The Zombie Who Needed Orange Vitamins

One rainy afternoon, Lily discovered something strange in her garden. A small figure stood near the orange tree, moving slowly like a sleepy robot. It had greenish skin and messy hair, but kind eyes.

"Are you a zombie?" Lily asked, remembering her monster books.

The creature nodded slowly. "I'm Zed. I've been asleep for a hundred years. I need something important."

Lily wasn't scared. She sensed Zed was lonely, just like she had been before moving to this new house. "What do you need?"

"Magic vitamins," Zed whispered. "They grow on special orange trees during lightning storms. Without them, I'll fade away forever."

That night, a thunderstorm shook the house. Lightning flashed across the sky, turning the garden bright as day. Lily watched from her window, amazed as glowing orange orbs appeared on the orange tree branches. Each one pulsed with warm light, like tiny moons.

She rushed outside in her raincoat. Zed stood beneath the tree, reaching weakly toward the glowing oranges.

"Help me," he called.

Lily climbed the tree, careful not to slip. She gathered three glowing oranges and tossed them down to Zed. He caught each one, taking small bites. As the orange light flowed through him, his greenish skin turned rosy pink. His eyes brightened like stars.

"Thank you, friend," Zed said, his voice strong and clear. "These magic vitamins saved me."

The next morning, Lily's parents couldn't believe their eyes. Zed was helping her father rake leaves, laughing and running like any normal boy. No one else knew his secret.

"You gave me life when I needed it most," Zed told Lily later. "True friends help each other, no matter how strange the situation might seem."

Lily smiled, knowing she had found the best friend in the most unexpected way. Sometimes, the most magical things come from the most surprising places—like a zombie who needed orange vitamins during a lightning storm.