The Goldfish's Orange Wish

Lily discovered the tiny sphinx behind her grandmother's garden. It was no bigger than her hand, with the body of a lion and the head of a wise creature. Rain had filled the hollow stone beside it with shimmering water.

"Hello there," said a squeaky voice.

Lily jumped. The sphinx's stone eyes twinkled like stars. Its wings fluttered, stirring up little puffs of dirt.

"I'm Cleo," said the sphinx. "And you've found the magical pond of the Golden Fin."

Inside the water darted three bright goldfish, their scales flashing like tiny suns. They swam in circles, leaving trails of rainbow bubbles.

"They're magic goldfish," Cleo explained. "Once each day, when the sky turns orange like a ripe fruit, they grant one wish to someone kind."

Lily's heart raced like butterfly wings. "Any wish?"

"Any wish," Cleo nodded. "But be careful. The best wishes help others too."

All afternoon, Lily thought hard while sitting cross-legged in the grass. She could wish for toys, or candy, or to fly like birds. She watched ants march by and butterflies dance in the warm sun.

When the sunset painted everything orange and purple, the goldfish rose to the surface. Their fins glowed. "What is your wish?" they chorused in singing voices.

Lily looked at her neighbor's house. Mrs. Chen was lonely and couldn't walk well anymore. She missed her garden back in China.

"I wish," Lily said slowly, "for Mrs. Chen to have a beautiful garden she can see from her window, with flowers that bloom all year and smell like home."

The goldfish spun in circles, sending ripples across the water. Orange light sparkled everywhere like magic dust. The air smelled sweet, like flowers and sunshine.

The next morning, Mrs. Chen called Lily over. "Look at my garden!" she cried with happy tears. Orange marigolds, yellow sunflowers, purple petunias—all blooming magically. Butterflies and bees danced around them.

Lily waved at the tiny sphinx hidden in the grass. She had learned something wonderful: the best wishes make others happy too.