What is respect? Liam wondered, looking at his dinosaur toys scattered on the floor. His furry friend Jacob, a happy dog with a nose for treats, wagged his tail, hoping for a game.
"Come on, Jacob!" Liam exclaimed, scooping up his dinosaur toys. "Let's ask someone who knows about respect. I heard there's a witch in the park! Maybe she knows!"
Liam carefully put his toys away and grabbed Jacob's leash. "We have to be respectful and ask nicely," he told Jacob, who barked excitedly.
The park was full of sunshine and laughter. Children played, birds sang, and the trees whispered in the breeze. Liam held tight to Jacob's leash as they walked along the path.
Suddenly, the air grew chilly. The laughter faded, and the leaves on the trees seemed to droop. Liam felt a shiver run down his spine. Was it a spooky witch shadow passing by?
"Excuse me," Liam called out, his voice a little shaky. "Is anyone here?"
"Who's asking?" a voice whispered from behind a towering oak tree.
Liam peeked around the tree and gasped. A kind-faced woman with a purple pointy hat sat on a moss-covered rock. She had a twinkle in her eye and a friendly smile.
"Are you the witch?" Liam asked, his voice barely a whisper.
The woman chuckled. "Some people call me that. I'm Willow."
"Hi, Willow!" Liam said, feeling braver. "I'm Liam, and this is Jacob. We came to ask about respect."
Willow smiled. "Respect is important," she said, her voice as soothing as the wind chimes hanging from the tree branches. "It's about treating everyone and everything with kindness. It's about listening to the birds sing and not scaring them away. It's about picking up your toys and keeping your room tidy."
Liam nodded. That made sense! He liked listening to the birds sing, and he was trying to be better at keeping his toys organized.
"Respect is also about taking care of the park," Willow continued, gesturing to the trees and flowers around them. "Don't litter, and be gentle with the plants. Everything deserves to be treated with care."
Liam looked around the park with new eyes. He understood now. Respect wasn't just about cleaning his room; it was about being kind to everyone and everything.
"Thank you, Willow!" Liam exclaimed, feeling happy he understood. He gave Jacob a gentle pat. "We'll remember to be respectful!"
As they walked back home, Liam made sure to throw his trash in the bin. He picked up a candy wrapper someone had dropped, even though it wasn't his.
"Respect feels good," Liam said to Jacob, who barked in agreement.
The sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. Liam held Jacob’s leash a little tighter as they walked past the spooky shadows, but he wasn't scared anymore. He knew that as long as he was respectful, everything would be alright.
