The Pool of Wishing Stars

Lily loved her messy brown hair that always stuck out in every direction, like she'd just rolled down a grassy hill. But she loved the old abandoned pool behind the playground even more.

One hot summer afternoon, Lily pressed her face against the rusty chain-link fence. Something glimmered in the deep end - something golden and bright. She squeezed through a gap in the fence and crept closer.

A single goldfish swam through the air above the empty pool, its scales shimmering like tiny stars. "Hello!" called Lily, but the goldfish only swished its tail and drifted downward, disappearing into the pool's depths.

Lily's older brother Mikey appeared, clutching his favorite baseball. "What are you doing? Mom says we're not supposed to come here."

"Mikey, look!" Lily pointed. "A magic goldfish!"

Mikey rolled his eyes. "There's no such thing as magic." But when he tossed his baseball into the pool, it didn't hit the bottom with a clatter. Instead, it floated, suspended in mid-air beside a dozen more golden fish now swimming in circles.

"Whoa," breathed Mikey.

The goldfish nudged the baseball, and suddenly they were all swimming - the fish and the ball together - in a beautiful dance through the still air. Lily reached out and touched a fish's smooth back. It felt like sunshine.

"Make a wish," whispered Lily.

Together, brother and sister closed their eyes and wished with all their hearts. When they opened them, the pool was no longer empty. Crystal-clear water filled it to the brim, and the goldfish were swimming happily below the surface.

"Best pool ever," said Mikey, already pulling off his shoes.

Lily jumped in first, her hair swirling around her like a mermaid's crown. The goldfish swam beside them, their golden scales catching the sunlight as if they'd been friends forever.

Sometimes, the most magical adventures are the ones you find right in your own neighborhood - especially when you bring your imagination along.