David loved dinosaurs! He knew all their names and how to say them, even the super long ones! He also loved to explore! His mom always said he had ants in his pants because he could never sit still.
One day, David was playing with his dinosaur toys in his room when he noticed something strange. It looked like a tiny door had appeared in the wall! David, being the explorer he was, couldn't resist opening it. Inside, he saw a swirling, sparkly light. "Wow!" he gasped.
He peeked his head inside the tiny door. "Hello?" he called out, his voice echoing around. Suddenly, he felt a funny feeling, like he was floating! He looked down and realized he was! He was surrounded by stars and could see the Earth far below!
"Welcome to the Moon!" a squeaky voice said. David looked around and saw a small creature with pointy ears and a mischievous grin. "I'm Finny, a Leprechaun!"
David knew about Leprechauns from his storybooks, but he never thought he'd actually meet one. "What am I doing on the Moon?" he asked, confused.
Finny chuckled. "You found our secret passage! This is where we come to learn about gratitude."
"Gratitude?" David was puzzled.
"It means being thankful for all the good things in your life," Finny explained. "Look!" He pointed to a group of Leprechauns gathered around a shimmering pool of light. As they touched the light, images flashed in the air - a laughing child, a warm hug, a wagging tail.
"Those are happy memories," another Leprechaun explained. "They remind us of all the wonderful things we have to be grateful for."
David thought for a moment. He was grateful for his mom's yummy cookies, his dinosaur collection, and his adventurous spirit. He closed his eyes tight, and thought about all these things. When he opened them, a warm feeling spread through him.
Suddenly, he heard his mom’s voice calling, "David? Where are you?”
“Oh no, Mom will be worried!” He looked around for Finny but he was gone. The swirling light was back.
David took a deep breath and stepped into the light. The next thing he knew, he was back in his room, the tiny door gone.
He ran to his mom and gave her a big hug. "I'm so grateful for you, Mom!" he exclaimed.
Mom was surprised but pleased. “I’m grateful for you too, David,” she said with a smile, “Now, what were you doing?”
That night, while snuggled in bed, David thought about his adventure. He might not see Finny again, but he’d always remember the lesson about gratitude. He closed his eyes, feeling grateful for the Moon, the Leprechauns, and most importantly, his loving Mom.
