The Poolside Magic Match

Lily's curly purple hair bounced as she ran toward the pool. It was the first day of summer, and her older brother Max was already there, hitting a padel ball against the wall. Thwack, thwack!

"Lily! Watch this!" Max called, swinging his racquet. But his aim was off. The ball sailed through the air and landed—plop!—right beside someone sleeping on a lounge chair.

Lily gasped. The someone had green skin, stitches on their arms, and clothes that looked slightly tattered. It was a zombie!

Max froze. "Um... sorry," he squeaked.

The zombie sat up. His name was Zed, and his messy orange hair stuck straight up. He smiled, showing slightly crooked teeth. "That was quite a hit!" Zed said cheerfully.

Lily and Max exchanged surprised looks. Zombies were supposed to be scary, not nice!

"I'm new in town," Zed said, standing up. "I've wanted to try padel, but everyone runs away when they see me."

"We won't run away," Lily said bravely. "Do you want to play with us?"

Zed's face lit up. But then he frowned. "I don't have a racquet. And I'm not very good at sports."

Just then, Lily's teddy bear, Mr. Cuddles, tumbled out of her bag. But this wasn't ordinary teddy bear. The pool's magic waters had made him come alive! Mr. Cuddles shook his fuzzy brown fur, waddled over to Zed, and placed a small stick in his hand.

"Even a bear knows everyone deserves a friend," Mr. Cuddles rumbled in his deep, gentle voice.

So Lily, Max, Zed, and the magical bear played padel together all afternoon. Zed wasn't scary at all—he was funny, kind, and hit the ball surprisingly hard with his strong zombie arms.

That summer, the four of them were inseparable. And whenever new kids came to the pool looking nervous, Lily would remember what she'd learned: sometimes the scariest-looking people are just waiting for someone to say hello.

"The best magic," Zed would say, grinning at his friends, "is friendship."