Flora and the Shimmering Bird

Flora, with her bright, curious eyes and a giggle that sparkled, loved visiting Grandma Dot's house. It was a wonderful place, full of exciting nooks and crannies where every corner promised a new adventure. Her favourite spot was the cozy lounge room, with its big, comfy armchair perfect for imagining she was flying a spaceship.

One sunny afternoon, Flora was deep in an imaginary galaxy. She spun around, arms outstretched like spaceship wings, making whooshing sounds as she zoomed past asteroid fields. "Whoosh! Zoom!" she called out, completely absorbed in her game.

Suddenly, her elbow bumped against a little side table! *Clatter!* A shimmering, glass bird, usually perched so carefully, tumbled to the floor with a soft, yet sharp, *CRACK*. Flora’s make-believe world shattered along with it.

Flora froze. Her tummy did a flip-flop, and her heart went *thump-thump-thump* against her ribs. The beautiful glass bird lay in pieces, sparkling sadly on the rug. "Oh no," she whispered, her eyes wide with fear. A big, scary lump grew in her throat. Should she hide it?

Flora was an adventurer, and adventurers were brave, even when things were scary. Taking a deep, wobbly breath, she knew what she had to do. It was much harder than fighting a make-believe space monster, but she would face this challenge with courage.

With wobbly legs, Flora found Grandma Dot in the sunny garden, watering her roses. "Grandma," she started, her voice a tiny squeak, barely louder than a bee. "I... I accidentally broke your pretty glass bird." She looked at her feet, ready for Grandma to be upset.

But Grandma Dot didn't frown. Instead, she knelt down, her eyes soft and kind. "My little adventurer," she said gently, reaching out to give Flora a warm hug. "Thank you for telling me the truth. That took great courage, didn't it?"

Together, they carefully gathered the glittering pieces. "It's just a little glass bird, my dear," Grandma Dot said, holding Flora close. "We can fix it together, or maybe we can make a new one, even more special, with colourful clay." Flora felt a warm glow spread through her chest.

It felt so much better to be honest, and she knew that true adventurers always faced things with courage, whether it was flying to the moon or telling the truth about a broken bird. Flora smiled, feeling lighter and braver than ever before.