Celeste was a little cloud, and she was very good at making rain. But Celeste didn't *like* making rain. She thought it was lonely work. She’d puff herself up with water, get all gray and heavy, and then… drip, drip, drip. It felt a bit sad, actually.
One day, Celeste was floating over a garden. The flowers were drooping, their leaves looking dusty and tired. Old Man Tiber, the biggest sunflower, sighed, “Oh dear, we haven’t had a drink in days!” Celeste peeked down and saw how thirsty everything was. She’d never really *looked* before, she was too busy feeling sorry for herself.
A tiny voice chirped, “Please, little cloud, could you spare a drop?” It was Pip, a little ladybug, perched on a rose petal. Celeste hesitated. Sharing her rain meant she’d get smaller, and she worried she wouldn’t have enough to float. But Pip looked so hopeful.
Celeste took a deep breath and let go. A gentle shower fell on the garden. The flowers lifted their heads, and the leaves perked up. Old Man Tiber smiled, his face bright yellow again. Pip the ladybug did a little happy dance!
“Thank you, Celeste!” called a chorus of voices. Celeste was surprised. She hadn’t realized so many creatures were watching. A fuzzy bumblebee buzzed by, and a bright blue butterfly fluttered around her. They were all thanking her!
As Celeste rained, she felt something amazing happen. She didn’t feel smaller; she felt… bigger! Not in size, but in her heart. Sharing her rain hadn’t made her lonely; it had made her friends.
Soon, the rain stopped, and a beautiful rainbow arched across the sky. Celeste wasn’t gray and heavy anymore. She was fluffy and white, and she glowed with happiness. Pip the ladybug flew up and landed on Celeste’s edge.
“You’re the kindest cloud I’ve ever met,” Pip said. Celeste giggled. “I just shared my rain,” she replied. “But it feels so much better sharing it with friends.”
From that day on, Celeste loved making rain. She knew that every drop she shared brought joy and friendship to the world below. And every time she rained, she remembered that even little clouds can make a big difference. Now close your eyes, little one, and dream of rainbows and gentle rain.