Emma's Magical Hair

Emma was a girl with the most extraordinary hair anyone had ever seen. It grew in wild, bouncy springs that poked in every direction, like little copper springs trying to escape her head. Every morning, her mother spent twenty minutes trying to tame it with barrettes and ribbons, but Emma's hair always sprang free again, bouncing with a mind of its own.

"Why can't I have smooth, straight hair like the other girls?" Emma sighed, plopping down by the secret pond behind her house. That's where she met Mr. Bubbles, a tiny orange goldfish who lived in an old bathtub someone had abandoned years ago.

The goldfish swam to the surface and blew a perfect bubble that popped right in front of Emma's nose.

"I wish I could be different," Emma whispered, trailing her fingers in the water. "I wish my hair would just stay down."

Mr. Bubbles swam in a frantic little circle, then dove deep and came back with something glowing in his mouth—a bright orange pebble that pulsed like a tiny heartbeat. The goldfish dropped it into Emma's palm.

"What's this?" Emma gasped. The pebble felt warm, almost alive.

In her mind, she heard a voice like trickling water: *This is a magic vitamin from the pond fairies. But be careful what you wish for, Emma.*

Emma held the glowing pebble and made her wish. "I want to love myself, exactly as I am."

The vitamin melted into her skin like warm honey. Suddenly, Emma felt tingling all through her wild, bouncy hair. Tiny flowers began to bloom between the curls—purple pansies, yellow daisies, pink petunias. Butterflies and hummingbirds appeared from nowhere, dancing around her head, drawn to the magical garden that had become her hair.

Mr. Bubbles swam in happy circles.

Emma laughed and laughed, spinning in circles until she was dizzy. Her hair wasn't smooth or ordinary, but it was wonderful and unique—just like her. She realized that being different was the best kind of magic of all.

From that day on, Emma never wished to be anyone else. She had a magical garden growing from her head, and a goldfish for a best friend. And that was more than enough.