Serena wasn’t like other kids in Maple Creek. While most children carried sparkly backpacks or trendy shoulder bags, Serena proudly carried her tiny crocheted elephant purse—whom she lovingly named Peanut.
Every afternoon, Serena walked home from school by cutting through Mr. Wilson’s neighborhood garden, the biggest one in town. One day, she noticed something strange: Peanut’s little trunk-shaped pocket felt unusually warm, almost like it was alive.
When Serena peeked inside, she discovered a tiny, glowing marble pulsing like a heartbeat. Confused but curious, she tucked it back into Peanut and hurried home.
That night, as Serena sat on her bedroom floor doing homework, Peanut suddenly wiggled—yes, wiggled!—and the glowing marble floated into the air. Within seconds, shimmering lights filled the room, and a tiny blue elephant appeared. Not a toy. Not crocheted. A real, miniature elephant.
The little creature wrapped its tiny trunk around Harper’s finger and squeaked as if it had known her forever.
Serena learned that the marble was a “Wish Seed,” and Peanut had been chosen to protect it. As long as Serena kept the seed safe, the tiny elephant, whom she named Bubbles, would stay with her.
From that day on, Serena’s life became wonderfully unpredictable: Bubbles sneezed glitter, loved hiding in cereal boxes, and accidentally turned Serena’s sneakers rainbow-colored before school picture day.
Still, Serena wouldn’t trade her magical friend for anything. Because in Maple Creek, she wasn’t just Serena—the girl with the crocheted purse.
She was Serena, Keeper of the Little Elephant Magic.
