The Magic Spinach Swing

Leo poked at the green mound on his plate. Spinach. Again.

"Eat your spinach, Leo," his mom called from the kitchen. "It'll make you strong."

Leo sighed. He wanted to be strong, but he wanted to be strong at BASEBALL, not at eating vegetables. Tomorrow was the big championship game, and he still couldn't hit the ball out of the infield.

That night, Leo couldn't sleep. He crept downstairs to check on his GOLDFISH, Finny. The fishbowl glowed with an strange silver light.

"Leo," Finny said.

Leo nearly fell over. "You can TALK?!"

Finny swished her golden tail. "Only when someone needs help. You want to win tomorrow's game, don't you?"

Leo nodded eagerly. "More than anything!"

"Then listen closely," Finny whispered. "Tomorrow, when you're at bat, think of everything you love. Your FAMILY. Your FRIENDS. The crack of the bat. And yes — even the spinach."

"Spinach? But I hate—"

"Trust me," Finny said as the light began to fade. "Magic works in mysterious ways."

The next day, Leo stepped up to the plate. The pitcher wound up and threw. Leo closed his eyes and thought of everything Finny said — his mom's hugs, his best FRIEND Marcus waiting in the dugout, his pet GOLDFISH with the secret wisdom, and even that green vegetable he'd left on his plate.

CRACK!

Leo opened his eyes. The ball was soaring higher and higher, over the fence, into the clouds. It was a home run! His teammates carried him on their shoulders.

That night, Leo ate every bite of his spinach. It still tasted funny, but now he knew — sometimes the things that seem hardest to swallow give us the most magic of all.

And somewhere in his room, Finny the goldfish swam in happy circles, knowing that the real magic had been inside Leo all along.