Willow Jean Fairy was a little ballerina with silver shoes and a soft blue skirt. She lived beside the Spirit Garden. Every morning, she danced on the round stepping-stones.
Tip, tap. Tip, tap.
When Willow danced, the daisies opened. The bees hummed. The tiny pond made happy bubbles.
Her best friend was Imaginary Animal. Imaginary Animal had rabbit ears, a lion tail, green wings, and four purple paws. Sometimes he barked. Sometimes he purred. Sometimes he said, “Boing!” for no reason at all.
One bright morning, Willow twirled to the garden gate.
But oh!
The Spirit Garden had lost its colors.
The roses were gray. The grass was gray. Even the rainbow fountain was gray-gray-gray.
Imaginary Animal drooped his long ears. “My purple paws look like oatmeal,” he said.
Willow gave him a gentle hug. “Do not worry. We will help our garden.”
From behind a tall gray sunflower came Sorceress. She wore a black hat with a bent tip. Her cloak had little pockets full of spoons, buttons, and one sleepy snail.
“I took the colors,” said Sorceress. “I wanted a quiet garden. Colors were too bright for my tired eyes.”
Willow did not stomp. She did not shout. Willow was small, but she was brave and kind.
“Can we make the colors soft?” she asked. “You can wear your moon-glasses. Then the garden can be happy, and your eyes can rest.”
Sorceress blinked. “Moon-glasses?”
“I have seen them,” said Imaginary Animal. “They are in the Whispering Bush. It whispers, ‘Socks, rocks, moon-glasses!’”
“Boing!” he added.
So Willow and Imaginary Animal went to the Whispering Bush. It was huge and curly. Its leaves said, “Socks, rocks, moon-glasses! Socks, rocks, moon-glasses!”
Willow looked under a rock. No glasses.
Imaginary Animal looked in a sock-shaped leaf. No glasses.
Then Willow made a dancing move. She bent low. She lifted one leg. She reached her small hand under the bush.
“There!” she cried.
She found the moon-glasses. They were round and shiny. The lenses were pale gold.
Back at the fountain, Willow gave them to Sorceress.
Sorceress put them on.
“Oh,” she whispered. “The light is soft now. It feels like a sleepy cuddle.”
Willow smiled. “Will you bring back the colors?”
Sorceress looked at the gray roses. A little gray ladybug crawled slowly over a gray leaf.
“I miss red ladybugs,” Sorceress said.
She lifted her wand. “Color come home, one, two, three!”
Nothing happened.
Her wand only made a small squeak.
“Squeak?” said Imaginary Animal.
Sorceress looked sad. “My spell needs a dance of many colors. But I do not know how to dance.”
Willow held out her hand. “I can teach you.”
First, Willow showed a tiny toe tap.
Tip, tap.
Sorceress tried.
Tip... plop!
She sat in a soft patch of moss. Her hat landed on Imaginary Animal’s head.
“Boing hat!” said Imaginary Animal.
Everybody laughed, even Sorceress.
Then Willow showed a slow turn.
Turn, turn.
Then a little jump.
Hop!
Imaginary Animal flapped his green wings.
Flap, flap, hop!
Sorceress stood up. She tapped. She turned. She hopped.
Tip, tap. Turn, turn. Hop!
Willow danced blue for the sky. Imaginary Animal danced purple for his paws. Sorceress danced gold for the warm sun. Together they made a circle around the rainbow fountain.
“Color come home!” said Sorceress.
The fountain splashed.
Blue came back first. Then green. Then yellow, pink, red, and orange. Colors rolled through the Spirit Garden like happy paint.
The roses became red. The grass became green. The daisies wore white petals and yellow hats. The little ladybug got her red coat with black dots.
The garden sparkled and sang, “Thank you!”
From the bottom of the fountain rose a treasure box. It was small, with a rainbow lock.
Willow opened it.
Inside were three wonderful gifts: a pair of golden ballet ribbons for Willow, a purple star collar for Imaginary Animal, and a tiny silver dance bell for Sorceress.
Willow tied on her ribbons. They shimmered when she moved.
Imaginary Animal wore his collar. It made a cheerful jingle-jingle.
Sorceress rang her bell. “May I dance here tomorrow?” she asked.
“Yes,” said Willow. “We can dance gently together.”
So, every morning, the little ballerina, the funny Imaginary Animal, and the Sorceress danced in the Spirit Garden.
Tip, tap. Turn, turn. Hop!
And the colors stayed bright, soft, and happy.