Rafi’s Whirlwind Smile — Beside the tallest daisy, Rafi pressed his ear to a smooth gray pebble and tapped it three times: tik, tik, tik. Read the full story →
Beside the tallest daisy, Rafi pressed his ear to a smooth gray pebble and tapped it three times: tik, tik, tik. He had promised himself he would make the pebble hum before the clouds crossed the meadow. The grass smelled wet and peppery, and the tulips held still as if they knew a secret. “Hum, pebble,” Rafi whispered. Nothing happened except one dry leaf skittering past his toes.
Rafi tried a wing-flap, then a hop, then his silliest grin. The grin felt so big it spun in his cheeks. Suddenly the pebble gave a tiny brrr, the daisy nodded, and every loose leaf twirled like a green ribbon. Rafi laughed, and the laugh jumped from flower to flower until the whole meadow seemed to buzz. Ever since, little chicks have worn soft swirl marks on their cheeks, to save room for joy that must be shared. Can you find where Rafi’s whirlwind smile started?