Children have such fanciful dreams of conquering the world around them, yet through their imagination they can learn that the best way to achieve a goal or dream is by perseverance.
Stardust & Moonbeams Alex had an idea. A wonderful idea! He would catch a cloud and hold it down and treasure it forever. Alex went for a tack; not a pole or a stick. He’d have to pin the cloud down, it could not move an inch. After catching the cloud, Alex thought it looked sad. The cloud had shed teardrops right there on the sand! And Alex was not happy; not happy at all. So Alex set the cloud free and it floated away; up high toward the sky, where clouds liked to play. Another idea struck Alex instead: a wonderfully, stupendous idea in his head! He’d find a moonbeam; to hold in his hand. Alex squealed with delight. His plan was so grand. He’d go to the ocean, the lake and the sea; he was sure to find moonbeams shining playfully. Alex ran and he chased the moonbeam’s grand dance; but he grew tired; and gave up at last. So Alex, once delighted, sat down to think, “There must be a way!” But the moonbeams just winked. So Alex sat. And he pondered. And he thought for awhile. And he settled down right there on the shore, while the moonbeam sunk lower and lower still more. “A rainbow!” Alex shouted. A plan came to mind. He would borrow dad’s ladder! “I’m sure he won’t mind.” Alex jumped from his seat got right to his feet; turned and waved to the moon He ran so fast home, he thought he would fly, with barely a thought to the moon’s nod goodbye. Alex waited and waited and waited some more. When the rain finally came Alex rushed out the door. He splished and he splashed in the puddles for hours. From downpour to mist; oh what a spring shower! The sun shone dimly at first. Then the clouds finally parted. And in the distance a rainbow had started. Alex jumped and he shouted and ran to the barn to get the tall ladder; to climb up, up real far. He climbed the tall ladder to the top, all the way! But the rainbow shrank further and further away. And Alex was not happy; not happy at all So, Alex sat. And he pondered. And he thought for awhile. “How about stardust!” he thought with a smile. He waited all night. His teeth started to chatter. It was cold. It was dark. But it did not matter. He waited all night; where he sat on the ground. He waited all night; for a star to be found. When in the dark sky; Oh, what a sight! Millions of stars streaked through the night. This way and that way, Orange. Red. And green. “A meteor shower,” Alex said with great glee. And after a while, Alex fell fast asleep, while stars sparkled and sprinkled stardust on his cheek. Then Alex awoke. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He stretched and he yawned, then sat up in surprise. He was in his own room! He was in his own bed! And his wonderful adventure; he had dreamt instead. Then Alex looked closer. He looked at his bed sheet. And there was a meteoroid, down by his feet.
