Barnaby was a little troll, but he had a very big collection. Not of gold, or jewels, or shiny pebbles – Barnaby collected lost things. Buttons, feathers, bottle caps, and especially…light. He loved anything that glowed. He lived under the Old Willow Bridge, and his little cave twinkled with all his found treasures.
One evening, a tiny firefly named Flicker zoomed into Barnaby’s cave, buzzing with worry. “Oh, Mr. Barnaby!” she cried. “All the fireflies in Glowhaven Meadow have lost their glow! The Gloom Bugs came and…and borrowed it! Now we can’t light up the meadow for the sleepy bunnies and the little field mice.”
Barnaby’s eyes lit up. He loved light! He had dozens of glowing mushrooms and a jar full of captured moonbeams. He could keep them all for himself! He imagined his cave even brighter, even more spectacular. He almost said, “Too bad, Flicker! I need my light!” But then he looked at Flicker’s sad little face.
He remembered how dark it felt when *he* lost his favorite glowing stone last week. Old Man Tiber, the river turtle, had helped him find it. It had felt so good to have someone help him. Barnaby took a deep breath. “I…I think I can help,” he mumbled.
Barnaby carefully gathered his brightest glowing mushrooms and a handful of his captured moonbeams. He put them into a large, woven basket. Flicker guided him to Glowhaven Meadow, which was indeed very, very dark. The little bunnies were huddled together, looking scared, and the field mice were trying to find their way home.
Barnaby carefully placed the glowing mushrooms around the meadow. Then, he gently released the moonbeams, which floated and twinkled like tiny stars. Slowly, the meadow began to glow again! The fireflies cheered, and their own little lights started to flicker back to life, strengthened by Barnaby’s borrowed glow.
Flicker zipped around Barnaby’s head. “Thank you, Barnaby! You saved the meadow!” The bunnies hopped with joy, and the field mice scurried happily about. Barnaby felt a warm glow inside, much brighter than any mushroom or moonbeam.
He realized something amazing. Sharing his light, helping others, felt even better than *having* all the light to himself. He smiled, a genuine, troll-sized smile. “You’re welcome,” he said. “It makes me happy to help.”
As the meadow sparkled with firefly light, Barnaby walked back to his cave under the Old Willow Bridge. His cave wasn’t quite as bright as before, but it felt warmer and cozier than ever. He knew that even though he’d given some of his treasures away, he’d gained something much more valuable: the joy of kindness. And that, he thought, was the best glow of all. Now close your eyes, little one, and let the kindness glow fill your dreams.