Pedro and the Grump-Mump Slump

In the Whispering Woods, where the trees hummed sleepy tunes and the air smelled like fairy floss and eucalyptus, lived a boy named Pedro. Pedro was the best helper in the whole woods. He spent his mornings helping the fireflies gather sparkly dewdrops, making sure each one was perfectly plump and glittery for their nighttime glow.

One afternoon, Pedro and his firefly mates were building the best-ever sparkle-castle from glowing moss and shiny pebbles. It was almost finished when a wise old kookaburra named Kookie called from a branch above, “Sun’s dipping low, Pedro! Time to pack up the glow!” The fun had to stop. It was cleanup time.

A big, grumpy feeling bubbled in Pedro's tummy. “Grump, mump, what a slump,” he muttered under his breath. Being helpful suddenly felt heavy and hard. He poked at a pile of moss with a stick, scattering it instead of packing it. The fireflies’ little lights dimmed, watching their helpful friend look so cranky.

Seeing the sad little lights, Pedro’s heart felt a bit wobbly. He remembered how happy the fireflies were when he helped them. That’s when a brilliant idea popped into his head! “Hey!” he called out. “Let’s not just clean up… let’s do the Tidy-Up Tango!” He grabbed a big leaf for a dustpan and began to dance and swoop, singing, “One, two, three, pack with me!”

The fireflies blinked, then began to buzz and dance along! They tangoed the moss into piles and conga-lined the pebbles into their basket. In no time, the woods were tidier than ever, and everyone was giggling. Pedro felt a warm sparkle inside him, much brighter than any grump-mump slump. He learned that even a chore can be fun, and being a helper was the best feeling of all.