The Cloud Whale Express

Was that a WHALE floating over Lily’s town—or was the hot morning playing tricks on her? WHOOSH, a giant shape made of fluffy cloud drifted overhead, and Lily whispered, “A whale made of clouds!” It winked and lowered its enormous tail like a slide. Was it inviting her aboard?

Up Lily climbed, until she settled on the whale’s soft, cloudy back with a little poof. “We are the Cloud Whale Express,” it rumbled, its deep voice buzzing right through her. “Next stop, the thirsty farms!” Lily was ready for a rain-delivering adventure—but just how thirsty would those farms be?

Below them, the cornfields were brown and dry, their leaves crunchy as crumpled paper—crackle, crunch. “They need water,” Lily said, and suddenly their delivery felt much too important to miss. “Clouds can be made of tiny water droplets,” the whale explained, “and I am full of them!” But could it let those droplets loose?

The whale took a big breath, and Lily waited through one long, breathless moment. Then came a gentle ah-CHOO, and soft rain sprinkled onto the thirsty fields below. “We did it!” Lily cheered as the farmers danced in the puddles—splish, splash, a wonderful, watery celebration. The delivery was done, but how would Lily get home?

Out came the sun, and its light shining through raindrops made a rainbow appear. “Best delivery ever!” Lily called, sliding down the rainbow with a joyful WHEEE, all the way home. She was already dreaming of her next trip aboard the Cloud Whale Express. Helping others had made this big, wide sky feel like home.