Pippa’s Button for Nobody — Under the tickle-warm sun, Pippa the apple tree held five shiny apples high and wiggled her branch-hands. In the grass by her roots sat a plain blue button, small as a pea. Read the full story →
Under the tickle-warm sun, Pippa the apple tree held five shiny apples high and wiggled her branch-hands. In the grass by her roots sat a plain blue button, small as a pea. She had polished it with dew until it smelled like rain on bark, then tucked it beside a daisy. “Not for eating,” she whispered, though her apples giggled, plip-plop, in the breeze.
All morning, bees buzzed past, clouds made silly sheep shapes, and a butterfly landed to inspect the button. Pippa shook one leaf at it. The butterfly winked and fluttered away. Then the tiny gate at the far orchard lane went click… click… clunk! A field mouse pushed it with both paws, carrying crumbly pie crust for the baby birds. Pippa’s button popped into place as the gate’s missing knob.
No one thanked her, because no one saw her do it. Pippa only waved harder, making her apples grin. Next time you spot the butterfly near her leaves, see if it knows where the secret button went.
