**The Bluebells**
Holly and her mum missed the tram by mere seconds. The old carriage clattered away from the stop, leaving them to wait another fifteen minutes at least.
“Youre always dawdling! How many times have I told you? When you come back from nursery, hang your coat neatly and put your shoes away so we dont waste time later. And why did you need those crayons so badly? Couldnt you manage without them?”
“Mum! You dont understand! I promised Emily yesterday. And you always say promises must be keptdidnt you?” Holly narrowed her eyes slyly.
“Well I did. But now weve missed the tram! Ive got the night shift, and I still need to iron your nursery dress, make dinner, and pack tomorrows lunch. Whos going to do it all? Gran Maggie?”
“Dont worry, Mummy. Itll all work outjust dont fuss. Thats what Gran Maggie says. Oh! Look, Mumflowers! What are they called?” On the bench lay a small, wilted bunch.
“Bluebells. They grow in the woods. Someone picked them, then tossed them aside. Or forgot them.”
“Mummy, theyre so pretty! Can we take them?”
“You dont need rubbish Fine, take them. Now come on, the trams nearly here.”
All the way home, Holly clutched the bouquet. The stems were snapped, the petals crumpled, but to her, they were the most beautiful flowerssoft lavender, with a faint, sweet scent, like something from a fairy tale. A man on the tram said planting them might bring them back to life. A woman with a round belly shook her head firmly: “No, water. Only water.” Another passenger hissed as she left, “What nonsenseshouldve bought proper flowers!” Hollys mum stared silently out the window, while Holly whispered to the blooms, “Wait till were home. Ill hide you, then they can say whatever they like!”
Holly and her mum lived on the second floor. Below them were Gran Maggie and her husband, whom everyone respectfully called “Grandad Alf”though Holly just called him “Gramps.” They werent family, just kind neighbours, but they were closer than relatives. Gran Maggie helped with chores, and Gramps fixed thingsdoors, locks, anything broken. They never asked for help, insisting they could manage. Thats just how they were.
Under their balcony grew a lilac bush, and beneath it, Hollys secret spota hidden little place only she knew. (Though, truthfully, Gramps and Gran Maggie knew too. But they kept quiet, or it wouldnt be a secret.)
From the tram stop, Holly raced ahead, desperate to plant her bluebells. While her mum cooked and ironed, Holly dug a hole under the lilac, tucked the flowers in, and watered them. But they didnt perk up. “They must still be asleep,” she decided. “Ill check later.”
After dinner, she hurried back to her secret spot, forgetting all about Emilys crayons. The sun had set, dusk settling like a grey blanket over the town. Gran Maggie was about to fetch Hollyshe always stayed with them when Mum worked nightsbut Gramps waved her over to the balcony. There sat Holly, crying over the wilted bluebells in their muddy puddle.
Gran Maggie crept outside and knelt beside her. “Whats wrong, love?”
“Gran, they wont wake up! I gave them so much water, but theyre just lying there! Are they dead?”
“Oh, sweetheart, theyre just poorly. All flowers get poorly when theyre picked.”
“But I didnt pick them! Someone left them behind.”
“I know, pet. Dont cry.” Gran Maggie patted her cheek. “Wait hereIve got just the thing.”
She hurried inside, scooped flour into a matchbox, and returned. “Magic powder. Not much left, but itll do.”
“Magic?”
“For flowers. Watch.” She sprinkled a pinch over the bluebells, murmuring, “Winds whisper, sunbeams play, bring these blooms back bright as day!” Then she scattered the rest around the puddle. “There. Now they need rest. The magic will work by morning.”
“Really?”
“Really. Now off to bed.”
Holly sighed, gave the flowers a worried glance, and followed Gran inside.
Long after shed fallen asleep, Gramps hauled his old bicycle onto the street.
“Alf, did you pack the torch?”
“Course I did!”
“And your trowel?”
“Wouldnt forget that.”
“Ive put tea in the flask.”
“What for? Im not going on an expedition!”
“Just in case. Dont linger in the woodsIll fret.”
“Wont be long. Did you wrap the new ones?”
“Yes, yes. Go on, then.”
He wheeled his bike out quietly as Gran shut the door behind him.
At dawn, sparrows chirped, and Holly woke with them. Barefoot in her pyjamas, she dashed to her secret spotand gasped. Where the muddy puddle had been stood a cluster of fresh, vibrant bluebells. She stroked their petals, whispering sweetly, while Gran Maggie and Gramps watched from the balcony, smiling.
And who was happier in that momentHolly with her “revived” flowers, or the old couple whod given her the magic of belief?
**Sometimes, the greatest kindness is letting a child keep their wonder just a little longer.**
