Liam was a cowboy. A moon-cowboy.
He wore a tiny hat and soft boots that went poof in the gray dust.
“Yee-haw,” Liam whispered. “Moon is quiet.”
Pig trotted beside him. Pig was round and brave, with a little bell that went ding-ding.
“Snort,” said Pig. That meant: I am here.
Up ahead, an Archaeologist knelt by shiny stones. She had a big scarf and a gentle smile.
“I’m Dr. Nova,” she said. “I look for old moon things. Lost things.”
Liam tipped his hat. “We can help.”
Dr. Nova pointed to the dark sky. “A star is missing. A tiny one. It fell near the Crater Garden.”
Pig’s bell went ding. Pig looked worried.
Liam patted Pig. “We will find it. Cowboys find lost things.”
They walked. Step. Step. Poof.
They passed a tall rock that looked like a bunny.
They hopped over a sleepy ridge.
Then—whoosh!
A Wizard popped up from behind a moon hill.
His robe was purple. His beard was long.
“Mine!” the Wizard said. “The little star is mine now.”
Liam stood tall, but his voice stayed kind. “Please. The sky needs it.”
The Wizard waved a wand. “No-no-no!”
A swirl of sparkles made a foggy bubble.
Pig sneezed. “Achoo-snort!”
Dr. Nova blinked. “This is tricky. But we can be clever.”
Liam looked around. He saw moon dust. He saw a smooth stone. He saw Pig’s bell.
“Pig,” Liam said softly, “can you ring your bell?”
Pig shook-shook. Ding-ding-ding!
The sound bounced in the crater like a drum.
The bubble fog wobbled.
“Again!” said Liam.
Ding-ding-ding!
The Wizard covered his ears. “Too loud!”
Dr. Nova whispered, “Sound makes the bubble shake. Good thinking, cowboy.”
Liam rolled the smooth stone, slow and steady.
It bumped the bubble. Bump.
Pig rang. Ding!
Bump. Ding!
Pop!
The bubble burst like a soap bubble.
Behind it, in a little jar, was the tiny missing star.
It glowed like a warm night-light.
Liam picked up the jar with two hands.
The Wizard stomped. “Give it!”
Pig stepped in front of Liam. Pig was small, but Pig was loyal.
“Snort!” said Pig. That meant: No.
Liam spoke gently. “Wizard, you can come with us. You can help.”
The Wizard paused. His eyebrows went up.
“No one asks me to help,” he mumbled.
Dr. Nova nodded. “Helping is nice. And we will share a treasure.”
“Treasure?” said the Wizard.
They all walked to the Crater Garden.
Dr. Nova found an old stone bowl there, covered in moon symbols.
“An ancient Star Seat,” she said.
Liam opened the jar.
“Ready?” he asked.
Pig leaned in.
The Wizard leaned in, too, a little shy.
Liam lifted the tiny star and set it on the Star Seat.
Shhhiiine!
The sky twinkled brighter.
A soft silver light spilled over the rocks.
And then—plink!
From the Star Seat, three gifts popped out.
A shiny moon badge for Liam that said: SPACE COWBOY.
A tiny golden snack box for Pig.
And a small wand charm for the Wizard, shaped like a heart.
The Wizard smiled, just a bit. “Maybe I can use my magic for good.”
Liam laughed softly. “Yee-haw. Teamwork.”
Pig crunched a snack. “Snort!”
Dr. Nova wrote in her notebook. “Today, we found a star. And new friends.”
Liam looked at the bright sky.
“Moon is quiet,” he said, “but it is not lonely now.”
They walked home. Step. Step. Poof.
And the little star watched over them all night.