The Water Bear's Gift

Lily had the messiest hair in town. It bounced when she walked, it danced when she ran, and it always stuck up in crazy tufts every morning. Her mother tried ribbons, barrettes, and even braids, but Lily's hair had a mind of its own.

One hot summer day, Lily followed a secret path up Honeycomb Mountain until she found a hidden pool. The water sparkled like diamonds, and curious blue flowers grew all around it. Lily knelt to dip her hands in the cool, clear water.

"Hello there," a deep rumbly voice echoed from behind the waterfall.

Lily's wild hair stood straight up! A bear emerged from the falling water—but not an ordinary bear. This bear shimmered blue and clear, like he was made entirely of water. He left wet paw prints on the rocks that disappeared in seconds.

"I'm the Spirit of this mountain pool," the Water Bear said gently. "I've been waiting for someone with very special hair."

Lily giggled. "My hair is just messy!"

"Messy? No, it's magical," the Water Bear rumbled. "Your hair captures dreams. Every time it sticks up, it's caught a wish floating by." He touched her curls with one wet paw, and silver sparkles danced through her hair. "Now you can see what I see."

Suddenly, Lily noticed tiny glowing fish in the pool, and little winged creatures sipping nectar from the blue flowers. The whole mountain was alive with magic!

"Will you be my friend?" the Water Bear asked sadly. "I haven't had anyone to talk to in seventy-three years."

Lily wrapped her arms around his watery neck. "Of course! I'll come back every day."

And she did. Every summer, Lily visited her Water Bear friend, and every time she left, her hair was a little more magical, a little more wild, and full of even more dreams.

The moral: Sometimes the things we think make us different are actually what make us special—and those differences can lead to the most wonderful friendships.