The Zombie Who Loved Spinach

Leo hated spinach. Every time his mom put those green leaves on his plate, he made a face like he'd just bitten into a lemon.

"But Leo," Mom would say, "spinach is like nature's vitamin. It makes you strong!"

Leo didn't feel strong. He felt small, especially when it came to baseball. He loved the game, but he always struck out.

One sunny afternoon, Leo was sitting alone on his front steps, holding his baseball glove. That's when he saw the new kid moving in next door — a pale boy with messy green hair who walked with a funny shuffle.

"Hi!" Leo called out. "Want to play catch?"

The boy's name was Zimby. And Zimby was terrible at baseball. He ran in a jerky way, like a robot that needed oiling. His throws wobbled everywhere except where they should go.

"I'm not very good at sports," Zimby said sadly. "I get tired quickly."

Leo noticed Zimby looked a bit green around the edges. "Are you okay? You look like you need something healthy."

"I've been running all day," Zimby admitted. "Moving boxes is hard work!"

Leo's mom called them for lunch. When she set down spinach salad, Leo made his usual face. But Zimby's eyes lit up.

"Spinach! My favorite!" Zimby ate three helpings.

Something magical happened. Zimby's skin turned less green. He stood up straighter. When they went back outside, Zimby could suddenly throw the ball straight and far. He ran smoothly around the bases like he'd been playing his whole life.

"Wow!" Leo said. "What happened?"

Zimby laughed. "My grandfather always said spinach was like a super vitamin for our family. It gives us energy!"

Leo looked at his own spinach differently. Maybe Mom was right. He tried a bite, then another. It wasn't so bad.

By summer's end, Leo and Zimby were the best baseball players in the neighborhood. Leo had even grown two inches taller.

And the zombie part? Well, that's just what Zimby called himself when he was tired — a "sleepy zombie" who needed spinach to wake up. But Leo knew the truth: sometimes the things we think we hate — like spinach, or practicing, or trying new things — turn out to be exactly what we need to become our best selves.