Plucky · BE bold
Plucky and the Colorless Carnival
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Every year, the Enchanted Forest held a magnificent Rainbow Carnival.
There were colorful balloons, glittering ribbons, and music that made the flowers dance.
Plucky couldn’t wait!
She had spent all morning fluffing her beautiful feathers.
“Today is going to be FABULOUS!” she announced.
But when Plucky arrived, something was terribly wrong.
Everything was gray.
The balloons were gray.
The ribbons were gray.
Even the rainbow was gray!
“Oh no!” cried the carnival organizer. “The Color Cloud has fallen asleep, and nobody can wake it!”
Plucky looked up and saw a giant sleepy cloud floating above the carnival.
“I’ll wake it!” she declared.
But when she spread her brilliant feathers, a group of little birds began giggling.
“Look at all those colors!” one chirped.
“She’s so bright!” another laughed.
Plucky quickly folded her feathers.
Maybe she was too colorful.
Maybe she should try to blend in.
She stood quietly beside a gray tree.
Amara noticed her.
“Plucky, where did your sparkle go?”
“Maybe I’m just… too much,” Plucky whispered.
Amara shook her head.
“You’re not too much. You’re wonderfully YOU!”
Plucky looked at the sleeping cloud.
Then she took a deep breath.
She stepped into the center of the carnival and spread her feathers wider than ever before.
“SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND SHINE!”
She twirled.
She danced.
She shimmered!
Her colorful feathers caught the sunlight and sent rainbow beams dancing across the sky.
The Color Cloud opened one sleepy eye.
“Oh my!” it exclaimed. “What a beautiful sight!”
With a great big stretch, the cloud released a shower of rainbow sparkles.
WHOOSH!
Color returned to the carnival.
The balloons turned red, blue, and yellow. The flowers glowed. The rainbow shone brighter than ever!
The little birds began cheering.
Plucky smiled proudly.
She hadn’t needed to become smaller or quieter to make others comfortable.
She just needed the courage to let herself shine.
**Plucky’s lesson:** Never hide what makes you special. Your differences can make the world more beautiful.
**Think About It:** What’s something special about you that makes you proud?
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