The Girl and the Cloud Sheep

The Girl and the Cloud Sheep - Author : Ebru Mina TOMURCUK

On a bright and breezy morning, a girl named Lily skipped through the meadow behind her house. Her yellow polka-dot dress swirled around her, and her curly dark-brown pigtails bounced with every step. She carried a small sky-blue satchel stuffed with treasures: a smooth stone, a red ribbon, and a half-eaten cookie. Lily loved to look up at the sky and imagine what might be hiding there. 1

Today, Lily stopped and stared. High above, fluffy white shapes drifted slowly across the blue sky. They looked like sheep! Not just any sheep, but soft, glowing cloud sheep with tiny grey hooves and little curled horns. Each one wore a thin blue ribbon around its neck with a tiny golden bell. Lily rubbed her big round hazel eyes and looked again. The cloud sheep were still there, nibbling on puffy white clouds. 2

An old shepherd stood on a hilltop, watching the cloud sheep with kind, crinkly blue eyes. His moss-green coat flapped in the breeze, and his long white beard ruffled. He held a wooden crook with a red ribbon that danced in the wind. Lily climbed the hill to meet him. 'Are those your sheep?' she asked. The shepherd smiled. 'They are,' he said. 'And they are very playful today.' 3

The shepherd told Lily about the cloud sheep. They lived in the sky and ate only the fluffiest clouds. 'But they are skittish,' he warned. 'When the wind blows hard, they scatter like dandelion seeds.' Lily looked at the flock. The cloud sheep tumbled and bounced, their little bells jingling softly. 'I can help you watch them,' Lily said. The shepherd's rosy cheeks crinkled into a warm smile. 'I would like that,' he said. 4

Suddenly, a strong wind whooshed across the sky. It whistled through the meadow and shook the trees. The cloud sheep bleated in surprise. Their tiny hooves scrambled for a hold, but the wind was too strong. One by one, the fluffy sheep tumbled away, spinning like cotton balls. Their golden bells jingled wildly as they drifted far apart. The shepherd waved his crook, but the wind carried his voice away. 5

Lily watched the cloud sheep scatter in every direction. Some floated over the dark forest, some drifted toward the tall mountains, and some tumbled toward the wide blue sea. 'Oh no!' cried the shepherd. 'My sheep are lost!' He looked very worried. Lily felt a flutter in her tummy, but she took a deep breath. 'Don't worry,' she said. 'We can find them. I have an idea.' 6

Lily opened her sky-blue satchel and pulled out her red ribbon. She tied it to the shepherd's crook, right below his own red ribbon. 'The wind likes bright colors,' she said. 'It will follow the ribbon.' The shepherd looked unsure, but he trusted the girl. Lily stood tall on the hilltop and called out to the wind. 'Hello, wind! Will you help us, please?' The wind swirled around her, curious and gentle. 7

The wind whispered back, 'I was only playing. I did not mean to scatter the sheep.' Lily smiled. 'That's all right. Can you help us gather them again?' The wind puffed softly, and the red ribbons on the crook fluttered. 'Follow me,' it seemed to say. Lily and the shepherd hurried down the hill, following the dancing ribbons. The wind led them to the first cloud sheep, hiding behind a tall oak tree. 8

The cloud sheep looked scared. Its tiny body trembled, and its dark eyes were wide. Lily spoke softly. 'It's okay, little one. We're here to take you home.' She reached out, and the cloud sheep nuzzled her hand. The shepherd gently lifted it onto his crook. The cloud sheep's golden bell jingled happily. 'One found!' Lily cheered. 'Let's find the others.' They set off again, with the wind guiding them. 9

The wind led them to the river, where two cloud sheep were stuck in a willow tree. Their fluffy bodies were tangled in the branches. Lily called to the wind, 'Please blow gently and lift them free!' The wind obeyed, sending a soft breeze that lifted the sheep out of the tree. They floated down and joined their friend on the crook. The shepherd laughed. 'Your imagination is a wonderful thing,' he said. 10

Now Lily had a plan. She asked the wind to blow a special tune, a soft whistling melody that cloud sheep love. The wind whistled through the meadow and over the hills. Far away, the scattered cloud sheep heard the tune. Their ears perked up, and their little bells jingled. They began to drift toward the sound, eager to be together again. One by one, they floated closer, their fluffy bodies glowing in the sunlight. 11

The shepherd counted the sheep as they arrived. 'Seven, eight, nine...' he said, his kind eyes shining. 'All here!' Lily clapped her hands. The cloud sheep bleated happily and nibbled on a nearby cloud. The shepherd turned to Lily. 'You are a true shepherd's friend,' he said. 'You used your imagination to call the wind and bring my flock home.' Lily beamed. 'It was teamwork,' she said. 'We did it together.' 12

The wind, now gentle and warm, wrapped around them like a soft hug. 'Thank you for playing with me,' it whispered. 'You are welcome to visit anytime.' The cloud sheep settled on a big fluffy cloud, their bells jingling a happy tune. Lily and the shepherd sat on the hilltop and watched the sunset paint the sky pink and gold. It had been a wonderful adventure, and it was all because Lily had looked up and imagined.