The Sleepy Scarecrow's Secret

Lily wore her special spy sunglasses inside the house. She was Agent Lily, on a very important mission. Her job: discover why Mom's garden was growing the biggest, brightest flowers in the whole neighborhood.

That's when she saw him—a lumpy figure stumbling between the tomato plants.

A zombie!

Lily gasped. The zombie wore old overalls and had straw sticking out of his sleeves. He moved slowly, slowly, slowly, like he was sleepwalking through a dream.

Agent Lily crept closer, hiding behind the sunflowers. But then the zombie spotted her.

"Hello there," he said in a scratchy whisper. "I'm Barnaby. Are you a friend?"

Lily blinked. Zombies didn't say hello!

"You're a zombie!" she whispered back.

Barnaby sighed, and a piece of straw fell from his hair. "I suppose I look like one. I move so slowly these days. But really, I'm just a very sleepy scarecrow."

"Why are you so tired?"

Barnaby pointed at the tall fence blocking the morning sun. "The new neighbors built that fence last week. No sunshine reaches my garden spot anymore. And scarecrows need sunshine vitamins to stay lively and awake."

Lily's eyes widened. "Sunshine vitamins?"

"Yes! Just like how your mommy says YOU need vitamin C from oranges to stay healthy, scarecrows need vitamin S from sunshine. Without it, we move like zombies."

Lily knew exactly what to do. Together, she and Barnaby dug up the scarecrow and carried him to the sunny spot by the porch. Within minutes, golden sunlight warmed Barnaby's face.

He stretched his arms. He jumped. He danced a little jig!

"My vitamin S!" Barnaby cheered. "Thank you, Agent Lily!"

From that day on, Lily visited Barnaby every morning. They were the best of friends—one secret spy and one magical scarecrow, solving garden mysteries together. And whenever Lily ate her oranges for vitamin C, she'd wink at Barnaby soaking up his vitamin S.

"Being a spy," Lily whispered, "is all about discovering the magic hiding right in front of you."