Abigail learns about Hankies

Little Abigail wasn't feeling her best. Her nose felt like a leaky tap, going sniff, sniff, and sniff all day long! Her kind Mummy knelt beside her and said gently, "My dear Abigail, to keep those sniffles away from your hands, always keep a soft hanky with you. Use it to wipe your nose whenever you need to, okay?"

Abigail nodded slowly and then carefully folded the hanky, ready to keep it safe.

During those sniffly days, Abigail and her clean hanky were always together. It was like her little friend, going everywhere she went to keep her nose happy and clean.

Soon, her cold went away, her nose felt tickly no more, and she could run and play with easy breaths again.

"Look, Mummy!" Abigail exclaimed, pointing to her now clear nose. "My nose is all better!"

Mummy smiled, her eyes twinkling. She was so happy to see her little girl feeling well again.

Sunday morning arrived, the special day for going to church. Later that morning, while Mummy smoothed out their outfits with the warm iron, Abigail noticed two perfectly folded hankies – one snowy white, and beside it, a lovely pink one with flower pictures.

"Mummy," Abigail asked, looking a little puzzled. "Why are you ironing hankies? Do you have a cold?"

A soft laugh escaped Mummy's lips. She understood perfectly why Abigail was asking. In her little mind, hankies were only for sniffly noses.

"Well, my sweet," Mummy said gently, "we don't just need a hanky when we have a cold."

Abigail looked at her mother, her face still showing she was very puzzled.

"Imagine, sweetie," Mummy continued, "If you accidentally spill juice on your pretty dress – a hanky can help dab it clean! Or if a bench in church has a bit of dust, a hanky can help wipe it away. Or if you're playing and happen to fall, a hanky can gently help you clean yourself up."

As Mummy spoke, she gently demonstrated each use with the hanky in her hand, dabbing as if soaking up a spill, wiping an imaginary dusty seat, and softly patting as if cleaning a scrape.

"Ooooh!" Abigail said, her eyes wide with surprise. "I thought hankies were just for runny noses!"

Mummy smiled warmly as she handed Abigail the freshly ironed pink hanky.

"Oh no, my dear! A hanky is a wonderful little cloth that's helpful in so many ways."

From that day on, Abigail always carried a hanky in her pocket wherever she went, ready for any little adventure – or tiny mishap – that came her way.

The End.

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