The Goldfish's Golden Wish

Lily knelt by the pond, watching the tiny goldfish dart between orange lily pads. Its scales shimmered like scattered sunshine.

"Help me," whispered a voice. Lily gasped—the goldfish was talking!

"My friend Boris is trapped," the fish said. "The bull in the next field is sad because his favorite orange vanished. Without it, he won't let anyone cross to save my brother fish from the drying puddle."

Lily's heart swelled with bravery. She pulled a bright orange from her lunch bag. "Will this work?"

The goldfish swished its tail happily. "Bull's favorite color! But first, you must believe in magic."

Lily squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them, the pond glowed golden. She shrank until she stood beside the goldfish, no bigger than her own thumb.

Together they crossed the grassy field. Boris the bull sniffed the air. His giant brown eyes widened when he saw the orange.

"For you," Lily said, holding it up.

Boris licked the orange with a rough, warm tongue and nudged Lily gently. She scrambled onto his broad back, and he carried her to the drying puddle where dozens of goldfish flopped helplessly.

Using her iPhone flashlight, Lily guided them as Boris carefully nudged each fish into the bucket. Then he carried them all to the big pond.

"Thank you!" sang the goldfish. "You saved us all!"

That night, Lily couldn't find her iPhone anywhere. Then she noticed—floating above her nightstand, glowing softly—was her phone. Beside it sat a tiny orange scale that sparkled like captured starlight.

Sometimes, she still whispered to the pond. And always, the goldfish with golden scales would answer, for friendship is the most powerful magic of all.