The Baseball That Turned into Water

Leo sat by the edge of Silver Lake, alone with his old baseball. He loved baseball, but he had no one to play with. All the other kids were too busy or too fast.

"I wish I had a friend," Leo sighed, tossing the baseball toward the lake.

But Leo didn't throw very well. The baseball sailed sideways and—SPLASH!—landed right in the middle of the lake.

"Oh no!" Leo cried. The water was too deep to reach.

Then something magical happened. The baseball began to glow. Bubbles rose around it as it started to change. The white leather turned shimmering blue. The stitches became waves of silver thread.

The baseball floated to the surface, but it wasn't a baseball anymore. It was a small, sparkly creature made of water, with big curious eyes.

"Hello!" the water creature bubbled. "I'm Splash! I used to be your baseball, but the lake's magic changed me. Now I'm your friend!"

Leo couldn't believe his eyes. "A friend? You'll play baseball with me?"

Splash bounced like a ball but swam like a fish. Leo threw, and Splash caught the ball in his watery hands. Splash threw back, and the ball sprayed happy droplets everywhere.

They played until the sun began to set. Splash told Leo stories about all the fishes and turtles who lived in the lake. Leo shared his favorite snacks and taught Splash how to count.

"Water is wonderful," Splash said. "But friendship is the best magic of all."

Other kids came to the lake and saw them playing. Soon, everyone wanted to meet Splash and learn water games. Leo wasn't alone anymore.

Each evening, Splash would dissolve back into the lake, but every morning when Leo returned with his baseball—SPLASH!—his water friend would appear again.

Leo learned that the best friends can come from the most unexpected places. Sometimes, you just have to take a chance and throw your heart into the water.