In the bright Kingdom, Ballerina Samiyah loved to dance.
Samiyah wore soft pink shoes. Her skirt was blue, like the morning sky. When she twirled, the little bells on her crown went ting-ting-ting.
“Good morning, Kingdom!” Samiyah said.
She lifted one foot. She stretched her arms. She did a tiny hop.
Hop!
Twirl!
Smile!
Her best friend Plush watched from a golden bench. Plush was a round, cuddly toy bear with a green bow. He was very gentle. He clapped his soft paws.
“Again, Samiyah! Again!” said Plush.
But then the Kingdom went very quiet.
The red flags on the castle became gray. The yellow flowers became gray. Even Samiyah’s blue skirt looked gray.
“Oh no,” said Samiyah. “Where did our colors go?”
From behind the big silver fountain came Mummy.
Mummy was wrapped in clean white cloth. He had big, sad eyes. He was not roaring. He was sniffing.
“I took the colors,” Mummy said in a small voice.
“Why?” asked Plush.
Mummy looked down at his wrapped feet. “I wanted to make a beautiful dance. But I cannot dance. My feet get tangled. I felt sad. The colors flew into my gray Color Jar.”
Plush gave Mummy a kind little pat. “We can help you,” he said.
Samiyah nodded. She was a little scared of Mummy’s long wrappings. But Samiyah was brave and kind.
“Come with us,” she said. “We will make a dance together.”
Mummy pointed at the Color Jar. It was high on the castle tower.
“The jar opens only for a happy show,” he said.
So Samiyah, Plush, and Mummy went through the Kingdom.
First, they found the gray flowers.
Samiyah showed Mummy a gentle step. “One foot. Then the other foot,” she said.
Mummy tried.
Step.
Step.
His wrapping went flop-flop-flop.
Plush giggled. “Your feet are saying hello!”
Mummy giggled too. A tiny red spark popped from the Color Jar.
The red flags became red again.
Next, they came to the gray duck pond.
Plush rolled in a circle. “Roll like me!” he said.
Mummy rolled very slowly.
Roll... roll... bonk!
He bumped into a soft bush.
“I am okay!” Mummy said.
Samiyah laughed. Plush laughed. Mummy laughed the biggest laugh of all.
A yellow spark flew from the jar.
The ducks turned yellow again. “Quack, quack!” they sang.
At last, the friends reached the tall castle tower. The Color Jar sat by the window. It was full of blue, green, purple, orange, and pink swirls.
But the jar stayed shut.
Samiyah took a deep breath. “We need our best dance,” she said.
“I might tangle,” said Mummy.
“That is all right,” said Samiyah. “We dance together.”
Plush held Mummy’s hand. Samiyah held Plush’s paw.
Music began inside Samiyah’s little bells.
Ting-ting-ting!
Samiyah did a twirl.
Plush did a roll.
Mummy did a step.
Then Mummy did another step.
He did not tangle!
“Look!” cried Mummy. “I am dancing!”
“Dance, dance, dance!” said Plush.
They twirled by the window. They hopped by the jar. They bowed to the smiling moon.
Click!
The Color Jar opened.
Whoosh!
Colors flew all over the Kingdom.
Blue rushed to Samiyah’s skirt. Green rushed to Plush’s bow. Red rushed to the flags. Purple rushed to the castle doors. Pink rushed to every flower.
The Kingdom was bright again.
From the open jar, one last thing dropped into Samiyah’s hands.
It was a shiny rainbow ribbon with tiny silver stars.
“For the best dancing helper,” said Mummy.
Samiyah tied the ribbon around her crown. It sparkled when she moved.
Then the King and Queen came to the tower. They clapped and clapped.
“Samiyah,” said the Queen, “you are the Kingdom’s Rainbow Ballerina!”
The King gave Plush a small golden drum. “For the best rolling dance,” he said.
And Mummy got soft blue dance shoes that fit over his wrappings.
Mummy looked at his new shoes. “May I dance tomorrow too?”
Samiyah smiled. “Yes. Every day.”
So, in the bright Kingdom, Samiyah danced with Plush and Mummy.
Twirl!
Roll!
Step!
And all the colors stayed right where they belonged.