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Behind the old shed, midday sunlight glints off a shimmering silver gate. Malcolm stands in the open gateway, eyes wide and mouth parted with wonder, as a glowing garden of waving, smiling flowers stretches beyond him.
Ten-year-old Malcolm found a hidden gate behind the shed. It shimmered like moonlight at noon. He stepped through and gasped. The garden glowed. Flowers waved hello and whispered, "Welcome home, friend."
In the glowing garden’s clearing, afternoon light filters through floral canopies. Aubby, a large fuzzy pink moth with purple-trimmed wings, hovers at Malcolm’s eye level while he grins up at her, hands clasped in delighted greeting.
A large, fuzzy pink moth drifted near. Purple trim outlined her lotus-shaped tails and wings. "I'm Aubby," she sang. Malcolm smiled. "I'm Malcolm. Is this place really magic?"
Beside a ring of chiming tulips, morning sun dapples the grass. Aubby twirls mid-air like a swirling petal, and Malcolm kneels listening as roses rustle advice, their faces attentive and joyful.
The tulips chimed, "Please listen gently." Roses rustled, "Be kind to every leaf." Aubby twirled like a petal. "Magic grows with care," she said. Malcolm nodded, ready to help.
Under a moonlit garden arbor at midnight, Malcolm presses tiny beans into soft soil while Aubby hovers above, scattering silver moonbeams like glitter. Both smile gently at the resting seeds and a small trowel lies nearby.
They planted tiny beans in soft soil. Moonbeams sprinkled silver. "Sleep, seeds," Malcolm whispered. Morning came, and vines braided the fence. Aubby cheered, "Overnight heroes!" The flowers giggled with dewy applause.
Bright morning fills the garden as a drooping sunflower leans near the path. Malcolm braces her stalk with a smooth branch, focused and caring, while Aubby hovers just above, fanning a cool breeze with wide, purple-edged wings.
A drooping sunflower sighed, "My head is heavy." Malcolm gently propped her with a smooth branch. Aubby fanned cool breezes. "Thank you," she brightened. Golden seeds pattered like tiny claps.
Under storm-dark clouds in the trembling garden, Malcolm knots soft vines around swaying stems, brow determined. Beside him, Aubby spreads her broad wings like a living umbrella, sheltering petals as the first raindrops glimmer in muted light.
Gray clouds tumbled in. Thunder muttered far away. "We'll keep everyone safe," Malcolm promised. He tied soft vines around trembling stems. Aubby spread wide wings, sheltering petals until raindrops danced more kindly.
On damp earth after the storm, pale dawn light bathes a single glowing seed cradled in Malcolm’s cupped hands. Aubby floats beside him, smiling softly, as they kneel together to plant the wish beneath gently steaming soil.
After the storm, a glowing seed appeared. "Make a wish," Aubby hummed. Malcolm closed his eyes. "Let kindness grow," he said. They planted it, and tiny heart-shaped leaves unfolded.
At the pond’s grassy bank during violet twilight, fireflies sparkle over still water. Malcolm reclines against warm turf, eyes half-closed, while Aubby perches on his shoulder humming; nearby lilies glow faintly, their petals shaped like tiny lullaby horns.
Evening painted the pond purple. Fireflies blinked like friendly stars. Lilies sang lullabies, "Rest, roots, rest." Malcolm leaned against warm grass. Aubby perched on his shoulder, softly humming along.
Early morning inside the dewy garden, long shadows cling to sprouting beans. Malcolm crouches arranging mirrored droplets on leaves, concentration bright, while Aubby flutters above, scattering fresh dew that catches sunlight and reflects sparkling beams onto stretching plants.
Morning shadows stole sunlight from sprouting beans. "We need light," Malcolm said. Aubby fluttered, scattering dew into sparkling mirrors. Reflections bounced brightness onto leaves. The plants stretched happily toward their glittery sun.
Noon light washes the heart-leafed vines laden with rosy pods. Malcolm splits an open pod, offering half to Aubby; they share the glistening fruit, smiles glowing, as surrounding flowers deepen their colors like an applauding audience.
Heart-leaves ripened into rosy pods. Each pod whispered, "Share me." Malcolm split one with Aubby. Sweetness tasted like hugs. When they fed the garden, colors deepened, and songs rang brighter.
Inside the radiant garden on an overcast afternoon, Malcolm kneels showing colorful school drawings to a circle of daisies. Aubby wraps him in a feathery, comforting hug from behind, his laughter bright against the soft grey sky.
Some days Malcolm felt lonely. He visited the garden, carrying drawings from school. "You matter," the daisies chimed. Aubby wrapped him in feathery hugs. Malcolm laughed, and the gate glimmered welcome.
At the shimmering gate by the shed, sunset casts peach-and-gold streaks across the garden. Malcolm stands just inside, waving farewell with a gentle smile, while Aubby hovers near the arch, beaming back as flowers bow in drowsy twilight.
Sunset painted everything peach and gold. "See you tomorrow," Malcolm waved. "Always," Aubby smiled. The flowers whispered soft goodnights. As the gate closed, new buds already dreamed of morning.
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