The Special Gift
Een bounced on her toes as she waited by the resort entrance. Today was the day her father would return from his trip to the mountains. He had promised to bring her something special.
"I wonder what it could be," Een whispered to herself, twirling a strand of her curly brown hair around her finger.
The resort where her father worked was the most beautiful place Een had ever seen. Tall palm trees swayed in the breeze, and colorful flowers bloomed everywhere. Guests in fancy clothes walked by, smiling at the excited little girl.
"Een! There you are!" called a familiar voice.
Een turned to see her father walking toward her, carrying something covered with a blue cloth. His resort uniform was neat as always, but his smile was bigger than usual.
"Did you bring me something, Dad?" Een asked, trying to peek under the cloth.
Her father laughed. "I certainly did. I found it in a hidden valley while I was guiding some guests through the mountain trails."
He knelt down and carefully removed the cloth. Een gasped. Inside a beautiful silver cage was the most magnificent bird she had ever seen. It was grey, but not an ordinary grey. Its feathers shimmered with hints of blue and purple when it moved.
"It's a mountain cherry bird," her father explained. "They're very rare and special. The resort owner said I could keep it for you."
"She's beautiful," Een whispered, carefully touching the cage. "I'll call her Cherry."
The bird tilted its head and made a soft chirping sound that sounded almost like a tiny bell.
"Hello, Cherry," Een said. "We're going to be best friends."
As if understanding, Cherry fluttered her wings and sang a sweet melody that made Een's heart feel warm and happy.
"Remember, Een," her father said gently, "Cherry is a living creature, not a toy. You'll need to take good care of her."
Een nodded solemnly. "I promise, Dad. I'll take the best care of her ever!"
As they walked home together, Een couldn't stop smiling. She had a feeling Cherry was going to change her life in ways she couldn't even imagine.
Cherry's Secret
That night, Een prepared a special place for Cherry's cage next to her bed. She filled a small dish with water and another with the special seeds her father had given her.
"Do you like your new home, Cherry?" Een asked, watching the bird hop around her cage.
Cherry chirped and fluffed her feathers. Een giggled. It almost seemed like Cherry understood her.
After dinner, Een's mother reminded her it was bedtime.
"Goodnight, Cherry," Een whispered as she turned off her lamp. "Sweet dreams."
Een had just closed her eyes when she heard a strange tinkling sound, like tiny bells. She sat up and gasped.
Cherry was glowing! Soft blue light shimmered around her feathers, filling Een's bedroom with a magical glow.
"Cherry?" Een whispered in amazement.
The bird looked at Een and chirped. Then, to Een's surprise, Cherry's cage door swung open by itself. The beautiful bird flew out and landed gently on Een's pillow.
"You can open your cage?" Een asked, eyes wide.
Cherry chirped again, and suddenly, Een's pencils on her desk began to float in the air! They danced in circles above her head, then gently returned to their cup.
"You're magical!" Een gasped, clapping her hands softly so she wouldn't wake her parents.
Cherry fluttered her wings, and a small shower of sparkles fell onto Een's bedspread, disappearing like tiny stars.
"Can you understand me?" Een asked.
Cherry nodded her small head and made a sound like a tiny bell.
Een could hardly believe her eyes. Her father had given her not just any bird, but a magical one!
"This will be our secret," Een whispered, holding out her finger. Cherry hopped onto it, her tiny claws tickling Een's skin. "I promise I'll keep you safe."
That night, Een fell asleep with Cherry nestled beside her pillow, the bird's soft glow like a perfect nightlight. Een dreamed of flying through the clouds with her new magical friend, and in her sleep, she smiled.
Adventures with Cherry
The next few days were the most exciting of Een's life. Every morning, she would wake up early to play with Cherry before school.
"Show me more magic, Cherry!" Een would whisper, and Cherry would make Een's hairbrush dance across the dresser or create tiny sparkles that spelled Een's name in the air.
After school, Een would take Cherry's cage to the garden behind the resort where her father worked. There, hidden from view, she would let Cherry fly freely.
"Be careful, Cherry," Een would say. "Don't let anyone else see your magic."
One sunny afternoon, Een discovered something new about her magical friend. She was sitting by the small stream that ran through the garden, watching Cherry fly from tree to tree, when a rabbit hopped out from the bushes.
"Look, Cherry! A bunny!" Een pointed excitedly.
Cherry flew down and landed near the rabbit. To Een's surprise, she began to chirp softly, and the rabbit seemed to respond by twitching its ears and nose.
"Can you... talk to animals?" Een asked in amazement.
Cherry fluttered back to Een's shoulder and made her bell-like sound. Soon, more animals appeared – squirrels, butterflies, and even a shy fox. They all gathered around Een and Cherry, as if they were all friends.
"This is amazing!" Een laughed as a butterfly landed on her nose.
Cherry chirped again, and the animals began to bring Een little gifts – a pretty leaf, a shiny pebble, a perfect acorn. Een collected them all in her dress pockets.
"Thank you," she told the animals. "You're all so kind."
As the sun began to set, casting golden light through the trees, Een knew it was time to go home. "We have to leave now," she told her animal friends. "But we'll come back tomorrow."
The animals scattered back into the garden, and Cherry flew to Een's shoulder.
"You're the most wonderful bird in the whole world," Een said, gently stroking Cherry's soft feathers.
Cherry made her bell sound and nuzzled against Een's cheek. Together, they walked home, their hearts full of the day's adventures and the promise of more to come.
Cherry's Gift
One evening, as the sun was setting and painting Een's bedroom in shades of orange and pink, Een sat cross-legged on her bed with Cherry perched on her knee.
"Cherry," Een said thoughtfully, "I've been keeping your magic a secret, but I feel bad not telling Mom and Dad. They might worry about where we go every day."
Cherry tilted her head, her bright eyes looking into Een's.
"Do you think we could tell them?" Een asked. "Just Mom and Dad, no one else."
Cherry chirped and flew in a small circle above Een's head, leaving a trail of sparkles.
"Is that a yes?" Een giggled.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. "Een? Who are you talking to?" It was her mother's voice.
Een looked at Cherry, who nodded her small head. "You can come in, Mom," Een called. "There's something I want to show you and Dad."
Her parents entered the room, looking curious. "What is it, sweetheart?" her father asked.
Een took a deep breath. "Remember the bird you gave me, Dad? Well, she's not just any bird. Cherry is magical."
Her parents exchanged confused glances.
"Watch," Een said. She turned to Cherry. "Show them, Cherry. It's okay."
Cherry flew into the center of the room and began to glow. The soft blue light grew brighter, and suddenly, images appeared in the air – mountains, forests, stars, and creatures Een had never seen before.
"Oh my goodness," Een's mother whispered, her eyes wide.
"Incredible," her father murmured. "The mountain guide told me the bird was special, but I never imagined..."
Cherry chirped and flew to Een's father, landing gently on his shoulder.
"She's thanking you," Een explained. "For bringing her to me."
"And we thank you for trusting us with your secret," her mother said, sitting beside Een on the bed.
"So you're not upset?" Een asked.
Her father smiled. "How could we be upset about something so wonderful? But you're right to keep Cherry's magic a secret from others. Not everyone would understand."
"Cherry has been showing me so many amazing things," Een said excitedly. "She can talk to animals, and make things float, and create the prettiest sparkles!"
"It sounds like you two were meant to find each other," her mother said, gently stroking Cherry's feathers.
That night, as Een got ready for bed, Cherry created her most beautiful magic yet – a ceiling full of stars that moved and danced above Een's bed.
"Thank you for being my friend, Cherry," Een whispered as she drifted off to sleep.
Cherry chirped softly and settled on her special pillow next to Een. In the soft glow of Cherry's magic, Een and her family had discovered something important – sometimes the most wonderful gifts are the ones that bring a little magic into our everyday lives.
And as Cherry watched over her sleeping friend, she knew that their adventures together were just beginning.