The Sphinx's Green Ticket

Leo pushed the green mound around his plate. 'I don't like spinach,' he grumbled.

But then—CRUNCH!

The world around him shimmered like sunlight on water. On his dinner plate stood a tiny sphinx, no bigger than his thumb, with wings like polished moonlight.

'You're the first human in a thousand years to eat the sacred greens!' the sphinx chirped. 'I'm Cleo, guardian of the Pyramid of Wishes. That spinach you just ate? It's a magic ticket!'

'A pyramid?' Leo's eyes widened. 'Like in Egypt?'

'Bigger. Better. And we have to hurry—the Midnight Bull is coming!'

Cleo fluttered her wings, and suddenly Leo's kitchen transformed. Golden walls stretched upward, glittering with constellations that twinkled like captured stars. They were inside the pyramid!

'Who's the Midnight Bull?' Leo asked, rushing beside the tiny sphinx.

'A constellation who comes to life every night to guard the Dream Crown,' Cleo explained, her lion-tail twitching nervously. 'But he's terribly grumpy because no one ever visits him. He just wants a friend.' She pointed to her flowing hair. 'See these golden ribbons? They're woven from stardust. I was supposed to give him one as a peace offering, but I was afraid.'

Ahead, massive hooves thudded against the golden floor. Around the corner came a magnificent bull made entirely of swirling stars and nebula dust, his horns curved like crescent moons.

'GO AWAY!' the bull bellowed, but his voice sounded more lonely than angry.

Leo remembered how he felt when no one wanted to play with him at recess. He stepped forward bravely.

'Mr. Bull? I'm Leo, and this is Cleo. We came to be your friend!'

The Midnight Bull froze. His starry eyes widened. 'Friend?'

Cleo untied a golden ribbon from her hair and fluttered forward. 'I'm sorry I was scared. Will you accept this?'

The bull's nebula mane softened. He lowered his massive head gently, and Cleo tied the stardust ribbon around one glittering horn.

'Will you visit tomorrow?' the bull whispered. 'And bring more of that magical spinach?'

Leo grinned. The green stuff wasn't so bad after all.

Cleo winked at him. 'Every bite opens a door. The question is—are you hungry enough to find them?'