The Midnight Baseball Game

Lily peered through the fence at the old swimming pool. It had been empty for years, but tonight something magical glittered in the moonlight at the bottom.

"What's that?" whispered her best friend Toby, pointing at something silver.

Lily gasped. "Is that... my baseball?"

The baseball she'd lost weeks ago now glowed with soft blue light. Suddenly, the empty pool filled not with water, but with twinkling stars like a slice of the night sky. And something stirred in the starlight.

A small, green figure emerged—no bigger than a garden gnome. His skin was fuzzy like moss, his eyes were kind and sleepy, and he moved with a slow, gentle shuffle.

"Is he a zombie?" Toby whispered, eyes wide.

The creature shook his head slowly. "I'm Zommy," he said with a yawn. "I'm not scary. I'm just... very, very sleepy. I've been asleep in this pool for a hundred years."

"Why were you sleeping?" Lily asked courageously.

"Waiting for someone to play," Zommy smiled. "I love baseball."

The children couldn't believe it—a magical new friend who loved their favorite game! That night, they played the most wonderful baseball game ever. Zommy wasn't fast, but he could hit the ball so high it touched the moon. The pool filled with magical water that sparkled like diamonds, and they splashed and played until dawn.

"Come back tomorrow?" Zommy asked hopefully.

"Every day!" promised Lily.

Sometimes, the scariest-looking things turn out to be the most wonderful friends. You just have to be brave enough to say hello.