Puffin and the Excuse-Me Sneeze

It was picnic day in Whisperwood, and Whimsy had made everything JUST right.

Berry tarts in a circle. Dew-cups in a row. A daisy at every place.

Mira fluttered down. Tillo arrived slowly, lantern glowing. And Puffin zoomed in last, wings buzzing with excitement.

Too much excitement.

His nose began to tickle.

“Uh-oh,” said Puffin. “I feel a”

“Not on the tarts!” cried Whimsy.

“KA-CHOOOO!”

Stars EVERYWHERE.

Glitter on the tarts. Sparkles in the dew-cups. A glowing star stuck right on Tillo's nose.

The picnic looked like a tiny galaxy had exploded on it.

Whimsy's mouth fell open. Her perfect picnic… twinkled.

Puffin's wings drooped.

Everyone waited.

And then Puffin remembered what Tillo had taught him about tangled moments: slow words untangle them best.

“Excuse me,” said Puffin, very carefully. “That sneeze snuck up on me. I'm sorry about your picnic, Whimsy. Please - may I help clean up?”

Whimsy blinked.

Three little words - excuse me, sorry, please - worked like a warm breeze.

Her frown melted. Her giggle bubbled up.

“You know what?” she said. “A galaxy picnic is even PRETTIER.”

“And the tarts,” announced Tillo, tasting one thoughtfully, star still on his nose, “are now delicious AND sparkly.”

So they ate glitter-tarts and drank starlight dew.

Mira glowed happily. Puffin only sneezed twice more - “Excuse me!” “Excuse me!” -and everyone just laughed.

Because in Whisperwood, accidents happen.

But kind words make everything -

even a sneezed-on picnic - sparkle.