Elena and the Sparkling Bird

In a magnificent castle, lived a brave little girl named Elena. Elena, who was five years old, loved to explore every secret nook and grand hall. Her favorite place was the sunroom, filled with sunshine and sparkling treasures.

Among all the wonders, there was one special treasure: a delicate crystal bird that shimmered like a rainbow. It was her Grandma Queen’s most cherished keepsake, sitting on a tall pedestal in the brightest corner.

One sunny afternoon, Elena was playing a bouncy game of 'catch the light' with a sunbeam. She twirled and giggled, stretching her arms high to try and touch the shimmering light.

Suddenly, her elbow bumped against the tall pedestal! CRASH! The beautiful crystal bird wobbled, then tumbled to the floor, breaking into many sparkling pieces.

Elena's eyes widened. Her heart pounded, pounded, pounded like a drum. A big knot formed in her tummy. Oh no! She had broken Grandma Queen's special bird. She felt terrified.

She could hide the pieces, a tiny voice whispered. Maybe no one would ever know. But then, Elena remembered her Grandma Queen always said, 'It takes a brave heart to tell the truth, my dear.'

Elena took a deep, shaky breath. Her hands clenched tight. It was so scary to think about telling, but she knew what she had to do. With a brave heart, she decided to find her Grandma Queen.

Her little feet felt heavy as she walked. When she found Grandma Queen, Elena’s voice was just a tiny whisper. 'Grandma,' she said, 'I'm so sorry, I accidentally broke your sparkling crystal bird.'

Grandma Queen didn't get angry. Instead, she knelt down and gave Elena a warm hug. 'Oh, my brave girl,' she said gently. 'Accidents happen. What truly matters is your honesty and your brave heart for telling me.'

Together, they carefully cleaned up the sparkling pieces. Elena felt a warm, happy feeling spread through her chest. Her heart felt light again, no longer pounding with fear.

Elena learned that day that even when things are scary, being brave and telling the truth makes everything better. Her Grandma Queen loved her honesty even more than any sparkling treasure.