She looked into the mirror. She wished her legs, and shoulders, and neck - every part of her body could be more flexible! She had been taking ball-room dancing lessons, ever since she saw the first series of "Dancing with the stars" on TV. She thought if football players, and wrestling pros, could turn into dancing champions, it should not be too difficult to learn ball-room dancing!
However, she was discouraged when she attended the first lesson. Her body felt stiff. Her legs were awkward. She was not the elegant swan she thought she would be. The only comforting thought was that most of her dance-mates seemed to be struggling as much as she was. After the first lesson, her body was aching so much, she felt like she had run a marathon. She really did not feel like going back to the second lesson, but she had already paid for it.
She could not believe her instructor had praised her! She sat on the dance floor, perspiration sticking on to her face, and body. He actually said she was good enough to think about competing! In her heart, she thanked "Dancing with the stars" for putting this dream in her head, and for making her believe she could be an elegant swan some day! She persevered, and she had succeeded! A year of hard work had paid off finally!
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
Friday, April 6, 2007
Little Shea's Backyard Adventures (5)
They passed the high school, and flew further on. Sometimes, Shea recognised where they were, sometimes he did not. He saw a few restaurants at which he thought he had eaten. He was very excited when he saw the ice-cream place he liked. He pointed it out to Ming Ming, and described to him all the flavors offered there.
"Do you like ice-cream?" Shea asked Ming Ming.
"I don't know. Never tasted it!" answered Ming Ming.
Shea could not believe anyone not having tried ice-cream, "What? You never ate ice-cream?"
"Well, I'm not like you, you know! I don't really have to eat!" explained Ming MIng.
"Don't have to eat? But you ARE alive, aren't you?" asked Ming Ming, his eyes opened wide.
"Yeah...I'm kind of alive, but different from you. I'm a fairy, you know!" Ming Ming answered, scratching his head, hoping Shea would not ask him any more questions.
"O.K.! Shea said, "When I'm bigger, I'll know!"
That was Shea's answer to everything these days. Whatever he could not do, or did not want to do, or could not figure out, he thought he would be able to do so when he was bigger! In his little heart though, he decided he would sneak some Bluebell ice-cream into the yard, and let Ming Ming "have a try" (in Shea's language) one day. Mommy always had some ice-cream in the freezer, and Daddy always said Bluebell ice-cream was the tastiest. So, Ming Ming would have some Bluebell ice-cream, and realise what he had been missing!
Suddenly, the wind became stronger. They flew faster! Shea could taste salt in the air! They were at the beach! He could see tiny surfers riding the waves. There were people on the beach too. The beach umbrellas looked like tiny mushrooms dotting the beach. Shea was afraid of the waves whenever Mommy and Daddy took him to the beach. He liked to build sand-castles on the beach, but did not like to go in the water. Daddy wished Shea would like the water better. He would like to teach him how to surf when he got a little bigger.
"Enough flying for the day?" asked Ming Ming.
Shea was beginning to miss Mommy a little, and said, "Ah-huh...I'm kind of hungry!"
"All right! Hang on tight!" Ming Ming yelled above the sound of the waves and wind.
The leaf carpet suddenly gained speed, and flew back towards the direction of Shea's house. It went so fast the scenery below was just a blur to Shea's little eyes! He felt a little dizzy, and shut his eyes. Then, he felt everything becoming still, and heard Ming Ming saying, "You can step off now!"
It took Shea a while to recognise where he was. He was not used to seeing his backyard from a bug's point of view. Ming Ming took out his feather, and puffed at Shea's face. Shea felt his body stretching, and suddenly, he was his usual size again!
"Run along now!" said Ming Ming.
"Will I see you tomorrow!" asked Shea anxiously.
"Sure! I'll be here!" Ming Ming answered.
Shea remembered his manners and muttered, "Thanks for the fun today!"
Ming Ming smiled, and waved him along.
Shea waved back, and turned towards the door.
"Do you like ice-cream?" Shea asked Ming Ming.
"I don't know. Never tasted it!" answered Ming Ming.
Shea could not believe anyone not having tried ice-cream, "What? You never ate ice-cream?"
"Well, I'm not like you, you know! I don't really have to eat!" explained Ming MIng.
"Don't have to eat? But you ARE alive, aren't you?" asked Ming Ming, his eyes opened wide.
"Yeah...I'm kind of alive, but different from you. I'm a fairy, you know!" Ming Ming answered, scratching his head, hoping Shea would not ask him any more questions.
"O.K.! Shea said, "When I'm bigger, I'll know!"
That was Shea's answer to everything these days. Whatever he could not do, or did not want to do, or could not figure out, he thought he would be able to do so when he was bigger! In his little heart though, he decided he would sneak some Bluebell ice-cream into the yard, and let Ming Ming "have a try" (in Shea's language) one day. Mommy always had some ice-cream in the freezer, and Daddy always said Bluebell ice-cream was the tastiest. So, Ming Ming would have some Bluebell ice-cream, and realise what he had been missing!
Suddenly, the wind became stronger. They flew faster! Shea could taste salt in the air! They were at the beach! He could see tiny surfers riding the waves. There were people on the beach too. The beach umbrellas looked like tiny mushrooms dotting the beach. Shea was afraid of the waves whenever Mommy and Daddy took him to the beach. He liked to build sand-castles on the beach, but did not like to go in the water. Daddy wished Shea would like the water better. He would like to teach him how to surf when he got a little bigger.
"Enough flying for the day?" asked Ming Ming.
Shea was beginning to miss Mommy a little, and said, "Ah-huh...I'm kind of hungry!"
"All right! Hang on tight!" Ming Ming yelled above the sound of the waves and wind.
The leaf carpet suddenly gained speed, and flew back towards the direction of Shea's house. It went so fast the scenery below was just a blur to Shea's little eyes! He felt a little dizzy, and shut his eyes. Then, he felt everything becoming still, and heard Ming Ming saying, "You can step off now!"
It took Shea a while to recognise where he was. He was not used to seeing his backyard from a bug's point of view. Ming Ming took out his feather, and puffed at Shea's face. Shea felt his body stretching, and suddenly, he was his usual size again!
"Run along now!" said Ming Ming.
"Will I see you tomorrow!" asked Shea anxiously.
"Sure! I'll be here!" Ming Ming answered.
Shea remembered his manners and muttered, "Thanks for the fun today!"
Ming Ming smiled, and waved him along.
Shea waved back, and turned towards the door.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Little Shea's Backyard Adventures (4)
"Sheng!!!!!!!!!!" a little voice came from behind, and Shea felt something hit him on the back! After the thing slammed against his back, it slid onto the ground. It was Ming Ming, who was flung from the squirrel, and landed against Shea's back.
Shea laughed as he saw Ming Ming sprawled on the ground at his feet!
"Are you hurt?" Shea asked.
Ming Ming rubbed one hand over his head, and groaned, "That squirrel! Could have given me a warning! It was going too fast!"
Shea stooped down, and picked Ming Ming up. He dusted the leaves and grass off the little fairy, and held him in the palm of his hand, and brought him close to his face.
"What are you looking at? Is my face dirty?" Ming Ming asked.
"No," said Shea.
"Well, are you ready for some fun?" Ming Ming asked.
"Yes! Yes!" Shea answered eagerly!
"First! We need to make you smaller!" Ming Ming muttered, and took out a feather from his pocket, and continued, "Ready?"
Shea nodded his head eagerly, wondering what Ming Ming was going to do.
Ming Ming put the feather close to Shea's face, and blew a puff of air.
Shea felt a strange sensation flow through his body, and then, felt himself shrinking! Suddenly, he was not holding Ming Ming any more, but was standing face to face with the little fairy on the ground. He had become as tiny as Ming Ming! Shea felt excited, but a little nervous about Mommy missing him. Ming Ming guessed Shea's thoughts, and said, "Don't worry! We would only be gone a few seconds - to your mom anyway!"
Shea did not understand exactly what Ming Ming meant, but trusted the little fairy to take care of everything. Ming Ming grabbed a leaf from the ground, which was as big as the rug in the living room, to the down-sized Shea, and stepped onto it. He motioned to Shea to do the same thing. Shea hopped onto the leaf, and heard Ming Ming saying, "Hold on tight!"
The leaf jerked, and floated upwards, and up, and up, like an airplane! Shea sat down and held onto the sides of the leaf, and looked down at his yard in amazement! His house was getting smaller, and smaller, as the leaf soared higher, and higher, and further from his house! Shea saw Ming Ming's pigtail blowing in the wind, and felt his own hair flying backwards.
"Where are we going?" shouted Shea.
"Around," shouted back Ming Ming, "you'll see!"
Shea looked down, and felt a little queasy. His neighbors' houses were so tiny. The cars on the roads looked like ants! He saw some familiar buildings. He could recognise the grocery store to which his mom and dad always took him. It looked different from way up there. They drifted further, and Shea got really excited as they flew near the high school in the neighborhood. Shea's daddy worked there. As they flew over the tennis courts at the high school, Shea asked Ming Ming, "May we go closer to the ground, please?"
"Just a little closer," agreed Ming Ming, "but remember, we can't let the grown-ups see us!"
Shea's dad was a tennis coach at the high school, and Shea wanted to see if Daddy was out on the courts.
The leaf floated lower, and Shea saw some kids playing tennis on the courts. There! There was his dad on the courts with his players! Shea could hardly contain himself, and wanted to yell out loud so much! However, he knew better, and just waved to his daddy, even though he knew Daddy would not see him.
Shea laughed as he saw Ming Ming sprawled on the ground at his feet!
"Are you hurt?" Shea asked.
Ming Ming rubbed one hand over his head, and groaned, "That squirrel! Could have given me a warning! It was going too fast!"
Shea stooped down, and picked Ming Ming up. He dusted the leaves and grass off the little fairy, and held him in the palm of his hand, and brought him close to his face.
"What are you looking at? Is my face dirty?" Ming Ming asked.
"No," said Shea.
"Well, are you ready for some fun?" Ming Ming asked.
"Yes! Yes!" Shea answered eagerly!
"First! We need to make you smaller!" Ming Ming muttered, and took out a feather from his pocket, and continued, "Ready?"
Shea nodded his head eagerly, wondering what Ming Ming was going to do.
Ming Ming put the feather close to Shea's face, and blew a puff of air.
Shea felt a strange sensation flow through his body, and then, felt himself shrinking! Suddenly, he was not holding Ming Ming any more, but was standing face to face with the little fairy on the ground. He had become as tiny as Ming Ming! Shea felt excited, but a little nervous about Mommy missing him. Ming Ming guessed Shea's thoughts, and said, "Don't worry! We would only be gone a few seconds - to your mom anyway!"
Shea did not understand exactly what Ming Ming meant, but trusted the little fairy to take care of everything. Ming Ming grabbed a leaf from the ground, which was as big as the rug in the living room, to the down-sized Shea, and stepped onto it. He motioned to Shea to do the same thing. Shea hopped onto the leaf, and heard Ming Ming saying, "Hold on tight!"
The leaf jerked, and floated upwards, and up, and up, like an airplane! Shea sat down and held onto the sides of the leaf, and looked down at his yard in amazement! His house was getting smaller, and smaller, as the leaf soared higher, and higher, and further from his house! Shea saw Ming Ming's pigtail blowing in the wind, and felt his own hair flying backwards.
"Where are we going?" shouted Shea.
"Around," shouted back Ming Ming, "you'll see!"
Shea looked down, and felt a little queasy. His neighbors' houses were so tiny. The cars on the roads looked like ants! He saw some familiar buildings. He could recognise the grocery store to which his mom and dad always took him. It looked different from way up there. They drifted further, and Shea got really excited as they flew near the high school in the neighborhood. Shea's daddy worked there. As they flew over the tennis courts at the high school, Shea asked Ming Ming, "May we go closer to the ground, please?"
"Just a little closer," agreed Ming Ming, "but remember, we can't let the grown-ups see us!"
Shea's dad was a tennis coach at the high school, and Shea wanted to see if Daddy was out on the courts.
The leaf floated lower, and Shea saw some kids playing tennis on the courts. There! There was his dad on the courts with his players! Shea could hardly contain himself, and wanted to yell out loud so much! However, he knew better, and just waved to his daddy, even though he knew Daddy would not see him.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Little Shea's Backyard Adventures (3)
"Shhh...don't let your mom see me!" Ming Ming put his finger to his lips, and hissed.
Shea stepped in front of Ming Ming, and called back to his mom, "Mommy! I'll come in soon!"
Ming Ming was so tiny Shea's mom would not have noticed him anyway. She closed the door, and left Shea in the backyard.
"You don't want Mommy to see you?" asked Shea curiously.
"Grown-ups are funny. They don't believe in fairies!" Ming Ming explained.
"All right! You want to come in with me?" Shea invited Ming Ming. He did not want to leave Ming Ming alone in the yard. He might be hungry.
"No, I'll be all right. You go ahead! I'll be here when you come out to play tomorrow!" promised Ming Ming.
Shea was still a little worried about Ming Ming, "Are you sure? What are you going to eat? Where are you going to sleep?"
Ming Ming laughed, "Remember! I'm a backyard fairy. I live in the backyard! I also don't get hungry like you!"
Shea still looked a little worried. Ming Ming gave Shea's foot a push, and said, "Go on! See you tomorrow!"
Finally, Shea turned to go into the house. Suddenly, he remembered something, and turned back to Ming Ming, "Beware of the big black cat! He comes into our yard sometimes, and chase the squirrels!"
Ming Ming nodded his head, and waved Shea on.
It was time for Shea to go to bed. Shea's dad helped him brush his teeth. Then Shea sat on his daddy's lap in the rocking chair, while dad read him his bedtime stories. Dad read him a story about Tom Thumb.
"Is Tom Thumb a fairy, Daddy? He's tiny!" Shea asked.
"I don't think he was a fairy! Why? What do you know about fairies?" Daddy was curious to know how Shea knew about fairies.
"Nothing!" Shea remembered how Ming Ming did not want Mommy to know about him.
Daddy said a prayer with Shea, and lay him down on his bed. That night, Shea dreamt about sailing a ship on the sea with Ming Ming, going to faraway places where strange people lived. When he woke up, he could not wait to go out in the backyard to see if Ming Ming was still there, or if it was all just a dream.
While he was eating breakfast, he kept craning his neck to look out the window, to see if he could spot Ming Ming. The window by the dining table looked into the backyard. He could see his playground set, the swing, and his sand box, but he did not see Ming Ming. Of course, Ming Ming was so tiny! It would be hard to see him from the window!
Suddenly, he saw a squirrel running on the fence. On the back of the squirrel sat something! Shea was sure it was Ming Ming! He got all excited, and half rose from his chair. Mommy saw it, and asked Shea if anything was the matter. Shea sat back down, and tried to contain his excitement. His eyes followed the squirrel, as it ran across one of the cable lines. Ming Ming was holding on to the neck of the squirrel, and seemed to be having fun.
Shea gobbled down the rest of his breakfast! Mommy was surprised he finished his food so fast. He used to take a long time to finish his meals! Shea got down from his chair, and could hardly wait while his mom helped him wash his hands and face. He was halfway to the door, when he remembered to turn around and asked, "Mom! May I go play in the backyard?"
Mom was surprised Shea would want to go outside so soon after his breakfast. He usually played with his cars in the living room, while watching his favorite cartoon on TV. However, Mom was happy he wanted to go outdoors. The weather was fine, and the yard was drying up from the rain too.
"Go ahead!" Mom said.
Shea raced to let himself out, and looked around for Ming Ming eagerly.
Shea stepped in front of Ming Ming, and called back to his mom, "Mommy! I'll come in soon!"
Ming Ming was so tiny Shea's mom would not have noticed him anyway. She closed the door, and left Shea in the backyard.
"You don't want Mommy to see you?" asked Shea curiously.
"Grown-ups are funny. They don't believe in fairies!" Ming Ming explained.
"All right! You want to come in with me?" Shea invited Ming Ming. He did not want to leave Ming Ming alone in the yard. He might be hungry.
"No, I'll be all right. You go ahead! I'll be here when you come out to play tomorrow!" promised Ming Ming.
Shea was still a little worried about Ming Ming, "Are you sure? What are you going to eat? Where are you going to sleep?"
Ming Ming laughed, "Remember! I'm a backyard fairy. I live in the backyard! I also don't get hungry like you!"
Shea still looked a little worried. Ming Ming gave Shea's foot a push, and said, "Go on! See you tomorrow!"
Finally, Shea turned to go into the house. Suddenly, he remembered something, and turned back to Ming Ming, "Beware of the big black cat! He comes into our yard sometimes, and chase the squirrels!"
Ming Ming nodded his head, and waved Shea on.
It was time for Shea to go to bed. Shea's dad helped him brush his teeth. Then Shea sat on his daddy's lap in the rocking chair, while dad read him his bedtime stories. Dad read him a story about Tom Thumb.
"Is Tom Thumb a fairy, Daddy? He's tiny!" Shea asked.
"I don't think he was a fairy! Why? What do you know about fairies?" Daddy was curious to know how Shea knew about fairies.
"Nothing!" Shea remembered how Ming Ming did not want Mommy to know about him.
Daddy said a prayer with Shea, and lay him down on his bed. That night, Shea dreamt about sailing a ship on the sea with Ming Ming, going to faraway places where strange people lived. When he woke up, he could not wait to go out in the backyard to see if Ming Ming was still there, or if it was all just a dream.
While he was eating breakfast, he kept craning his neck to look out the window, to see if he could spot Ming Ming. The window by the dining table looked into the backyard. He could see his playground set, the swing, and his sand box, but he did not see Ming Ming. Of course, Ming Ming was so tiny! It would be hard to see him from the window!
Suddenly, he saw a squirrel running on the fence. On the back of the squirrel sat something! Shea was sure it was Ming Ming! He got all excited, and half rose from his chair. Mommy saw it, and asked Shea if anything was the matter. Shea sat back down, and tried to contain his excitement. His eyes followed the squirrel, as it ran across one of the cable lines. Ming Ming was holding on to the neck of the squirrel, and seemed to be having fun.
Shea gobbled down the rest of his breakfast! Mommy was surprised he finished his food so fast. He used to take a long time to finish his meals! Shea got down from his chair, and could hardly wait while his mom helped him wash his hands and face. He was halfway to the door, when he remembered to turn around and asked, "Mom! May I go play in the backyard?"
Mom was surprised Shea would want to go outside so soon after his breakfast. He usually played with his cars in the living room, while watching his favorite cartoon on TV. However, Mom was happy he wanted to go outdoors. The weather was fine, and the yard was drying up from the rain too.
"Go ahead!" Mom said.
Shea raced to let himself out, and looked around for Ming Ming eagerly.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Little Shea's Backyard Adventures (2)
Little Shea's nose almost touched the puddle, as he put his face near the little creature, to take a better look at him. He was wearing a funny, pointy hat on his head. He had tiny, almond-shaped eyes, which kind of looked like Shea's Mommy's eyes! His nose was flat and broad! As Shea was examining the creature, it began to speak again.
"Hey! I said thank you! Are you deaf?" it shouted.
"Oh! You're welcome!" said Shea hurriedly, remembering his manners.
"I'm a backyard fairy from the East!" the little creature continued.
"From the East? What's the East?" Shea asked innocently, having no concept of countries, or directions yet.
"From China - where the people speak Chinese!" the creature explained.
"Oh! Is it far, far away?" asked Shea.
"Well, kind of near Singapore, where your mother's from," the creature tried to speak in ways Shea could understand.
"Oh! I've been to Shanghai. Is that in China?" Shea asked hopefully.
"Bingo! You did inherit some Chinese intelligence! Ha! Ha!" laughed the creature.
"Is that funny?" Shea did not catch the joke, but was happy when others were happy.
"Well...never mind!" the creature said, "By the way, my name's Ming Ming!"
"Ming Ming? My name's Shea!" Shea was glad the creature had a simple name.
"Shea...don't you have a Chinese name? Your mom's Chinese you know!" Ming Ming said with a frown on his face.
"I do have one! It's Sheng!" Shea's Mom made sure he knew his Chinese name, and repetition finally made the name stick in Shea's little brain.
"That'll work! I'll call you Sheng!" Ming Ming seemed satisfied.
"What are you doing in my backyard, Ming Ming?" Shea was curious to know.
Ming Ming took off his hat, revealing black hair done in a pigtail underneath, "I'm sent here to be your backyard pal!"
Shea's face lighted up, "You mean you're going to be my play-mate?"
"Pretty much! Or to keep you out of trouble!" Ming Ming smiled.
Shea could not contain his joy. He stood up, and jumped up and down with glee, causing water to splash all over Ming Ming!
"Watch it! Big guy!" Ming Ming scolded, drenched in puddle water Shea splashed on him.
"Shea! Time to wash up, and come in for supper!" Shea's mom popped her head out the backyard, and called.
"Hey! I said thank you! Are you deaf?" it shouted.
"Oh! You're welcome!" said Shea hurriedly, remembering his manners.
"I'm a backyard fairy from the East!" the little creature continued.
"From the East? What's the East?" Shea asked innocently, having no concept of countries, or directions yet.
"From China - where the people speak Chinese!" the creature explained.
"Oh! Is it far, far away?" asked Shea.
"Well, kind of near Singapore, where your mother's from," the creature tried to speak in ways Shea could understand.
"Oh! I've been to Shanghai. Is that in China?" Shea asked hopefully.
"Bingo! You did inherit some Chinese intelligence! Ha! Ha!" laughed the creature.
"Is that funny?" Shea did not catch the joke, but was happy when others were happy.
"Well...never mind!" the creature said, "By the way, my name's Ming Ming!"
"Ming Ming? My name's Shea!" Shea was glad the creature had a simple name.
"Shea...don't you have a Chinese name? Your mom's Chinese you know!" Ming Ming said with a frown on his face.
"I do have one! It's Sheng!" Shea's Mom made sure he knew his Chinese name, and repetition finally made the name stick in Shea's little brain.
"That'll work! I'll call you Sheng!" Ming Ming seemed satisfied.
"What are you doing in my backyard, Ming Ming?" Shea was curious to know.
Ming Ming took off his hat, revealing black hair done in a pigtail underneath, "I'm sent here to be your backyard pal!"
Shea's face lighted up, "You mean you're going to be my play-mate?"
"Pretty much! Or to keep you out of trouble!" Ming Ming smiled.
Shea could not contain his joy. He stood up, and jumped up and down with glee, causing water to splash all over Ming Ming!
"Watch it! Big guy!" Ming Ming scolded, drenched in puddle water Shea splashed on him.
"Shea! Time to wash up, and come in for supper!" Shea's mom popped her head out the backyard, and called.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Little Shea's Backyard Adventures (1)
Shea felt bored. It had been raining all morning. He wanted to go outdoors! He was not tall enough to look out the windows, so mom put a stool by one of the windows, and Shea had been standing on it, watching the rain pouring down in his backyard.
He was two years old, going on three in a couple of months. Thunder still scared him a little. He would scramble down the stool quickly, when he saw a flash of lightning, and buried his face in the pillows on the couch, till the thunder had subsided.
The rain finally stopped! Shea looked at the puddles in the backyard longingly.
"Mom! May I go out in the backyard and step on the puddles?" he asked.
"Only if you put on your galoshes!" Mom answered.
Shea ran to fetch his galoshes happily, and brought them to mom, who helped him put them on. It was still too hard for Shea to put his shoes on himself. Sometimes he would try, but sometimes when he was in a hurry, he preferred Mom to help him.
There were lots of puddles in the backyard. Shea loved the splashy sounds he made when he stomped on the puddles with his galoshes. Suddenly, his foot stopped in mid-stomp! He thought he heard a sound! However, he decided he might have imagined it. He was about to complete his stomp, when he heard the sound again! It sounded like a small voice. There it was again! Shea was not good at standing on one foot for too long. He moved his foot, and stood both feet in the grass, away from the puddle.
"Hey you! Thanks for moving that big foot!" the voice seemed to be saying.
Shea squatted down on the grass, and peered at the place in the puddle from where the voice seemed to be coming. There was a creature standing in the puddle, where Shea's foot would have been, if he had not moved it!
Shea's eyes nearly popped out of his little head! He saw a tiny person looking back at him! The little man was no bigger than Shea's thumb. Shea was afraid of bugs. He did not like mosquitoes because they bit, and left itchy welts on him. He did not like other bugs because they moved fast, and had many legs! When Shea saw the little man, his first instinct was to run. However, his curiosity overcame his fear, and he remained staring at the little creature.
"You! I say, thank you for sparing my life!" it spoke again.
He was two years old, going on three in a couple of months. Thunder still scared him a little. He would scramble down the stool quickly, when he saw a flash of lightning, and buried his face in the pillows on the couch, till the thunder had subsided.
The rain finally stopped! Shea looked at the puddles in the backyard longingly.
"Mom! May I go out in the backyard and step on the puddles?" he asked.
"Only if you put on your galoshes!" Mom answered.
Shea ran to fetch his galoshes happily, and brought them to mom, who helped him put them on. It was still too hard for Shea to put his shoes on himself. Sometimes he would try, but sometimes when he was in a hurry, he preferred Mom to help him.
There were lots of puddles in the backyard. Shea loved the splashy sounds he made when he stomped on the puddles with his galoshes. Suddenly, his foot stopped in mid-stomp! He thought he heard a sound! However, he decided he might have imagined it. He was about to complete his stomp, when he heard the sound again! It sounded like a small voice. There it was again! Shea was not good at standing on one foot for too long. He moved his foot, and stood both feet in the grass, away from the puddle.
"Hey you! Thanks for moving that big foot!" the voice seemed to be saying.
Shea squatted down on the grass, and peered at the place in the puddle from where the voice seemed to be coming. There was a creature standing in the puddle, where Shea's foot would have been, if he had not moved it!
Shea's eyes nearly popped out of his little head! He saw a tiny person looking back at him! The little man was no bigger than Shea's thumb. Shea was afraid of bugs. He did not like mosquitoes because they bit, and left itchy welts on him. He did not like other bugs because they moved fast, and had many legs! When Shea saw the little man, his first instinct was to run. However, his curiosity overcame his fear, and he remained staring at the little creature.
"You! I say, thank you for sparing my life!" it spoke again.
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