Look Up, Bloom!

One day, a little green sprout broke its way out from under the soil. She opened her eyes, slowly adjusting to the bright light all around her. She looked up and saw her mother and father beaming down at her proudly.

"There she is!" her Papa exclaimed.

"Our little Bloom!" her Mama cooed.

The little sprout squinted as the rays from the sun hit her eyes. She looked back down at the ground she had come out of.

“I’m scared. You and Papa are so high up. How can I reach you if the sun keeps shining in my eyes and I cannot look up?” Bloom asked her Mama.

“Oh, Bloom!” Her Mama said. “I know it’s hard, but the sun will help you grow taller and taller!”

“Okay…” Bloom replied, still worried.

“You can do it, Bloom!” Her Papa cheered.

Bloom shook away her worry and looked up. It was hot and bright at first, but soon she learned to enjoy her time under the sun.

Days went by, and Bloom grew taller and taller. She had developed a small flower bud, a short but strong stem and a sturdy little leaf. One day, as Bloom got ready to look up at the morning sun, she felt a tug on her stem. She looked down to see tangled vines pulling at her stem.

"I’m scared. You and Mama are still so high up. How can I reach you if I am tangled and I cannot look up?" Bloom asked her Papa.

“Oh, Bloom!” Her Papa said. “I know it’s hard, but the weeds will help you grow stronger and stronger!”

“Okay…” Bloom replied, still worried.

“You can do it, Bloom!” Her Mama cheered.

Once again, Bloom shook away her worry and looked up. It was hard at first, but soon she learned her little stem was much stronger than the tangled weeds. She stretched her stem taller and lifted her face to the sun.

More days passed, and Bloom grew stronger and stronger. She was now a young flower with a few petals, a thick, strong stem and many sturdy leaves. One day, as Bloom got ready to look up at the morning sun as she always did, she couldn't find the light. She looked around to see that the other flowers had pushed their way over her.

"I’m scared. You and Papa are still high up. How can I reach you if I am short and I cannot look up? She told her Mama.

“Oh, Bloom!” Her Mama said. “I know it’s hard, but the other flowers will help you grow bolder and bolder!”

“Okay…” Bloom replied, still worried.

“You can do it, Bloom!” Her Papa cheered.

Once again, Bloom shook away her worry and looked up. It was hard at first, but soon she learned her strong stem was just as strong as the other flowers. She pushed her stem taller to stand between the other flowers and raised her face to the sun.

A few days passed, and Bloom grew bolder and bolder. She was now a mature flower with a corolla of petals, a thick, tall stem and many large, sturdy leaves. One day, as Bloom got ready to look up at the morning sun as she always did, she felt water pouring down on her. She looked around to see that all the flowers around her were looking down.

"I’m scared. I am now as tall as Mama and you. But the light is gone, and everyone is looking down."

“Oh, Bloom!” Her Papa said. “I know it’s hard, but waiting rooted and steady in this rain for the sun will only make you braver and braver!”

“Okay…” Bloom replied, still worried.

“You can do it, Bloom!” Her Mama cheered.

Once again, Bloom shook away her worry and looked up. It was hard at first, but soon she learned that the rain and the breeze would pass. She straightened her stem and lifted her face, waiting for the sun. And soon, the rain stopped, and the sun popped up, warming the flowers.

“See, Bloom, you can always do whatever you want,” her Mama said.

“All you need to do is try,” her Papa said.

Bloom smiled brightly. She has bloomed into a beautiful sunflower because she tried and tried and never gave up.