Jacob the dog barked happily, his tail wagging so fast it looked like a furry blur! William, his four-year-old best friend, giggled as they ran through the park. The sun made the leaves sparkle like green glitter, and birds sang cheerful songs.
"Look, Jacob!" William pointed. A little bluebird chirped sadly on a branch, too scared to fly down to the ground.
"He looks sad," William whispered, his face crinkling with concern.
Jacob tilted his head, whimpering softly. William petted Jacob's head, a warm feeling spreading in his chest. He knew that feeling! It was empathy - when you understood how someone else felt.
Suddenly, a giggle echoed through the air. A lady with a pointy hat and twinkling eyes peeked from behind a big oak tree. "Why the long faces, little ones?"
"He's sad," William pointed at the bird again, "But he can't fly down because he's scared."
The lady smiled. "I'm Willow, the Witch of this park," she said, "Maybe a little magic can help!"
She pulled out a shiny red apple from her bag. "This isn't any ordinary apple," she winked, "It's filled with happy courage!" She took a bite and tossed the core under the tree. Magically, it sprouted into a small apple tree, covered in tiny red apples.
Willow plucked one and held it out to William. "Give this to our little friend. It'll make him brave."
William carefully took the apple and, with his super strength, gently placed it on a low branch. The bluebird hopped over, pecked at the apple, and chirped! Then, with a flap of his wings, he flew down to join the other birds, chirping happily.
William beamed. Seeing the bird happy made him feel happy too!
"Empathy is a wonderful thing," Willow smiled, "It lets you share in the joy and help those in need."
They spent the rest of the afternoon playing in the park. William pushed Jacob on the swings, his laughter echoing through the trees. He made sure to share his snacks with Jacob, understanding that his furry friend loved food!
As the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple, William knew it was time to go home. He hugged Willow goodbye, promising to visit again.
Walking back home, William held his mom's hand, his heart full of warmth. He had made a new friend, helped a little bird, and learned all about empathy. And that, he decided, made for a very good day!
