By the edge of a warm pond lived a little turtle named Tina. She had a green shell and tiny little feet.
One morning, Tina saw something strange on the water. It was a white petal from a flower. It floated and sparkled in the sun.
"How pretty!" said Tina.
The petal floated away. Tina followed it slowly, slowly. Tap-tap-tap.
Suddenly the wind blew. The petal flew high into the sky. Tina looked up with her little head.
"Where did it go?" she sighed sadly.
An old frog sat nearby.
"Don't be sad," croaked the frog. "At night, a starry flower appears on the pond. It's even more beautiful. You just have to wait."
"When will it be night?" asked Tina.
"Soon," said the frog.
Tina sat on a little stone by the water. She waited. The sun shone. Butterflies fluttered. But there was no starry flower.
Tina didn't go play. She just sat and watched the water.
The sun hid behind the trees. The sky turned pink, then blue. The first star appeared.
Tina sat very, very still.
And then… On the dark water, something magical appeared. Moonlit paths! They sparkled and danced on the ripples, like real flowers made of light.
"Oh!" whispered Tina.
She watched and smiled. The starry flower was even lovelier than the white petal. It shimmered and changed, and it seemed like a whole meadow of light had bloomed on the pond.
The frog croaked softly, "See?"
Tina nodded. She felt so happy and peaceful.
She watched the starry flower until her eyes grew heavy. Then Tina tucked her head under her shell and fell asleep right there on the warm stone.
And the starry flower kept shining on the water, quiet and beautiful.