At Sunshine Farm lived a little chick named Ollie.
Ollie was a fluffy, adorable little chick who looked just like a little ball of fluff, but he had a little secret—he was very, very timid.
While the other chicks happily chased butterflies across the grass, Ollie always hid under his mother’s warm wings.
“Mommy, the shadow of that leaf looks like a big monster!” Ollie whispered.
“Mommy, does the wind sound like it’s getting angry?” he asked again.
Mommy Hen would always gently preen the soft feathers on Ollie’s head with her beak and say softly, “Oh, my little Ollie, those are just the leaves dancing and the wind singing. “Bravery isn’t about not being afraid; it’s about being willing to give it a try even when you’re afraid.”
One afternoon, a gentle sunshower fell over the farm. After the rain stopped, the air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and grass.
Oli poked his little head out of the chicken coop and saw something glistening in the grass not far away.
“What’s that?” Ollie was extremely curious. But the grass was so tall—could there be something scary hiding inside? Ollie’s heart was pounding like a little drum.
He remembered his mom’s words. Ollie took a deep breath, set his little orange feet in motion, and slowly made his way toward the grass, one step at a time.
“Rustle… rustle…” the grass made a faint sound.
Oli closed his eyes in fear, but he didn’t stop walking.
Finally, he reached the shimmering object. Oli cautiously opened one eye, then the other.
Wow! It wasn’t something scary at all—it was a tiny blue glass bead, washed clean by the rain and crystal clear, reflecting the golden glow of the setting sun.
“It’s so beautiful!” Oli exclaimed happily.
Just then, a little frog hopped out from under a leaf with a “ribbit.”
Oli took a startled step back, but he soon realized the little frog was just looking at him curiously. Oli mustered his courage and gave the little frog a soft “cheep.” The little frog replied with a “ribbit,” as if to say, “Hello there, brave little chick!”
Oli picked up the blue glass bead in his beak and happily ran back to the chicken coop.
“Mom! Mom! Look!” Ollie placed the glass bead in front of his mother. “I found a treasure! And I even said hello to the little frog!”
Mama Hen looked at Ollie’s sparkling eyes and smiled gently: “I knew it—my Ollie is such a brave little one.”
That night, the moon hung in the sky like a sweet lemon drop.
Oli lay beside his mother, listening to her steady breathing. He felt that the outside world wasn’t as scary as he’d imagined. The rustling of the leaves was a lullaby, and the sound of the wind was a goodnight kiss.
“Mom, tomorrow I want to go see that biggest sunflower,” Oli whispered.
“Sure,” his mother replied softly, “I’ll always be right here with you.”
Oli closed his eyes, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. In his dream, he grew a pair of golden wings, flew over the tall barn, and danced with the clouds.
It was late at night, and the stars were twinkling outside the window.
Good night, brave little Oli.
Good night, all the little ones.
