Goodnight, Little Flower
"What is that smell?" Tam asked. Wisp glowed a little brighter. Tam sniffed the cool night air. Sniff, sniff. Something sweet. Something near. Tam walked into the trees. The moss was soft under their feet. Wisp drifted just ahead, between the old trees. The stars leaned close.
Tam followed the smell. Past a wet stone. Past a tall fern. The smell got sweeter and sweeter. Sniff, sniff. "This way," said Tam. Wisp glowed brighter. A beetle walked by, slow and shiny. Tam walked on. The sweet smell was very close now.
There it was. One small white flower. It was open wide in the dark. It smelled like honey and rain. Tam knelt down in the moss. Sniff, sniff. "Hello, little flower," said Tam. Wisp glowed over the petals. The petals shone white.
Tam sat with the flower a long time. The whole forest smelled sweet. Wisp glowed. A moth came. The moth sniffed too, then flew away. Tam yawned a big yawn. "Mmm," said Tam. Sniff, sniff. The moss was warm. The stars watched.
Then the flower moved. Slow, slow, slow. One petal folded. Then another. The little flower was closing up for the night. "Oh," said Tam. Tam put one finger on a soft petal. "Goodnight, little flower. See you tomorrow." Wisp glowed softer.
The flower closed all the way. It was a small white bud now. The sweet smell stayed in the air. Tam smelled it one more time. Sniff, sniff. "Goodnight, little flower. See you tomorrow," Tam said. Wisp glowed low and warm.
Tam lay back in the moss. The moss held Tam. It carried Tam like a soft green bed. Wisp floated close, glowing slow. The sweet smell stayed. "See you tomorrow," Tam whispered. The stars leaned down. Tam's eyes closed.
