Princess was a little girl with bright yellow slippers. She lived in a cozy house with a blue door, a round window, and a very soft rug.
Princess loved to help. She helped fold tiny socks. She helped water the plant. She helped her teddy sit up straight.
One rainy morning, Princess heard a sound in the playroom.
Clink. Clank. Bump!
“Oh!” said Princess. “Who is there?”
On the floor sat Toy, a little red robot with one silver eye. Toy had a wind-up key on his back. But the key was stuck.
“I cannot turn,” squeaked Toy. “I cannot dance. I am very grumpy!”
Toy rolled into a block tower. Crash! Blue blocks went one way. Yellow blocks went another way.
“Please do not crash,” said Princess kindly.
“I do not want to crash,” said Toy. “My key hurts. Everything feels wrong.”
Princess looked under the table. She looked behind the big red chair. She looked inside the basket of blankets.
Then the house plant gave a little wiggle.
Its leaves shook. Its pot glowed green.
Out popped Tree Spirit, small and round, with leaf ears and a twig hat. Tree Spirit was the oldest, gentlest friend in the house.
“Good morning, Princess,” whispered Tree Spirit. “Good morning, sad little Toy.”
“I am not sad!” beeped Toy.
A tiny drop of rain fell from Toy’s silver eye.
Tree Spirit smiled. “Sometimes sad sounds like grumpy.”
Princess nodded. “We can help together.”
Tree Spirit pointed to the rug. “Toy needs a new turning sparkle. It is hidden somewhere in this house.”
“A sparkle?” asked Princess.
“Yes,” said Tree Spirit. “It is small. It is gold. It goes click-click in a wind-up key.”
Princess clapped. “Let’s find it!”
First they went to the kitchen. Princess opened the low cupboard.
“Not in the cups,” she said.
Toy peeked into a pan. “Not in the pan.”
Tree Spirit sniffed the air. “I smell toast. I do not smell sparkle.”
Next they went to the bathroom. Princess looked by the fluffy towels.
“Not here,” she said.
Toy rolled near the bathtub. Plop! His wheel touched a puddle.
“Oh, no!” cried Toy.
Princess lifted him gently onto a dry towel. “You are safe.”
Toy’s red face looked less cross. “Thank you, Princess.”
Then they went upstairs. The rain tapped the window. Tap, tap, tap.
In Princess’s bedroom stood a tall plant with long green leaves. Its leaves made a soft swish.
Tree Spirit gasped. “Listen!”
Swish. Click.
Swish. Click.
Princess crawled behind the plant. There, under one leaf, was a tiny golden sparkle.
“I found it!” she cheered.
But the sparkle was stuck in a fuzzy ball of dust.
Toy frowned. “I cannot get it. My wheel is too wide.”
Tree Spirit reached with a twig finger. “My finger is too short.”
Princess thought. She was small, but she was very clever.
She took a feather from her pillow. She held it very still. Tickly-tickle, she brushed the dust away.
The golden sparkle rolled into her hand.
“Yay!” said Tree Spirit.
Princess carried it to Toy. “Ready?”
Toy shut his silver eye. “I am a little scared.”
“That is okay,” said Princess. “I will stay here.”
Tree Spirit placed the sparkle in Toy’s key. Click-click!
The key began to turn.
Whirr. Whirr. Whirr!
Toy stood up. His arms went out. His feet went tap-tap-tap.
“I can dance!” he beeped.
Toy danced on the rug. He did not bump blocks. He did not crash chairs. He made a funny robot wiggle.
Princess laughed. Tree Spirit spun like a little green leaf.
Then Toy stopped before Princess. From his tummy door, he took out a surprise. It was a tiny treasure box, painted red and gold.
“For you,” said Toy. “You helped me when I was grumpy.”
Princess opened the box. Inside was a shining golden sticker shaped like a star.
“Your Helper Star,” said Tree Spirit.
Princess put the star on her yellow slipper. It sparkled when she walked.
All day, Toy danced gently. Tree Spirit rested by the plant. And Princess helped everyone in the cozy house.
When night came, Princess whispered, “Good night, Toy. Good night, Tree Spirit.”
“Good night, brave helper,” said Toy.
“Good night, bright little star,” whispered Tree Spirit.
Princess smiled under her blanket. Her slipper star gave one small golden blink.
Click-click. Safe and happy.