The Bull Who Lost His Stars

Lily had the most extraordinary hair. When she laughed, it turned pink like cotton candy. When she was curious, it shimmered blue as the ocean. When she was excited, it sparked with tiny lights like fireflies. Her mama said Lily's hair was magic because she was born during a meteor shower.

One night, Lily couldn't sleep. She crept to her window and saw something enormous land in their meadow with a soft thump. It wasn't an alien spaceship. It was a bull made of stardust and moonlight, his coat gleaming like liquid silver.

"I'm Taurus," said the bull, his voice sounding like distant thunder wrapped in velvet. "I fell from the sky when I slipped on a patch of dark clouds."

Lily's hair turned bright gold with delight. "I can help you get back! I've always wanted to touch the stars!"

Taurus lowered his massive head. "You're very small to carry a star-bull."

"I'm not small," said Lily, climbing onto his back. "I'm brave. And you're my friend now."

They began running across the countryside, Taurus's hooves barely touching the ground. They ran past sleeping farms, where dogs barked at the glowing sight. They ran through forests where owls hooted in wonder. They ran alongside rivers that reflected their starlight.

"I've never had a friend before," Taurus admitted as they climbed higher into the mountains. "Other constellations are too far away to talk to."

"You have one now," Lily said, her hair flowing behind them like a comet's tail. "Friends help each other."

At the mountain peak, Lily stood on Taurus's back and reached toward the sky. Her magical hair stretched longer and longer, weaving into a ladder of light that touched the stars.

Taurus climbed her hair-ladder back into the night sky. "Thank you, Lily. You'll always be my favorite friend."

Every night now, Lily looks up at Taurus shining in the stars. Her hair still changes colors with her feelings, but it always sparkles brightest when she sees her bull friend watching over her.

The other children might think it's just a story, but Lily knows the truth: the best friends can come from anywhere, even from among the stars.