The Zombie Goldfish's Magic Vitamins

Lily's goldfish, Finny, was strange. He floated sideways at the bottom of his bowl, barely moving. Her brother called him a "zombie goldfish" because Finny looked like he was sleeping all day.

But Lily knew the truth.

One rainy afternoon, while Lily was feeling lonely, tiny bubbles floated from Finny's mouth. Each bubble contained a glowing speck—like a tiny, shimmering vitamin. Finny wasn't sick. He was magic!

"Take them," Finny seemed to say, his fins waving slowly.

Lily popped the bubble. A sweet, tingly feeling spread through her body. Suddenly, her legs felt light as feathers. She started running—faster than she'd ever run before! She zoomed around her room, then down the hall, then outside into the rainy garden.

In the garden, she met a fox.

"You're fast!" said the fox. "I'm Finn. Want to be friends?"

Lily nodded, breathless with excitement.

Every day that week, Finny gave her more magic vitamins. Lily and Finn the fox raced through meadows, over streams, and up rolling hills. They discovered secret forests filled with sparkling fireflies and flowers that hummed gentle melodies.

On the seventh day, the vitamins ran out. Finny swam to the top of his bowl, finally active and bright as a penny.

"The magic wasn't in the vitamins," Finny seemed to say. "It was in believing something wonderful could happen."

Lily looked at her new friend, the fox, waiting by the door. She looked at her goldfish, glowing with health.

Some friends, she realized, come in unexpected packages—even in a zombie goldfish that teaches you how to run toward magic.