Lola was a very fancy little gecko. She lived on the bright white wall of the back porch, right tucked behind a big, bushy fern. Lola loved to imagine she was wearing shiny satin ribbons, and every morning, she’d stretch out in a warm patch of golden sunlight to toast her tummy.
Lola’s pride and joy was her tail. It was long, elegant, and pearly gray. It helped her make lightning-fast turns when she was hunting for snacks. Zig-zag! Zip-zoom! She felt like a tiny wall-ballerina.
Barnaby the Cat
One afternoon, Lola was busy watching a bright yellow butterfly flutter by. Suddenly… a giant shadow stretched across the wall!
It was Barnaby the Cat. Barnaby wasn’t mean, but he was a big, clumsy fluff-ball. He loved to play tag, even if he didn’t know his own strength. “Meow! Tag, you’re it!” chirped Barnaby, landing his big, furry paw right on top of Lola’s tail.
Lola’s little heart started thumping like a drum. Thump-thump-thump! She had to get away! She gave a mighty wiggle and a giant leap, and then… POP!
Something strange and magical happened. Lola scrambled one way, but her tail stayed right where it was—wiggling all by itself under the cat’s paw!
Where Did My Tail Go?
Lola scrambled behind a flowerpot and peeked out. She looked back and gasped. She was half-sized! Her beautiful, long tail was gone. Lola started to cry big, salty lizard tears. “Oh no! I’m broken! I’m only half a gecko! No one will think I’m a fancy ballerina now.”
Just then, Grandma Gecko scurried down. She wore tiny gold spectacles and knew just about everything. “What’s all this crying about, little Lola?”
“The cat stole my tail, Grandma!”
Grandma let out a soft, crinkly giggle and patted Lola’s head. “Dry your eyes, sweetie. That wasn’t an accident—it’s your lizard superpower!”
The Magic of Growing Back
“A superpower?” asked Lola, sniffing and wiping her face.
“That’s right!” Grandma explained. “To save your life and trick the cat, you let your tail go on purpose. It’s a Great Escape! And do you want to know the best secret of all? It grows back!”
Lola wasn’t so sure, but she decided to wait. One day passed. Then two. Lola ate plenty of crunchy crickets to keep her strength up.
And then, a tiny gray nub appeared on her backside. Then it grew a little more. And a little more. In a few weeks, Lola had a brand-new tail! It was even stronger, smoother, and shinier than the one before.
Lola was over the moon! She zoomed across the porch wall, showing off her moves: Zig-zag! Zip-zoom! Now Lola knew the truth: even if we lose a little piece of ourselves when we get a big scare, we can always heal, grow, and become whole again.
Did you enjoy Lola’s adventure? ✨
How about a story like this, made exclusively for YOUR child, where they are the hero?
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📖 Don't let the magic end! Next, we recommend: Daisy the Hen: The Secret of the Magical Colorful Eggs →
