Percy was a perfectly plump pumpkin, round and orange and ready for the autumn festival. But Percy wasn’t excited. All the other pumpkins boasted about their bright, glowing insides, lit up by clever lanterns. Percy’s glow, however, was…dim. It flickered and faded, barely visible in the twilight. He felt terribly sad and wished he could shine as brightly as the others.
Old Man Tiber, the farmer, noticed Percy’s drooping vine. “What’s wrong, little pumpkin?” he asked kindly. Percy explained his worry. “I don’t shine like the others. I’m a disappointing pumpkin!” Old Man Tiber chuckled. “Nonsense, Percy. Every pumpkin has its own special glow. Sometimes, it just takes a little help to find it.”
That night, as the stars began to twinkle, a tiny firefly named Flicker zipped past. He noticed Percy’s sad face. “Why the long vine, little pumpkin?” Flicker asked, his light blinking sympathetically. Percy explained his problem, feeling even more glum as he spoke.
Flicker listened patiently. When Percy finished, Flicker said, “But your glow *is* special! It’s a soft, gentle light, like a warm hug. The other pumpkins have bright, flashy lights, but yours is…peaceful.” Percy had never thought of it that way. He’d been so focused on being *bright* that he hadn’t appreciated his own unique glow.
“But it’s so faint,” Percy whispered. Flicker smiled. “Sometimes, our glow fades when we’re sad. It needs a little kindness and friendship to shine again.” Flicker began to fly around Percy, his light dancing and swirling. He told Percy stories of the forest, of playful squirrels and singing crickets. He shared jokes and silly songs.
As Flicker talked, Percy felt a warmth spread through his pumpkin heart. He started to giggle, and with each giggle, his glow grew a little stronger. It wasn’t as bright as the other pumpkins, but it was steady and warm, and it felt…good. Really good.
Soon, other fireflies joined Flicker, circling Percy and filling the field with twinkling lights. They all shared stories and laughter, and Percy’s glow continued to grow. He realized Flicker was right. His glow wasn’t about being the brightest; it was about the joy he felt inside.
When the autumn festival arrived, Percy wasn’t worried about his glow anymore. He stood proudly among the other pumpkins, his soft light shining peacefully. Children admired his gentle radiance, and Old Man Tiber smiled with pride. Percy learned that true brightness doesn’t come from how brightly you shine, but from the kindness you share and the friends you make.
As the night drew to a close, Flicker landed on Percy’s vine. “See?” he said. “You always had a beautiful glow. You just needed to remember to let it shine from within.” Percy smiled, his gentle light illuminating the field. He knew, from that day on, that he would always cherish his unique and peaceful glow, and the wonderful friendship he shared with Flicker and all the fireflies.