Finley the flamingo was a very special flamingo. His feathers were the brightest, most vibrant pink you ever did see, and he had a giggle that sounded like tiny bells. But Finley had a problem. He was terribly afraid of the dark.
Every night, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the lagoon grew quiet, Finley would shiver. The shadows seemed to dance and whisper, and he’d hide his head under his wing, wishing for morning.
One night, a little lost sea turtle named Shelly came paddling by. Shelly was all alone, and her shell was covered in seaweed. She was very sad and scared.
Finley, despite his fear, felt a pang of sympathy for Shelly. He remembered how scared *he* felt in the dark. Taking a deep breath, Finley bravely waddled over to Shelly.
‘Hello,’ he squeaked, his voice a little shaky. ‘What’s wrong?’
Shelly explained that she’d gotten lost while searching for her family. The seaweed had tangled her up, and she couldn’t find her way back.
Finley, forgetting his fear of the dark for a moment, knew he had to help. Together, they worked to carefully remove the seaweed from Shelly’s shell. Finley used his long neck to reach into the tricky places.
As they worked, Finley noticed something sparkling in the moonlight – a small, silvery shell. It was a special kind of shell that reflected the moonlight in a dazzling way, illuminating the lagoon.
Using the moonlight reflected by the shell, they were able to find Shelly's family. The other sea turtles were so relieved to see her!
Shelly’s family thanked Finley profusely. They told him how brave he was, and how much his kindness meant to them. Finley felt a warm glow spread through him – a much better feeling than fear.
As Finley walked back to his nest, the lagoon didn't seem so dark and scary anymore. The moonlight shimmered on the water, creating a beautiful scene. He realized that even though the dark can be a little spooky, helping others can make it a lot less scary.
That night, Finley slept soundly. He dreamt of bright pink sunsets and playful sea turtles. He learned that bravery and kindness can chase away even the biggest fears, and that even in the darkness, there is always something beautiful to be found. And he knew that a good night's sleep was well-deserved after a day of helping a friend.