The Sphinx's Sweet Secret

Mia flopped onto her pool float, phone in hand, ready to scroll through summer photos. But something glimmered at the bottom of the pool — something golden and mysterious.

She slipped into the water, swimming down to investigate. There, resting on the pool's tiled floor, was a tiny golden sphinx no bigger than her palm, with emerald eyes that sparkled even underwater.

Mia surfaced, gasping, and cradled the sphinx in her dripping hands. Suddenly, the miniature creature stirred!

"I am Professor Paws," the sphinx announced in a voice like chimes in the breeze. "And I have waited decades for someone to notice me."

Mia's iPhone clattered to the patio as she stared, amazed.

"I have a riddle for you," said Professor Paws. "Solve it, and I'll share a magical secret. I'm orange outside, sweet inside, and I wear a crown of black jewels. What am I?"

Mia thought hard. Then she remembered the fruit bowl on the kitchen table.

"A papaya!" she exclaimed.

"Correct!" Professor Paws did a tiny happy dance. "Now, bring me one, and you'll discover why I've been waiting."

Mia rushed inside, grabbed a papaya, and returned to find the sphinx had grown to kitten-size. As she held out the fruit, it began to glow.

"The real magic," Professor Paws whispered, touching the papaya, "is that wonderful things are hiding everywhere — even at the bottom of a pool. You just have to look up from your screen to see them."

Mia looked at her iPhone, then at the sphinx, then at the shimmering pool water. She smiled.

"I think I'll keep swimming," she said. "Just in case there's more magic to find."

Professor Paws purred. "There always is, my dear. There always is."