Bani and the Three Crossing Lanterns

One day, Bani was invited to a party in the park, where a match of magic balls was to take place. The road led him to a wide street and a striped passage. On the other side, his favorite yellow ball was bouncing and calling: “Hurry!” But Bani remained on the sidewalk. There were three crossing lanterns at the edge, each containing part of the rule for a safe road.

The first lantern lit the word “Stop” not in letters, but in a red, motionless palm. Bani stopped not at the very edge, but a little further, where the drivers could clearly see him. He put the toy in his backpack so it wouldn't be a distraction. The cars seemed far away, but Bani knew that they could get closer faster than expected. The first lantern blinked approvingly.

The second lantern turned two mirrored eyes in different directions. Bani looked left, right and again to where the cars were coming closest. His big ears listened to the roar of engines and the bell of a bicycle. The parked van blocked part of the view, so Bani did not step out onto the road because of it. He chose a place where he could see and be seen.

The third lantern was responsible for the signal. The green man appeared only after the cars stopped, but Bani did not step automatically. He checked both sides again: the signal helps, but you still need to look for yourself. A familiar adult Stork was nearby. Bani took him by the wing, because it is safer for small travelers to cross with an adult.

They walked along the stripes calmly and straight. They didn’t run, didn’t come back for the fallen ribbon, and didn’t look at the toys. In the middle of the street, the signal began to flash, but the Stork did not order them to rush: they continued crossing at an even pace. Bani heard the road and noticed movement around. The second shore was getting closer.

Suddenly the yellow ball took off and rolled back onto the roadway. Bani’s heart jumped, his paws were about to rush after him, but he remained on the sidewalk. “No toy is more important than safety,” said the Stork. The adults stopped the movement and returned the ball only when it was safe to do so. Three lanterns flashed together: Bani made the most difficult right choice.

In the park, friends surrounded Bani and asked him to reveal the secret of the crossing. He set up a game on the chalked road: stop further from the edge, remove distractions, look and listen, wait for a signal, check again and walk calmly with an adult. Each animal went through a training transition. Even the impatient ball agreed to wait in the backpack.

After the match, Bani returned the same way. The lanterns no longer seemed magical - their clues lived in his memory. He stopped, looked, listened, waited and crossed over with the Stork. As a farewell, three lights formed into a small star. Bani understood: caution does not hinder adventures, but helps to reach them safely and return home.