Hi. I’m Albie. Today we knighted a worm.
The sun sat on my back, and my shirt warmed up fast. Sadie Lou barked at a blue jay. Maximum Moo chased a butterfly. My Aunt Lou says Max runs in high heels. The weird thing is his prance speed beats Sadie’s full treat sprint.
Nomi dragged a bucket across the yard. It rattled like it had secrets. “What’s that for?” I asked.
“Kingdom water supply,” she said. She lifted it high, waiting for the sky to approve.
I peeked inside. Three pebbles. Half a dandelion. And one very damp worm.
“That worm does not look happy.”
“He’s swimming laps,” she said. She tapped the rim. “Worm Fitness Hour.”
Rock blinked once. Slow. Suspicious.
Nomi marched to the porch steps. “Buckets make kingdoms official. Without one, we’re just kids sitting on old stumps.”
She set it down with a thunk. Maximum Moo shoved his whole head inside. Came out dripping. Grinning like he’d discovered the ocean.
Sadie stole the dandelion and ran three glory laps before Nomi cornered her.
“Traitor!” Nomi yelled. “Kitchen duty for you little dog!”
Sadie barked once. Clearly worth it.
Then Moo wagged too hard. The bucket tipped. The worm slid onto the step and curled tight.
Everything got quiet.
I leaned close. “He didn’t sign up for swim team.” He just wants to join our kingdom.
“Well then… I’ll knight him,” Nomi said, crouched beside me. “Sir Worm,” she said softly. “Defender of Dirt.”
I cupped my hands near him in case he tried to wriggle off the edge. Nana says worms crawl up after rain to see their friends and because traveling is easier. I’m not sure which part is true, but I like both.
“I think he needs more dirt,” I said. “Less pool.”
Nomi frowned. Then scooped in a handful of soil. “Fine. Training arena.”
She lowered him back in. “Back to practice, Sir Worm.”
From the kitchen, Dad called, “Whoever’s running the bucket brigade, don’t turn the porch into a swimming pool!”
Mom added, “And no knights tracking mud on my clean floor!”
We sat on the steps with the bucket between us.
Sadie sprawled in the grass with her back legs stuck straight out behind her like she forgot how joints work. That cracks me up.
Moo panted, proud of himself.
Nomi touched the rim again. “Buckets make everything official,” she said again. “Even worms.”
I nodded.
Rock blinked once. Slow. Certain.
In our garden kingdom, you don’t need a crowd. Just a bucket. A worm. And somebody who stays.
Buckets optional. Friends guaranteed.
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