yarnfire

YARNFIRE GATHERING STORIES · 03 / 10

The Last Lantern Home

Trust · camp cabins & scout circles

Download booklet PDF ↓Begin reading ↓

Make a little room for each voice.

Four short reader parts. About 2–4 minutes of reading, or 12–20 minutes with discussion and the closing activity. Invite four readers, rotate in pairs, or let one person read it all. Listening and passing count as participating.

Suggested for ages 8+ with a facilitator who has previewed the story. No acting, personal disclosure, or materials are required unless you choose the optional activity. These are original fictional stories, free to read together in this preview collection.

READER 1 · PASS THE STORY

Rain canceled the evening trail walk, so Cabin Seven decided to make a welcome path inside the hall. They lined up battery lanterns from the door to the supper tables. Ari wanted a grand entrance, with every light flashing. Bo wanted signs. Tess tested a lantern, then quietly turned its flashing setting off. Nobody noticed; everyone was busy making the hall impressive.

READER 2 · PASS THE STORY

The visiting cabin arrived wet and tired. Their leader stopped just inside the doorway. One child covered their eyes. Another could not tell which way the bright line led because it curled around three chairs and a pile of bags. Ari rushed forward to explain the beautiful route. Tess asked a different question: “Would you like it quieter?” The child nodded.

READER 3 · PASS THE STORY

They stopped the flashing lights. Bo made a single arrow, large enough to read from the door. Ari moved the bags and straightened the path. It looked much less spectacular. The visitors walked in easily. One of them, Dev, set down a lantern that had stopped working. “I wanted to help too,” he said. Ari nearly promised to fix it, though he had no idea how.

READER 4 · PASS THE STORY

Instead Ari asked Dev to help choose places for the working lanterns. Dev put one beside the coat hooks and another near the water jug. At supper, no one praised the entrance. They found their coats, poured their drinks, and sat together. Ari watched the room for a while. Then he moved the last lantern to the empty end of the table, where there was space for two more bowls.

AFTER THE LAST LINE

Let the story start a conversation.

  1. When did the welcome become useful rather than impressive?
  2. How can we find out what help someone actually wants?
  3. Which quiet job makes our own gatherings work?

A small thing to do together

Name an often-unnoticed helpful job. Offer to share one at the next gathering; no one has to volunteer.

Keep it optional. Discuss the characters instead of your own life whenever you prefer.