Breeze and the Green Dragon
A tiny green crayon rolled across the desk, leaving a bright trail behind it. Juni pressed her thumb against the paper, smoothing out the tail of her third masterpiece. This dragon was ready to fly.
Beside her, Fish blew three tiny bubbles in a row. Juni tapped the glass gently, her eyes shining. "We are going on a grand adventure today," she murmured, lifting the heavy bowl with both hands.
She tucked the three Dragon Drawings under her arm, squeezing them tight against her side. With Fish's Bowl balanced carefully in her hands, Juni took slow, giant steps out the front door.
The porch was quiet, save for Dog, who lay curled up like a giant furry donut. His nose twitched as Juni passed, but his eyes stayed heavy and closed. He was deep in a morning nap.
Suddenly, a playful gust of wind swooped down from the sky. It snatched the Dragon Drawings right from Juni's grip, swirling them up into the air like falling autumn leaves. "Oh no!" Juni cried out.
One drawing fluttered high over the railing, sailing toward the tall grass. The second drawing drifted downward, landing softly on the porch floorboards right beneath Dog's heavy, resting chin.
Juni quickly set Fish's Bowl down on a sturdy wooden bench. She had to act fast before the wind took them all. "Stay there, Fish!" she whispered, her heart beating a little faster.
She crept toward Dog, holding her breath so she wouldn't startle him. But just as her fingers reached out, Dog let out a giant sneeze, blowing the paper right off the porch steps.
Dog blinked his large, sleepy eyes and looked at Juni. He wagged his tail once, realizing a game was afoot. With a happy bark, he scrambled down the steps after the runaway papers.
Juni gathered Fish's Bowl again and ran toward the park meadow. The grass tickled her ankles. Ahead of her, the wind chased the papers in dizzy circles around the trunk of a great oak tree.
She spread out her Picnic Blanket beneath the shade. Fish's Bowl sat safely in the center, the water sparkling. Juni managed to grab two of the drawings, pinning them down with a heavy stone.
But the third drawing, the one with the grandest wings, was still dancing out of reach. Dog bounded through the wildflowers, leaping high into the air with his front paws outstretched.
With a gentle plop, the paper landed right on Dog's wet nose. He trotted over to the Picnic Blanket, balancing the drawing perfectly. Juni laughed, taking the paper and giving Dog a warm pat.
The three drawings were finally safe, lined up next to Fish's Bowl. Juni sat back on the soft fabric, sharing a quiet smile with her friends. She carefully tucked the green crayon into her pocket for later.
