Flicker was a very special firefly. He didn’t just blink; he *glowed*. His light wasn’t a quick flash, but a warm, steady beam, perfect for reading by. Every night, Flicker would find a quiet leaf and read his favorite stories – tales of brave beetles and clever caterpillars. He loved reading, but he kept his light to himself. He worried if others saw how brightly he glowed, they’d want to borrow his light, and then *he* wouldn’t be able to read!
Old Man Tiber, a wise snail who lived on the biggest sunflower, noticed Flicker’s habit. He’d see the little firefly tucked away, his light illuminating the pages of a book. One evening, Tiber slowly slid over to Flicker. “That looks like a wonderful story,” he said, his voice raspy but kind. Flicker jumped, nearly extinguishing his light. “Oh! Um, it is,” he mumbled, shielding the book with his wings.
“You know,” Tiber continued, “a light is meant to be shared. A story is meant to be heard. What good is a beautiful glow if no one else can see it? What good is a wonderful tale if no one else can hear it?” Flicker had never thought of it that way. He’d been so focused on *having* the light and the stories, he hadn’t considered sharing them.
“But… but what if they want to borrow my light and I can’t read?” Flicker asked, his glow dimming with worry. Tiber chuckled. “Sharing doesn’t mean giving it away forever, little one. And sometimes, sharing *makes* things brighter. Try reading aloud. You might be surprised.”
Hesitantly, Flicker agreed. He opened his book to a story about a little ladybug who learned to fly. He began to read, his voice small at first, but growing stronger with each word. Soon, other creatures gathered around – a sleepy bumblebee, a curious cricket, and even a grumpy caterpillar. They listened, captivated by Flicker’s voice and the warm glow of his light.
As Flicker read, he noticed something amazing. Sharing his light didn’t make it dimmer; it made it *brighter*. And reading aloud wasn’t scary at all! It was…fun! The bumblebee buzzed with excitement, the cricket chirped with delight, and even the grumpy caterpillar cracked a tiny smile. They asked questions about the story, and Flicker happily answered, his light shining with pride.
When he finished, the creatures thanked him. “That was the best story I’ve ever heard!” chirped the cricket. “Your light makes reading so much more enjoyable,” buzzed the bumblebee. Flicker’s heart swelled with happiness. He realized Old Man Tiber was right. Sharing his light and his stories hadn’t taken anything away from him; it had given him something even more valuable – friendship and the joy of bringing happiness to others.
From that night on, Flicker continued to read aloud every evening. He still enjoyed reading quietly sometimes, but he always made sure to share his light and his stories with his friends. He learned that the brightest light isn’t the one that shines the strongest, but the one that shines with kindness and is shared with others. And as he drifted off to sleep, Flicker knew that the best stories are always the ones you share.