Orla Shares the First Wish — Behind the festival tent, where old lanterns smelled of dust and sugar, a young elephant named Orla hid one cupcake under her trunk. Read the full story →
Behind the festival tent, where old lanterns smelled of dust and sugar, a young elephant named Orla hid one cupcake under her trunk. She wanted to make a wish before anyone else woke up. The striped candle on top gave a tiny hiss, blue at the bottom and gold at the tip, but the flame would not stand still. Then a pale moth with silver dots landed on Orla’s party hat.
“Wishes hate being shut up,” whispered the moth, though its voice was softer than paper wings. Orla froze. From every dark corner came a flutter: sleeping balloons nudged the ceiling, a star-shaped one winked, and curled ribbons lifted like question marks. The moth touched the candle. The flame leaned toward the cupcake sprinkles, then toward the tent door, as if listening for more hearts.
Orla carried the cupcake outside. When she trumpeted once, friends tumbled from bedrolls, blinking in the lantern light. She held the candle high, and everyone breathed in together—warm wax, vanilla, night air—then blew. The flame became a scatter of golden specks that settled on hats, balloons, and every waiting smile. Ever since, birthday candles keep their wish until people gather close enough to share it; if you spot the little flame by Orla’s cupcake, can you keep the secret until the whole party arrives?
