Princess Poppy lived in a beautiful castle, but she was a very picky princess! She didn’t like her gold chair, it was too hard. She didn’t like her silk dress, it was too scratchy. And she *especially* didn’t like her bed! It had fluffy pillows and a warm blanket, but Poppy always said something was wrong. ‘It’s too bumpy!’ she’d cry. ‘It’s too lumpy!’
One day, the Queen decided to try something new. She built Poppy a bed with twenty soft mattresses, and on top of those, she placed twenty featherbeds! Then, she put twenty soft quilts on top of *those*! ‘Now, Poppy,’ said the Queen, ‘this is the most comfortable bed in the whole kingdom!’
Poppy climbed into the bed… and she still wasn’t happy! ‘It’s still not right!’ she wailed. ‘I can feel a tiny little pea!’ Everyone in the castle was puzzled. How could a princess feel a pea through *twenty* mattresses, *twenty* featherbeds, and *twenty* quilts?
A little kitchen maid named Lily overheard Poppy’s complaints. Lily didn’t have a fancy bed. She slept on a simple straw mat in the kitchen. But Lily always had a smile and a kind word for everyone. She quietly brought Poppy a small, smooth stone she’d found in the garden.
‘Princess Poppy,’ Lily said softly, ‘sometimes, it’s not about how *many* soft things you have. It’s about having a kind heart and being grateful for what you *do* have. Here, hold this stone. It’s smooth and cool, and maybe it will help you feel peaceful.’
Poppy held the stone. It *was* smooth and cool. She thought about Lily, who was always happy even with so little. Poppy realized Lily was right! She didn’t need a mountain of mattresses to be comfortable. She just needed to be kind and grateful.
Poppy thanked Lily and snuggled into her bed. She didn’t even notice the tiny pea anymore! She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, feeling warm and cozy, not because of the fancy bedding, but because of the kindness in her heart. From that day on, Princess Poppy was known not for being picky, but for being the kindest princess in the land.
And as she slept, she dreamed of sharing her kindness with everyone she met, making the whole kingdom a little bit softer and brighter.