Alphabet Allie's Arc

Chapter 7 of 7

Allie followed the winding path deeper into Storyland Canada, her brown shoes crunching on gravel. The back lots had taught her something she couldn't unlearn, but her chest still felt heavy with all the things she'd tried to fix and couldn't. She needed to keep moving, to let her thoughts settle. Then she saw the pond. It stretched wide and calm between two clusters of trees, its surface reflecting the sky. A smooth stone bench sat near the edge, its curved lines polished and inviting. Allie sat down and watched the water ripple in the breeze. A heart-shaped lily pad floated near the center, its bright green surface dotted with pale spots and a tiny pink flower in the middle. She breathed in slowly, letting the quiet press against her. A green frog hopped onto the lily pad. He bounced once, twice, then started leaping in wild circles. His legs kicked in all directions as he spun and twisted on the small platform. Allie felt her mouth pull into a smile, then a laugh burst out before she could stop it. The frog bounced higher, his body wobbling with each landing, completely unconcerned with looking graceful or making sense. He was just having fun. The lily pad tipped sideways and the frog tumbled face-first into the water with a loud splash. Droplets sprayed up in arcing patterns that caught the light. The frog surfaced immediately and climbed back onto the lily pad, ready to start again. Allie's laughter faded into something softer. She'd spent so much time trying to make people understand letters, to prove they mattered, to convince everyone they were alive and important. But this frog didn't care if anyone understood him. He didn't need her to explain why frolicking mattered or why joy was worth the splash. He just did what made him happy, over and over, even when it sent him tumbling into the water. Allie stood up from the bench and looked at the letters on her green dress. Maybe she didn't need everyone to see letters the way she did. Maybe it was enough to love them herself, to keep believing even when no one else joined her. The frog bounced again, and this time Allie didn't try to find a lesson in it. She just smiled and walked on.