Susie finds a strange blue hat in her garden, and the flowers, light, and tiny fairy that follow hint that something magical has just begun.
One bright morning, Susie was hopping through her garden after the rain. The grass was silver with water drops, and the flowers were all still sleepy and closed.
Then she noticed something tucked under the raspberry bush.
It was a big dark blue hat with a red ribbon tied round it.
Susie crouched down and stared at it. The hat did not look old and dusty like a forgotten thing. It looked almost tidy, as if someone had placed it there on purpose.
She picked it up.
It felt warm in her hands.
Before she could think twice, Susie set it on her head. A soft tickle fluttered behind her ears. She giggled and reached up to touch the brim.
At once, the garden changed.
A little flower popped open beside her shoe. Then another. Then three more, all at once. One sparkled like a tiny star. Another gave off a sweet smell, just like vanilla ice cream.
Susie blinked.
A small laugh came from somewhere above her shoulder.
On a leaf nearby sat a tiny fairy, no bigger than a strawberry, with wings like glass.
"Hello, Susie," she said, waving. "My hat has chosen you."
Susie’s mouth fell open. The hat gave a tiny flash of gold, and a shining path appeared between the raspberry bushes, winding deeper and deeper into the shadows.
Susie took one step forward.
Then the bushes rustled.
Something inside them moved very slowly, and very quietly, as if it was listening.