Osiyo is a little ballerina on the Moon. She is gentle and brave. She wears shiny shoes. Tap, tap.
Tonight the Moon is quiet. The sky looks a bit dim.
Osiyo whispers, “Where did the sparkle go?”
A small friend comes hopping. It is Prince, a tiny moon-prince with a soft cape. He is curious and kind.
Prince says, “I heard a rustle. Maybe something is hiding.”
Osiyo nods. “Let’s look together.”
They walk on bouncy moon dust. Boing. Boing.
Osiyo makes a slow twirl. Swish.
Prince claps. “Your dance makes light!”
Osiyo smiles. “Then I will dance to find it.”
They pass a round rock that looks like cheese.
Prince giggles, “Moon cheese!”
Osiyo giggles too.
Then they see a little trail of gray wraps on the ground.
Prince points. “Bandages!”
Osiyo holds his hand. “We go slow.”
Behind a tall crater sits Mummy. Mummy is wrapped up and dusty. Mummy looks grumpy.
Mummy hugs a glass jar. Inside the jar is star dust, like tiny glitter.
Mummy mutters, “Mine. Mine.”
Prince whispers, “That star dust helps the Moon shine.”
Osiyo steps closer, very polite.
She says, “Hello, Mummy. Are you sad?”
Mummy huffs. “I am cold. I wanted sparkle for my nest.”
Osiyo thinks. She is small, but she is smart.
She says, “We can share. We can make you warm and still give the Moon its glow.”
Mummy frowns. “How?”
Osiyo lifts her arms like wings.
“Watch my Moon Ballet.”
She tiptoes. She spins. She makes a big, soft leap.
Her shoes tap-tap and the dust around her swirls.
The swirl becomes a bright circle, like a little lamp.
Prince cheers, “A moonbeam ring!”
Osiyo says, “Prince, blow a gentle puff.”
Prince blows, “Poooof.”
The ring floats to Mummy.
It warms Mummy’s hands like a cozy blanket.
Mummy’s eyes grow round. “Warm…”
Osiyo smiles. “Now we open the jar together.”
Mummy hesitates.
Osiyo nods. “I will hold it with you.”
Prince says, “We trust you.”
Mummy slowly loosens her grip.
Click.
The jar opens.
Star dust lifts up like fireflies.
It sprinkles over the Moon.
The Moon brightens. Glow, glow.
Mummy sighs, not grumpy now.
“Thank you,” Mummy whispers. “I did not want to be mean. I was just chilly.”
Osiyo says, “It’s okay. We help.”
Prince bows like a prince. “Friends?”
Mummy nods. “Friends.”
The star dust leaves one extra thing behind.
A tiny treasure box pops out of the moon dust. Pop!
Inside are two silver ribbons and one golden cookie.
Prince laughs, “A Moon Cookie!”
Osiyo ties a ribbon on Mummy’s arm. “Pretty.”
She ties the other ribbon on Prince’s cape. “Brave.”
Osiyo takes one bite of the cookie, then shares.
Crunch.
Sweet.
They all look up.
The Moon is shiny again.
Osiyo twirls once more.
Tap, tap.
And the night feels safe and bright.