Lily and the Rainbow Garden

Lily was playing in her backyard when she noticed something glittery on the ground. It was a trail of tiny sparkles, like someone had spilled a jar of glitter.

"Ooooh, pretty!" Lily said, clapping her hands.

A tiny voice giggled. "You can see my trail! That means you're special!" A little fairy no bigger than Lily's thumb appeared, hovering right in front of her nose. Her wings left trails of pink and gold sparkles.

"I'm Twinkle! Want to see something amazing?"

Twinkle led Lily to the big oak tree at the corner of the yard. At the bottom of the trunk, hidden behind a mushroom, was the tiniest door Lily had ever seen.

"It's too small!" Lily said.

Twinkle sprinkled sparkly dust over Lily's head. The world grew bigger and bigger — or maybe Lily grew smaller and smaller! Now the tiny door was just the right size.

"Ready?" Twinkle asked, holding out her tiny hand.

Lily took it and they stepped through together.

On the other side of the door was the most beautiful garden Lily had ever seen. Flowers taller than her grew in every color — red roses that sang, orange tulips that danced, yellow sunflowers that told jokes.

"Welcome to the Rainbow Garden!" Twinkle announced proudly.

A big blue butterfly landed on Lily's nose. She giggled so hard she fell right into a patch of soft purple flowers that caught her like a fluffy pillow.

But something was wrong. In the middle of the garden was an empty patch of dirt where nothing grew.

"That's where the green flowers should be," Twinkle said sadly, her wings drooping. "Without green, the rainbow isn't complete. And if the rainbow isn't complete, the garden will start to fade."

"We have to find the green!" Lily said firmly, putting her hands on her hips just like Mommy did when she meant business.

Twinkle gave Lily a tiny watering can filled with rainbow water. "Only someone with a really kind heart can make the green flowers grow," she explained.

Lily knelt down in the dirt. She poured the rainbow water carefully, just like she helped Daddy water the tomatoes at home. Then she whispered, "Please grow, little flowers. The garden needs you."

For a moment nothing happened. Then — a tiny green sprout poked through the soil! Then another, and another!