(a fairytale)

Tommy was a peculiar boy. He believed he could talk to animals. From the wise old owl in the oak tree to the playful squirrels in the park, Tommy was convinced they were his confidants. They would whisper secrets, offer advice, and even help him with his chores.

One day, Tommy had a big problem. His pet hamster, Hammy, had escaped from his cage. Tommy panicked, not knowing what to do.

“Hammy, where are you?” he cried, frantically searching the room. Suddenly, he heard a tiny voice. “Look under the couch,” it squeaked. Tommy crawled under the couch and, sure enough, there was Hammy.

“Thank you, Hammy,” Tommy said gratefully. “You always know how to help me.” Hammy just blinked its beady eyes, unfazed.

As Tommy grew older, his belief in his animal friends only strengthened. When he had trouble with his homework, he’d consult the wise old owl. When he was feeling lonely, he’d chat with friendly squirrels. They always seemed to have the perfect solution, the kind word, or the playful distraction.

One day, Tommy’s teacher assigned a difficult project. Feeling overwhelmed, Tommy went to the park. “What should I do for my project?” he asked the squirrels. A squirrel chattered back, “How about a volcano?” Tommy thought a bit and decided it was a brilliant idea.

He spent days researching volcanoes, building a model, and writing a report. When he presented his project to the class, everyone was impressed. Tommy beamed with pride. He had done it all, thanks to his animal friends.

But as he grew older, Tommy began to question his ability. He realized that the animals couldn’t actually talk. They couldn’t offer advice or help with tasks. It was all in his imagination.

Yet, he also realized something else. He had always been capable of doing extraordinary things. He had the intelligence, the creativity, and the determination to succeed. His animal friends had simply been a source of inspiration, a way to believe in himself.

Tommy concluded that the real magic was within him. He was the one who had the power to solve problems, to create, and to achieve. His animal friends had simply helped him unlock his own potential.