Children's Story

June 2026

M.W. Sturdivant

Once Upon a Time... In a little dozy-cozy town, nestled between tall trees, rolling hills, and acres of farmland, there was a magical backyard. It didn’t seem special at first, but if you looked closer, you would see the wonders waiting to be discovered. # One bright morning, two brothers stepped outside to play. As they entered the garden, something curious happened. The air shimmered with a soft, golden light, and they felt the ground beneath them hum. The backyard was alive! # The older brother looked around and gasped. “James! Look!” he pointed. Out of the bushes hopped two bunnies, their fluffy tails wiggling as they playfully chased each other through the clover patches. He was so excited! “I didn’t know our house had bunnies!” # Suddenly, the sound of chirping filled the air. James listened intently. Above, a proud robin perched on the old oaks' gnarled branch, while a tiny hummingbird buzzed near a patch of lavender from Mommy and Daddy’s garden, sipping its sweet nectar. He was there one moment, purple and green glinting in the sun’s rays, and then he was gone. A pair of cardinals joined in, their bright red feathers flashing like jewels through the trees. Their color was spectacular and bold. # As James bent down to smell the flowers, he spotted a line of tiny frogs hopping toward a shimmering pond at the edge of the yard. And near the pond, slow and steady, were twenty-two turtles sunbathing on a fallen maple, their shells gleaming like stars on the backs of logs in the warm light. "Oh, look!" James Gibberish was getting better! From under a bed of pink hydrangeas, a tiny salamander wriggled, its body dusted in dirt, disguising its shades of orange and yellow. Nearby, the boxwoods rustled, and a little mouse who peeked out, twitching its nose before scurrying off into the shadows once more. # Max wandered over to a small patch of mushrooms growing in the shade, their caps glowing like tiny lanterns. "I think this is where the magic comes from!" he said with wide eyes. Just then, a chipmunk zipped by with a nut in its cheek, and a family of geese waddled through the wild flowers and cat tails by the pond. Ducks splashed happily, quacking and playing as their little feet paddled through the gleaming water. # Up in the sky, two graceful birds soared high above. "That's a hawk and a falcon!" Max exclaimed, “Daddy said you can tell by their wings!” He looked on in wonder, "They’re the protectors of our magical backyard!" James pointed to a graceful, gliding figure. “Whoa, look!” Max saw just what he was looking at. “You’re right, James, that is a swan!" The white bird floated across the pond, its long neck curving as if to say hello. # As the day passed, the two brothers noticed something. The more they played, and Daddy and Mommy cared for the creatures and plants, the more the backyard came to life. The Easter lilies bloomed brighter, and the fragrance of the lavender filled the air even more sweetly. "Oh my," said James thoughtfully. Max held on to his little brother’s shoulders, "That’s right, when we take care of nature, nature takes care of us." # Mommy agreed, "When one creature comes, another follows." The sun began to set, painting the sky in delicate shades of pink, blue and gold. Max and James sat on the soft grass, watching the animals slowly settle in for the night. The robins and cardinals sang one last song before flying to their nests, and the frogs croaked in chorus by the pond. As the golden glow of the backyard began to fade, James smiled. Max smiled too, "I think this backyard will always be magical, as long as we love and care for it." # And so, Max and James made a promise to protect the magical creatures and plants in their backyard, knowing that with kindness and care, their secret garden would continue to flourish, filled with wonder and life.