The Wonder Box
A very short story about a little library box that made a difference.
Sammy walked dejectedly along the street, shuffling her feet. She was feeling out of sorts that day and terribly, horribly lonely. Her best friend had moved to another town weeks ago, and she wondered if she would ever find a friend to walk to school with again.
As Sammy walked, she noticed the tulips and daffodils blooming around the houses along the way. All at once, something caught her eye that she hadn’t seen before. It was a painted box with books inside. At the top, it said in bold letters, “Think and Wonder,” and at the bottom, “Wonder and Think!”
Should she dare open it? But of course, that is why someone put it here, she told herself. She selected a book and tucked it into her bag with the rest of her school books. It was about one of her favorite things, butterflies.
At lunchtime, Sammy sat in a corner and took the book out to look at. It had colorful pictures of an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly and its life as a caterpillar munching on the leaves of a cherry tree. The butterfly also felt alone, like Sammy did.
The butterfly wondered if she would spend her whole life as a worm… then she met a pair of toads in the pond nearby who helped her discover that she would surely grow up and fly.
Sammy started to feel better. She was glad she had noticed the Wonder Box. Think and wonder, wonder and think, the words rolled around on her tongue silently, over and over again. She closed the book, feeling a lot less sad. It was almost time to go back to class.
Just then, a girl about her age approached her. The girl said, “My name is Marta. What’s yours?” To which Sammy replied with a smile.
“I wonder,” said Marta, “Do you think we could be friends? I just moved to town and don’t know anyone yet.”
Sammy said, “Oh, that would be awesome! I’m looking for a new friend, too.”
“Have you seen the Wonder Box? It has quite a few books in it. If you’re walking home the same way, we can put this one back and get another one,” said Sammy.
Marta smiled. “The Wonder Box is in front of my house. It was the first thing my mother put out when we moved in,” she said. “And I love the butterfly story, too; it’s one of my favorites!”
Every time I walk by and see a little box library, I silently thank the person who put it there. They are absolutely Wonder-Full and make every neighborhood that much better!
Enjoy a Wonder and Think day today!
Trina
Sharing savvy insights and artful moments as a multi-genre Content Creator and Author-Illustrator.
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