A Warm Buttercup Bed

Chloe sat under the big fern. The cold wind blew outside in the meadow. Chloe tucked her sparkly pink shoes under her knees to stay cozy. Her long pink hair rested softly on her shoulders. Bright freckles dotted her smiling cheeks. On her head, the star daisy crown glowed with warm rainbow colors. It made the damp ground feel warm and safe. Pip sat right next to her. Pip looked down at his green shirt. The front was still damp from the soil, but he did not mind. Blossom sat beside him, tapping her wide clover hat. Her thin green wand rested quietly across her lap.

The chilly wind gave another quick blow across the meadow. Chloe hugged her little berry basket. There were no sweet berries left inside. They had eaten every last crumb together. Pip held his little brown stick in his hand. He tapped his tiny fairy shoes together on the ground. The air outside was cold, but their nook was cozy and still. Then, Pip stopped moving. He held his brown stick up in the air. Blossom tilted her tiny fairy head. Her ears perked right up. Chloe leaned forward. They all listened closely.

A soft sound came from just outside their fern. Chloe heard it first. It went hummm. The sound was very low and very quiet. Then it stopped for a moment. A second later, it started again. It went bzzzz. It sounded like a tiny, sleepy motor. Pip poked his nose past the edge of the fern. He peeked into the meadow. He raised his brown stick and pointed. A bright yellow buttercup flower was growing right beside their hiding spot.

Chloe peeked out too. Her sparkly shoes pressed into the soft moss. She looked right where Pip was pointing. In the middle of the yellow buttercup, something was moving. It was round. It was very fuzzy. It had soft stripes of velvety black and shiny gold. Pip whispered, "Look! It is a tiny bumblebee!" Blossom clapped her hands with excitement. Her clover hat wobbled on her head, but she stayed very quiet.

The late afternoon sun came down through the cool air. A warm golden ray touched the yellow buttercup. The tiny bee felt the sun. It gave a slow, sleepy stretch. It pushed out one tiny black leg. Then it pushed out another tiny leg with yellow and black stripes. Chloe smiled. She wiggled her fingers in the air. She loved the tiny, fluffy visitor.

Chloe crawled forward on her hands and knees. Pip followed close behind, holding his stick. Blossom flew on her tiny fairy wings right above Pip's shoulder. They reached the yellow buttercup together. Chloe reached out her hand very slowly. She was very gentle. She touched the smooth flower stalk. With her soft fingers, Chloe bent the yellow flower down just a little bit so they could see inside.

All three friends leaned close to the bright petals. Inside the flower cup, the air was warm. The yellow petals wrapped around like a sunny blanket. The tiny bee was not awake after all. It was still fast asleep. Its little wings were folded tight against its back. Its striped legs were tucked under its round tummy.

Then, the little bee made a tiny sound. Zzzz-snore! It gave a soft little snore into the flower. Chloe giggled quietly behind her hand. Pip grinned and nudged Blossom. Blossom waved her thin green wand gently. A warm yellow spark floated up and made the petals glow. The sleepy little bee felt the cozy warmth. It gave another soft sigh and curled up even tighter in its yellow bed.