A shy little mole named Clay finds new friends who want to share their cozy winter home.
Clay the mole had just dug his own small tunnel under Mossy Hill, but as the days grew colder, he began to feel timid about spending the whole winter all alone underground.
One afternoon, Thistle the mouse and Pip the hedgehog were carrying dry leaves to their burrow when they spotted Clay peeking out of the opening of his tunnel. "Would you like to share our winter home?" Thistle asked gently. Clay blinked in surprise, then nodded shyly.
Together, the three friends dug a short new passage to connect Clay's tunnel with the others. They lined the walls with soft moss and armfuls of dry leaves, and Pip hung a small lantern so the underground rooms glowed with a warm, snug light.
By evening, the burrow smelled of fresh moss, and the lantern's golden glow filled every corner. Clay looked around at his new neighbors and finally smiled. "Thank you for finding me," he said softly. "Now I won't be cold, or lonely, this winter."
This story is fiction.
On November 18, 2026, NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft will become the first human-made object to travel one light-day from Earth. A light-day is the distance that light can travel in 24 hours: about 16 billion miles, or 25.9 billion kilometers.
Voyager 1 launched in 1977, almost 50 years ago, and it has been flying through space ever since. It is now so far away that a radio message takes a full day to reach it, so saying hello and getting an answer takes two days in total.
To mark the moment, NASA is inviting people around the world to join a small celebration on November 17. After sunset, people can point a flashlight or a phone light toward the sky and flash the letters V-G-R, for Voyager, in Morse code.
Source: ScienceDaily, EarthSky
Most of Japan will enjoy mild, sunny weather today, while Sapporo stays cloudy with a cooler, crisp feel.
Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka are great for outdoor plans today. In Sapporo, wear a warm jacket, since the sky will stay cloudy and cool.
Forecast by: Japan Meteorological Agency, forecast issued November 11, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
On this day, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opened to cars for the first time. At 4.3 miles long, it was the longest bridge over water in the world at that time. Workers built it in a little over three years, using three different kinds of bridge design in a single structure.
On this day, scientist Tim Berners-Lee and his colleague Robert Cailliau wrote a plan at CERN in Switzerland called "WorldWideWeb: Proposal for a HyperText Project." Their idea described linking documents together so people could browse information easily. This plan became the start of the World Wide Web we use today.
Source: CERN
On this day, Grace Kelly was born in Philadelphia, in the United States. She became a famous Hollywood actress and later married Prince Rainier III of Monaco, becoming Princess Grace. People still remember her for her films and for her elegant style.
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Horoscopes are just for fun. Signs are listed by today's luck.
Overall Today brings clear thinking and a nice stroke of luck.
Money A small piece of good news about money may arrive today.
Love Someone close will show how much they appreciate you today.
Lucky color deep teal
Lucky item a small keychain
Overall Good fortune favors you today, so take a small chance.
Money A small gift or bonus may come your way today.
Love An honest talk will bring you closer to someone special.
Lucky color wine red
Lucky item a leather wallet
Overall Your confidence will shine today, so try something new.
Money A good decision now could help you later this month.
Love Your warmth will draw people close to you today.
Lucky color golden yellow
Lucky item a bright hair clip
Overall New ideas will come easily, so keep a notebook close by.
Money A small treat is fine, but watch your budget today.
Love A fun chat with a friend will lift your mood.
Lucky color bright yellow
Lucky item a colorful pen
Overall Careful, steady effort today will pay off very soon.
Money A thoughtful budget today will help you later this week.
Love Small, kind actions will mean more than big words today.
Lucky color charcoal gray
Lucky item a tidy planner
Overall Balance will come naturally to you today, in work and rest.
Money A fair trade or deal may come your way today.
Love A calm conversation will clear up a small misunderstanding.
Lucky color powder blue
Lucky item a soft handkerchief
Overall A steady day lies ahead, with small good moments along the way.
Money Spend carefully today, and try to save a little for later.
Love A kind word to a friend will come back to you doubled.
Lucky color burnt orange
Lucky item a warm scarf
Overall Take today one task at a time, without rushing.
Money Double-check your plans before spending anything today.
Love Being honest about your feelings will help, even if it's hard.
Lucky color sky blue
Lucky item a pair of warm gloves
Overall Today may move slowly, so take things one step at a time.
Money Hold off on spending until you have thought it over.
Love A quiet moment at home will feel comforting today.
Lucky color soft silver
Lucky item a cozy blanket
Overall A calm, quiet day will suit you well today.
Money Spend only on things that truly bring you comfort.
Love Time with someone you trust will feel just right.
Lucky color sea green
Lucky item a soft pillow
Overall Plans might change today, so stay flexible and patient.
Money Avoid big purchases and stick to what you truly need.
Love Give someone a little extra space if they seem busy.
Lucky color sage green
Lucky item a small notebook
Overall Today may feel a little bumpy, so take it slowly.
Money Wait before spending on anything that is not necessary.
Love Rest and recharge before reaching out to others today.
Lucky color dusty purple
Lucky item a warm cup of cocoa
We use would to ask for things politely and to talk about things we want or imagine.
B — "Would you like...?" is a polite way to offer or ask, unlike the other short, blunt sentences.
Answer: B — "Would you like...?" is a polite way to offer or ask, unlike the other short, blunt sentences.
Thursday morning was crisp and clear. Lyn walked with Star partway to the hotel, her breath turning to small white clouds in the cold air. "Tomorrow, Star," she said, scratching the dog's ears. "Tomorrow he comes."
At the hotel, a group of students from Osaka asked Lyn about the best spots for autumn leaves nearby. She pointed them toward Nara Park, promising the colors were almost at their best. Through the window, she noticed the chrysanthemum leaves on the sill — fourteen now, one more than the day before.
When her shift ended, Lyn met Linda outside the small greengrocer near the station, just as they had planned. Baskets of fat chestnuts and deep orange persimmons lined the shop's front table. "We need enough for everyone," Linda said, filling a bag with chestnuts.
The shop owner, an old friend of Mrs. Oda's, added two extra persimmons to their bag with a smile. "For your guest," she said. "Welcome him well." Linda thanked her warmly, and they chose a long white daikon radish for the pickles before heading home.
Back at the house, Star sniffed every bag with great interest, while Pinkysan watched from the kitchen windowsill, her tail flicking at the sound of rustling paper. Linda began washing the chestnuts at once, humming quietly to herself.
Over dinner, the family went through the plan once more: chestnut rice, persimmon cake, daikon pickles, and the clear mushroom soup from the garden. "Everything is ready," Lyn said, looking at the full baskets on the counter.
On the veranda afterward, the night air felt colder than before, but no one minded. Linda looked toward the gate, the way she always did these days. "Tomorrow," she said softly, "he'll finally be here." Star gave a happy little bark, as if she understood completely. (To be continued)