The Zombie Who Loved Sunflowers

Lily discovered something strange in her grandmother's garden. Behind the tall **palm** tree, a small figure moved slowly, like a sleepy clockwork toy. It was green all over, with leaves sprouting from its head and flowers tucked behind what looked like ears.

"Are you... a **zombie**?" Lily whispered, remembering the scary creatures from her big brother's video games.

The figure shook its head slowly. "Not scary zombie," it said in a voice like rustling leaves. "Garden zombie. I help flowers grow at night when they're lonely."

Lily's eyes widened. "Really?"

The garden zombie nodded and pointed to a patch of drooping sunflowers. "They need company. Want to watch?"

Together, they sat beneath the swaying **palm** tree as the moon rose. The zombie sang a tiny humming song, and the sunflowers perked up, their golden faces turning toward it as if listening to an old friend's story.

"My name is Zeb," the zombie said shyly. "Will you be my **friend**? Most people run away when they see me."

Lily smiled. "I don't run away from friends who make flowers happy."

Every night after that, Lily visited Zeb. They planted rainbow seeds that grew into glowing flowers, and Zeb taught her the secret songs that made vegetables taste sweeter. The other kids thought Lily was silly for talking to her garden, but she didn't mind.

One day, Lily's classmates teased her about her imaginary friend. That night, she found Zeb looking sad, his leafy hair drooping.

"Maybe I should go," Zeb said. "I'm causing you trouble."

"No!" Lily hugged her mossy friend. "Real friends stay even when things are hard. Besides, I have an idea."

The next day, Lily invited her classmates to see something amazing. When the sun set, Zeb emerged from behind the **palm** tree and made the whole garden bloom with flowers that sparkled like tiny stars.

Her classmates gasped. "He's beautiful!"

Lily took Zeb's leafy hand. "He's my **friend**. And he taught me that the most wonderful things sometimes look different than we expect."

From that day on, the whole neighborhood visited Lily's magical garden, where a zombie and a girl proved that friendship grows in the most surprising places.