The Squelchy Clover Hop

The afternoon breeze blew soft and cool over the green meadow of Chime Cove Canopy. High above the grass, fluffy white thistle-seeds drifted like tiny floating clouds. Chloe sat with her knees tucked up, her long pink hair trailing across the clover and the freckles on her nose dancing as she smiled. Atop her head, the petals of her star daisy crown glowed with soft, warm rainbow colors, keeping the chilly air away from her cheeks.

Beside her, Pip stood very still. He reached one hand down to his damp green shirt. His little fairy fingers patted the pocket once. He patted it twice. Right inside, round and cool and safe, was his favorite shiny blue pebble. Pip let out a happy sigh and smiled from ear to ear. His pebble was right where it belonged.

Blossom fluttered down from a tall blade of grass with a tiny whirr of wings. She adjusted her wide green clover-leaf hat and landed softly on Pip's shoulder. "Look, look," Blossom whispered into Pip's ear, pointing her thin green wand toward the air. A bright, fluffy yellow dandelion seed was bobbing on the wind, floating down toward the bright yellow buttercups.

Just beneath the buttercups, a round little bumblebee was resting. He was very fuzzy, with a velvety yellow coat and tidy chocolate-brown stripes. He was minding his own sweet bee business when—rustle, scritch!—a stem shivered in the breeze. The little bee gave a tiny jump. He wobbled. He lost his footing on a dandelion stem and tumbled backward with a clumsy little plop! straight into a drooping buttercup.

Splish! A shower of cool, clear dewdrops sprayed right out of the yellow cup. One big, round drop landed with a wet smack right on the toe of Pip's left boot. Chloe clapped a hand over her mouth, but a bright giggle escaped anyway. Blossom hovered down close to peek into the golden flower, where two little velvety bee legs were kicking cheerfully in the air before the bumblebee righted himself with a soft buzz.

"Look at my boot!" Pip said, lifting his foot to inspect the wet spot. "My boot is damp, but my pocket is dry! And do you know what? Even with my shiny blue pebble tucked inside, I am as light as a feather! Watch this!"

Pip puffed out his chest, held his little brown stick high in the air, and began to sing a jaunty hopping tune. "Hop, hop, over the top, never you stop, pebble don't drop!"

With a merry leap, Pip sprang into the air. He soared right over a broad, dew-kissed clover leaf and came down on the other side. Squelch! His boots sank into a cushion of thick, wet green moss. The moss gave a delightful, squishy sound, and tiny drops of water tickled around the soles of his shoes.

Chloe and Blossom clapped their hands and cheered. Pip did not fall over. He wobbled once, held his little stick straight out to the side, and stuck one foot in the air, striking a grand balancing pose. He grinned at his friends, perfectly still like a funny green statue.