Nola’s Waiting-Star Game — Each evening at the hilltop fair, Nola carried one heart donut to the quiet fence and played her new game: wait for the first star to shine through the middle. Read the full story →
Each evening at the hilltop fair, Nola carried one heart donut to the quiet fence and played her new game: wait for the first star to shine through the middle. The grass smelled cool and sweet, and far below, the carousel went tink-tink-tink. She wanted one bit of starlight to land on the frosting before the musicians packed up. But one night, clouds slid over the sky and hid every sparkle.
Because of that, Nola tied a ribbon around the donut so it would not feel unfinished. Because of that, other children brought paper hearts, then silver stickers, then a red bow from the puppet booth. “Not yet,” Nola whispered when they asked to leave. At last the clouds opened, and one tiny star glowed right above the ribbon that said LOVE. The children grew still. If you peek at the donut, can you find the star that finally answered Nola’s waiting game?
