Counting Polka Dots

The chilly afternoon wind blew softly through the tall meadow grass, but nobody felt cold at all. Up on Chloe's head, the star daisy crown shone with a warm, steady glow. Bright ribbons of pink, yellow, and soft purple light danced down through the stems, making the damp moss feel as cozy as a woolly blanket. Chloe sat down on her heels, tucking her sparkly pink shoes under her dress, while her long pink hair brushed the soft ground.

Pip patted his green shirt with both hands. He checked his little pocket to make sure his treasure was snug, then held the round stone safely in his palm. "Safe and sound," he whispered with a happy nod. Right beside him, Blossom fluttered her delicate wings. She landed lightly next to a broad, flat plant where her round white pearl sat resting like a little drop of milk.

Then Pip pointed his little finger. "Look! Look who is walking!"

Creeping right onto the shiny white pearl was a very small, very round visitor. It was a bright red ladybug. Step, step, step went its six tiny black legs. It did not hurry. It walked right over the top of the smooth pearl as if it were climbing a snowy hill.

"Shh," Chloe whispered, leaning down so close her freckles caught the warm crown-light. "Hello, little friend."

Blossom tilted her head, her silly little hat wobbling over her ears. She leaned in until her nose almost touched the stone. "Does it have spots?" Blossom asked softly. "Can we count them?"

Chloe counted with a gentle fingertip hovering in the air. "One. Two. Three on that side. And four. Five. Six on the other side. Exactly six black polka dots!"

Pip held his treasure tighter, watching with big, round eyes. "Maybe it came to tell us a secret," he murmured. The little ladybug paused at the very top of the pearl. It wiggled its tiny feelers twice, as if it were listening to Pip. Then, with a quiet little click, its shiny red shell popped open. Two thin, see-through wings unfolded from underneath, giving a tiny flutter before tucking right back inside, neat as a folded letter.

Before the ladybug could take another step, a soft hum buzzed through the still air. Zzz-zip. Zzz-zip.

A tiny dragonfly swooped down from the sky. Its slender body shone as bright as summer water, and its wings whirred so fast they looked like spinning circles of glass. It hovered right above the patch, dipping low toward a round water drop that rested on a scalloped plant.

"Look at the water!" Chloe whispered.

The dragonfly dipped its tail down, tap-tap, touching the shining droplet. Tiny rings rippled across the water, and the warm rainbow light from Chloe's crown caught the splash, scattering dancing sparks of red, gold, and violet all across the moss. Blossom clapped her hands together with a delighted squeak. Pip gave a soft gasp, leaning forward on his knees.

The dragonfly fluttered in a tight little circle, hovering right before Chloe's nose for one curious second. Chloe gave a sweet, quiet giggle. The dragonfly flicked its shimmering tail, rose high into the afternoon air, and darted off toward the tall, shadowy fronds at the edge of the meadow.