The Sphinx Who Loved Green

Leo tucked his baseball glove under his arm and sighed. Mom had made spinach AGAIN for dinner. He'd pushed it around his plate until it looked like a green mountain range.

That night, Leo dreamed of a golden desert where pyramids sparkled like diamonds. In the center stood a magnificent creature with the body of a lion and the head of a wise, kind woman. She wore a baseball cap!

"Welcome, Leo!" the Sphinx purred. "I've been waiting for someone to play baseball with."

"You know baseball?" Leo gasped.

"Invented it!" The Sphinx winked. "The Egyptians played with balls made of papyrus. Want to see my magical field?"

She led him to a diamond where the bases glowed like stars. They played for hours, but soon the Sphinx grew tired.

"What's wrong?" Leo asked.

"I need my magic leaves!" she said sadly. "But the guards only give them to brave children who try new foods."

Her garden was filled with sparkling green leaves that smelled EXACTLY like Mom's spinach.

Leo remembered dinner. "I didn't even try it," he whispered.

"Sometimes," the Sphinx said gently, "the bravest thing you can do is taste something new."

Leo took a deep breath and bit a magical leaf. It tasted like sunshine and adventure! Energy rushed through him.

"Spinach gives you strength!" the Sphinx cheered. "That's why ballplayers eat it!"

They played until dawn, when the Sphinx gave Leo a golden baseball card. "Remember: never say never to new things."

Leo woke up to breakfast. On his plate sat green eggs—with spinach! Leo smiled, took a big bite, and imagined a Sphinx tipping her cap from far away.