with pride. "It was not about becoming a real dragon," Owl said gently. "It was about trying your best, again and again." That evening, other fish lined up for their own turn at the falls.
This story is fiction.
In the state of Colorado, in the United States, a huge bridge now helps wild animals cross a busy highway safely. The bridge crosses Interstate 25 near the town of Castle Rock. It is the largest wildlife bridge in North America, built just for animals, not cars.
Workers finished the bridge about ten months ago. It is covered with soil and plants, so it looks like a small hill stretching over the road. Since it opened, crashes between cars and animals near the bridge have dropped by 91 percent.
Elk, bears, and pronghorn now use the bridge often, along with smaller animals like rabbits and frogs. Before the bridge was built, more than a million animals were hit by cars across the whole country every year. Experts hope more bridges like this one can help in other places, too.
Source: Colorado Sun
Sapporo and Fukuoka see rain later today, while Tokyo stays cloudy and Osaka enjoys a mostly sunny, mild day.
Bring an umbrella if you are in Sapporo or Fukuoka this afternoon, and keep a light jacket handy in Tokyo and Osaka for the cool morning.
Forecast by: Japan Meteorological Agency, forecast issued October 28, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
On this day in 1969, a student at UCLA sent the first message over ARPANET, an early computer network. He tried to type "LOGIN" to a faraway computer at Stanford Research Institute, but the system crashed after only two letters arrived. A full connection worked about an hour later. Many people call this day the birth of the Internet.
Source: History.com
On this day in 1998, former astronaut John Glenn flew into space again at age 77. He rode on the space shuttle Discovery, 36 years after becoming the first American to orbit Earth. Scientists used the nine-day flight to study how space travel affects older people. Glenn became the oldest person ever to fly in space.
Source: NASA
In Japan, October 29 is Gloves Day, or Tebukuro no Hi. A glove company in Fukuoka created the day in 2010. The date comes from a wordplay on the numbers 10, 2, and 9, which can sound like the word "tebukuro," meaning gloves. The date also matches when many people start wearing warm gloves.
Source: mylifenews.net
Horoscopes are just for fun. Signs are listed by today's luck.
Overall Today is your lucky day, so share your ideas without worry.
Money Good news about money could arrive before the evening.
Love Your bright words bring a smile to someone close today.
Lucky color Lemon yellow
Lucky item a shiny bell
Overall Good luck follows you closely today, so try something new.
Money An unexpected bit of money brings a pleasant surprise.
Love Kind words from a friend warm your heart today.
Lucky color Turquoise
Lucky item a small compass
Overall An exciting idea today could turn into a fun new plan.
Money A small, careful risk today may bring a nice reward.
Love An old friend's message brings a happy, warm feeling.
Lucky color Forest green
Lucky item a neat pencil case
Overall A clear plan today helps you reach a small, happy goal.
Money A careful choice today saves you money later this week.
Love Family time tonight feels warm and full of easy laughter.
Lucky color Sand beige
Lucky item a woven basket
Overall Balance returns to your day if you rest when tired.
Money A fair trade or deal works out nicely today.
Love A warm smile says more than a long conversation today.
Lucky color Seafoam green
Lucky item a glass bottle
Overall Steady effort today brings a small, satisfying reward by evening.
Money Keep your spending simple and well planned today.
Love Honest words today strengthen a close, trusted friendship.
Lucky color Deep red
Lucky item a smooth stone
Overall A new idea today could grow into something fun later.
Money Think carefully before spending on something new today.
Love A surprising message from a friend brings a wide smile.
Lucky color Amber
Lucky item a bright ribbon
Overall Steady work today brings quiet satisfaction by the evening.
Money Save a little today; it helps you later this week.
Love Patience with a friend tonight brings a calm, happy feeling.
Lucky color Sky blue
Lucky item a blue marble
Overall Today moves a little slowly, so take small steps and be patient.
Money Hold off on big purchases today and wait until tomorrow.
Love A quiet moment with a friend feels better than a long chat.
Lucky color Steel gray
Lucky item a small notebook
Overall A calm, quiet day helps you think a few things through.
Money Keep your money plans simple and easy to follow today.
Love A gentle smile says more than many words today.
Lucky color Blush pink
Lucky item a small mirror
Overall A gentle, quiet day helps you rest and think things through.
Money Wait before buying something you do not really need.
Love Listening closely to family brings you closer together today.
Lucky color Misty blue
Lucky item a soft cushion
Overall Today feels a little slow, so be gentle with yourself.
Money Keep your money plans simple and safe today.
Love A caring moment with family warms your heart today.
Lucky color Slate blue
Lucky item a warm hat
We use do, does, and did at the start of a sentence to ask simple yes-or-no questions.
Does she like tea?
Answer: Does she like tea?
Thursday morning was cool and clear, the kind of sky that seems to stretch on forever.
Lyn walked Star down the lane toward the hotel, passing Mrs. Oda's garden on the way. The chrysanthemums were still blooming, yellow and white against the fence.
"Good morning!" Mrs. Oda called, kneeling beside several pots. "Still no word from your friend?"
"Not yet," Lyn said. "But it's only been a day. Letters take time."
Mrs. Oda smiled and snipped a small stem with a pair of garden scissors. "Here. Take this home and plant it. A new flower makes the waiting easier."
Lyn held the little cutting carefully, its white petals still fresh with dew. "Thank you. Linda will love this."
Star sniffed the stem once, sneezed, and wagged her tail anyway.
That evening, Lyn brought the cutting into the kitchen, where Linda was folding towels. "Mrs. Oda gave us this," Lyn said, holding it up.
Linda's eyes brightened. "A chrysanthemum! Let's plant it by the persimmon tree, where it gets good morning sun."
They went out together with a small trowel, Star trotting along beside them, sniffing every leaf on the way.
Linda dug a small hole, and Lyn set the cutting gently inside, patting the soil around its thin stem.
"There," Linda said, standing back to look at it. "By the time it blooms fully, maybe John will already be here."
Pinkysan watched from the veranda railing, her tail curled neatly around her paws, as if guarding the new plant from a safe distance.
"No letter today," Lyn said quietly, brushing dirt from her hands, "but tomorrow is another day."
Linda patted her shoulder. "It will come when it comes. Good things are worth waiting for."
The evening light turned soft and gold over the garden, and the new little flower stood bravely in its fresh patch of earth.
(To be continued)