Ari was a little girl in a warm, green jungle. She wore yellow boots. Squish, squish! She wore a tiny blue hat. Plop! A red parrot feather sat in the hat.
Every morning, Ari said hello to the jungle.
“Hello, tall trees!”
“Hello, busy bees!”
“Hello, river!”
The river went, “Splash, splash!”
The bees went, “Bzz, bzz!”
And Ari smiled.
Near Ari’s little tree house grew Flower. Flower was not a usual flower. She had soft purple petals, two bright eyes, and a very giggly voice.
“Good morning, Ari!” said Flower.
“Good morning, Flower!” said Ari.
Flower loved jokes.
“What is green and hops?” she asked.
“A frog?” said Ari.
“No! A frog wearing green socks!” Flower giggled. “Well, maybe it is a frog.”
Ari laughed. Then she looked closely at Flower.
“Oh,” said Ari.
Flower’s petals were droopy. Her purple color was fading.
“I do not feel bouncy,” whispered Flower. “I cannot even giggle properly. Hee... hee...”
Ari felt sad for her friend. But Ari was a shy girl. Big jungle noises sometimes made her want to hide behind a leaf.
Then the ground went, “BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.”
A huge Stone Golem came down the jungle path. He had rocky feet, rocky arms, and mossy eyebrows. On his head was a shiny golden watering can.
“Mine!” rumbled Stone Golem.
Ari knew that watering can. It was the Sun Can. Its warm water helped Flower grow bright and strong.
“Please,” said Ari in her small voice. “Flower needs it.”
Stone Golem crossed his stone arms. “I need it too. My moss is dry.”
He turned away. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Ari took a deep breath. “I can help,” she called.
Stone Golem stopped.
“You?” he asked.
“Yes,” said Ari. Her knees felt wobbly, but her heart felt brave. “There is a cool pond behind the banana trees. We can get water for your moss. Then the Sun Can can help Flower.”
Stone Golem blinked his pebble eyes. “Together?”
“Together,” said Ari.
Flower lifted one droopy petal. “Go, Ari! You can do it! And do not trip over a dancing pineapple!”
“There are no dancing pineapples,” Ari said.
A pineapple wiggled in the grass.
Ari gasped. “Oh!”
The pineapple did a tiny dance. Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.
Ari and Stone Golem walked through the jungle. Vines hung low. Ari ducked. Stone Golem could not duck very well.
BONK!
A vine landed on his mossy eyebrow.
“Sorry,” said Ari.
Stone Golem made a sound like rocks rolling. “That was funny.”
Soon they reached the pond. But a thick log lay across the little stream that fed it.
“No water,” said Stone Golem sadly.
Ari looked. She thought. Then she saw three long vines.
“We can pull!” she said.
Ari tied the vines around the log. Stone Golem held the other ends.
“Ready?” asked Ari.
“Ready,” said Stone Golem.
“Pull, pull, pull!” sang Ari.
Stone Golem pulled gently. Ari pulled hard. The log rolled away.
Whoosh! The stream ran free.
The pond filled with clear, cool water.
Stone Golem scooped water onto his moss. Splash!
His moss turned soft and green.
“My moss is happy,” he said. “Thank you, little Ari.”
Then he gave Ari the golden Sun Can.
Ari hurried back to Flower. She tipped the can very carefully.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Warm golden water fell onto Flower’s roots.
Flower’s petals lifted.
Her purple color came back.
Her leaves went pop!
“I feel bouncy!” cried Flower. “I feel giggly! I feel... tickly!”
Flower sneezed a puff of sparkly pollen.
“Achoo!”
The sparkles swirled around Ari’s yellow boots. When they stopped, Ari saw something wonderful.
On the ground was a small treasure box made of petals and gold.
“For brave Ari,” said Flower.
Ari opened it. Inside was a shiny jungle badge. It had a purple flower, a green mossy stone, and a tiny golden sun.
It said: FRIEND HELPER.
Ari put the badge on her blue hat.
Stone Golem smiled. It was a rocky, crooked smile, but it was a kind one.
“Friend Helper Ari,” he said. “Will you visit my moss garden tomorrow?”
“Yes!” said Ari.
Flower giggled. “Bring the dancing pineapple!”
From the grass, the pineapple wiggled.
Ari laughed loud and bright.
In the warm green jungle, Flower bloomed. Stone Golem’s moss grew soft. And Ari, the shy little girl in yellow boots, stood tall.
She had helped her friends.
She had earned a treasure badge.
And she knew something new: a small voice can be very brave.
“Good night, tall trees,” said Ari.
“Good night, busy bees.”
“Good night, friends.”
The jungle whispered, “Good night, Ari.”