Once upon a time, in a garden full of bright flowers, lived two best friends. Their names were Aisha and Megan. Aisha had curly hair that bounced when she ran. Megan had big blue eyes that sparkled like stars.
Every day, they played together. Zoom! They ran down the hill. Splash!
They jumped in the puddles. Giggle! They laughed until their tummies hurt. They were the best of friends.
But one sunny morning, something changed. They found a shiny, red ball under the big oak tree. It was the most beautiful ball ever. I found it first!
said Aisha. She reached out her hand. Grab! No, I saw it first!
said Megan. She reached out her hand. Snatch! They both held the ball.
Tug! Pull! Tug! Pull!
It is mine! shouted Aisha. Her face turned red. It is mine!
shouted Megan. Her face turned red too. Suddenly...
Pop! The red ball burst with a loud sound. Oh no. The ball was flat.
Aisha looked at Megan. Megan looked at Aisha. They were not happy anymore. Aisha crossed her arms tight.
Hmph! she said. She stomped her feet. Stomp!
Stomp! She walked to her side of the garden. She sat under a rose bush. She felt very mad.
Can you make a mad face? Try it! Megan frowned deeply. Hmph!
she said. She stomped her feet. Stomp! Stomp!
She walked to her side of the garden. She sat under a sunflower. She felt very sad. Can you make a sad face?
Aww. The garden became very quiet. The birds stopped singing. The wind stopped blowing.
It was not a fun day. Aisha picked up a stick and drew in the dirt. She drew an angry face. Megan picked up a leaf and tore it into tiny pieces.
Rip. Rip. Just then, a tiny little bug flew down.
His name was Barnaby. Barnaby was a Kindness Bug. He had glowing green wings and a smile on his face. He saw Aisha sitting alone.
He saw Megan sitting alone. Barnaby flew to Aisha. Hello, Aisha, buzzed Barnaby. Why are you sitting all alone?
I am not talking to Megan, said Aisha. We are fighting. Barnaby flew to Megan. Hello, Megan, buzzed Barnaby.
Why is your face so long? I am not talking to Aisha, said Megan. We are fighting. Barnaby knew just what to do.
This was a job for the Forgiveness Project. I have a magic idea, buzzed Barnaby. If you do something kind, your mad feelings will fly away. Whoosh!
Aisha looked up. Really? Yes, said Barnaby. Find something nice to give.
It will make your heart feel warm. Aisha thought. She looked around. She saw some pretty purple flowers.
She picked them gently. She picked three flowers. One for Megan. One for Megan.
One for Megan. She made a small bouquet. Snip, snip. Megan thought.
She looked around. She saw some smooth, round stones. She found the best ones. She found three stones.
One for Aisha. One for Aisha. One for Aisha. She made a little pile.
Click, clack. Now, buzzed Barnaby. Walk to the middle. But walk slowly.
Step... step... step. Aisha stood up.
She held the flowers. Step... step... step.
She felt a little bit nervous. Her heart went thump, thump. Megan stood up. She held the stones.
Step... step... step. She felt a little bit nervous too.
Her heart went thump, thump. They met in the middle of the garden, right where the red ball had popped. Aisha looked at the ground. Megan looked at the sky.
I am sorry I grabbed the ball, whispered Aisha. It was very quiet. I am sorry I grabbed it too, whispered Megan. Aisha held out the purple flowers.
These are for you, she said. Megan held out the smooth stones. These are for you, she said. Do you know what happened next?
Megan took the flowers. She smiled a tiny smile. Aisha took the stones. She smiled a tiny smile.
Friends? asked Aisha. Friends, said Megan. They gave each other a big hug.
Squeeze! It was the best hug ever. The mad feelings were gone. Whoosh!
The sad feelings were gone. Whoosh! Barnaby the Kindness Bug did a happy flip in the air. Zoom!
The Forgiveness Project is a success! he cheered. Aisha and Megan played for the rest of the day. They did not need the red ball.
They had each other. They ran around the trees. Zoom! They jumped over the grass.
Jump! They laughed together. Giggle! Giggle!
And every time they felt mad, they remembered the Kindness Bug. They remembered to be kind. Because kindness is the best magic of all. The end.