Once upon a time, in a meadow filled with sleepy flowers, lived a little firefly named Flicker. Flicker loved to blink his light, the brightest sparkle in the whole meadow! But one night, Flicker blinked and blinked… and his light wouldn’t come on. Oh dear! His sparkle was gone.
Flicker felt very sad. He tried wiggling his bottom, he tried thinking happy thoughts, but nothing worked. He flew to Old Man Turtle, the wisest creature in the meadow. “Old Man Turtle,” Flicker cried, “My sparkle is lost! What will I do?”
Old Man Turtle smiled kindly. “Sometimes, little one, our sparkle hides when we are feeling down. But a little kindness can often bring it back.” He suggested Flicker help others. Flicker wasn’t sure how he could help *without* his light, but he decided to try.
First, he helped a little ladybug find her way home to her family. Then, he listened to a worried caterpillar who was scared to become a butterfly. Flicker offered encouraging words, even though he felt gloomy himself. He even helped a sleepy bee gather the last bits of pollen for the night.
As Flicker helped others, he started to feel a warm glow inside. He wasn’t blinking, but he felt…lighter! He flew back to Old Man Turtle. “I helped others,” Flicker said, “But my sparkle is still gone.”
Old Man Turtle chuckled. “Look closely, Flicker.” Flicker looked down, and there it was! A tiny, gentle sparkle was beginning to glow. It wasn’t as bright as before, but it was *his* sparkle.
“You see, Flicker,” Old Man Turtle explained, “Your sparkle wasn’t truly lost. It was hidden by sadness. Helping others reminded you how wonderful you are, and that brought your light back.”
Flicker blinked his light, brighter and brighter with each blink. He realized that even when things are hard, kindness and friendship can help you shine. And as the moon climbed high, Flicker flew around the meadow, sharing his sparkle with everyone, a happy little firefly once more. Now close your eyes, little one, and let your own sparkle shine as you drift off to sleep.