The Sweet Blackberry and the Shiny Dragonfly

The morning sun was warm and golden over Lake Stevens. The air smelled like sweet summer breeze and tall green pine needles. The sky was very blue, with little white clouds drifting like fluffy cotton puffs.

Shaurya was sitting in his cozy stroller, wearing his little blue sun hat. Mamma pushed the stroller along the soft dirt trail near the lake. Baba walked right beside them, holding Shaurya's tiny hand.

Roll, roll, roll went the little wheels. Tap, tap, tap went Baba's shoes on the path.

Shaurya kicked his little feet in the air. Kick, kick, kick! He looked around with his big, bright eyes. There were so many green bushes beside the trail. The bushes had big green leaves and lots of round little berries.

Mamma stopped the stroller right next to a big green bush. Look, Shaurya, said Mamma softly. Look at the blackberries.

Shaurya looked closely. He leaned forward and pointed his tiny finger. Point, point, point.

Some of the berries were small and hard and green. Those are not ready yet, little one, Baba said with a smile. They are still growing in the sunshine.

Some of the berries were bright red and shiny. Not yet, said Mamma gently. Red berries are still sour. Pucker, pucker, sour!

And some of the berries were deep, dark purple, almost as black as the night sky. They were plump. They were round. They were bumpy, made of tiny little shiny bubbles all bunched together.

Baba reached out his big, gentle hand. He picked one plump, dark berry from the bush. Pluck! The berry came off easily into Baba's hand.

Baba showed it to Shaurya. It is soft, Baba said. Touch it gently, Shaurya.

Shaurya reached out his small fingers. He touched the bumpy dark berry. It felt cool and soft and bumpy. Squish, squish, went Shaurya's tiny fingers. A little drop of dark purple juice popped onto his thumb.

Mamma held up a little piece of the berry to Shaurya's lips. Take a tiny taste, my sweet boy, Mamma whispered.

Shaurya opened his little mouth. Yum! The berry was so juicy. It was so fresh. It was so sweet!

Mishti, Mamma said, clapping her hands softly. In Bengali, sweet is called mishti. Is the berry mishti, Shaurya?

Mishti! Shaurya smiled a big, berry-sweet smile. His lips were purple. His tongue was purple. His little thumb was purple too. Mamma and Baba laughed happy, warm laughs.

Look at Shaurya's purple smile, Baba said playfully. A happy little berry boy!

Just then, while Shaurya was enjoying his sweet berry, a soft sound came through the warm air. Zip! Zip! Flutter, flutter.

Something bright and shiny was flying near the blackberry bush. It was not a bird. It was not a bee. It was a beautiful dragonfly!

The dragonfly had a long, bright blue body that sparkled in the sun like a tiny blue jewel. It had four clear wings that shimmered like shiny glass. Flutter, flutter, zip!

Shaurya turned his head quickly. He watched the dragonfly fly. Up it went! Down it went! Zig and zag and zip!

The dragonfly did not flap its wings like a duck. It hovered in the air, staying completely still right in front of Shaurya. Buzz, hover, hover. It looked like a tiny blue helicopter.

Look at the shiny dragonfly, Shaurya, Mamma whispered. In Bengali, we call the dragonfly a phoring. Hello, little phoring!

Shaurya waved his purple fingers at the dragonfly. Wave, wave, wave. Hello, dragonfly! Hello, phoring!

The dragonfly hovered for one quiet second. Then, softly and lightly, it landed right on a big green leaf near Shaurya's stroller. Tap!

Its four clear wings were wide open. The sunshine shone right through them, making little rainbow patterns on the green leaf. The dragonfly sat very still, enjoying the warm morning sun.

Shaurya sat very quietly. He watched the dragonfly breathe softly. In and out, the little wings sparkled.

One, two, three, four wings, Baba counted in a whisper. One long blue tail. Two big, shiny eyes.

The dragonfly looked at Shaurya. Shaurya looked at the dragonfly. They were peaceful friends in the warm summer morning.

Then, with a tiny flick of its clear wings, the dragonfly flew up, up, up into the sky. Zip, zip, away it danced, flying across the green bushes and over the blue water of Lake Stevens.

Bye-bye, shiny dragonfly, said Mamma softly. Bye-bye, phoring!

Shaurya watched the little blue speck dance away until it disappeared into the golden sunshine.

Mamma picked a few more sweet, dark blackberries and put them in a little basket to take home. Pluck, pluck, pluck. Soft, sweet, mishti berries.

Then Mamma pushed the stroller along the quiet trail toward home. Roll, roll, roll went the wheels. The lake sparkled beside them. The green cedar trees smelled fresh and sweet.

When they got back to their cozy house, Baba carried Shaurya into the warm kitchen. It was time to wash little purple hands and little purple cheeks.

Baba turned on the warm water at the sink. Splash, splash, splash. The water felt so nice and warm on Shaurya's little fingers. Mamma used a soft washcloth to gently wipe away the berry juice. Rub, rub, rub. All clean, all fresh, and ready for lunch.

Mamma gave Shaurya a warm bowl of soft rice and yellow daal, with a few sweet little pieces of ripe mango on the side. Shaurya ate happily. Yum, yum, yum went his little spoon.

After lunch, Shaurya's tummy was warm and full. His little eyelids began to feel very, very heavy. Blink... blink... slow.

Baba changed Shaurya into his softest cotton pajamas. Mamma lifted him into her arms and swayed gently side to side. Rock, rock, rock.

Mamma began to sing a gentle Bengali lullaby. Ghum parani mashi pishi, ghum diye jao... The soft song floated through the quiet room like a gentle summer breeze.

Outside the bedroom window, the green blackberry leaves rustled in the wind. Far out over Lake Stevens, the shiny blue dragonflies were resting on tall reeds. The sweet berries were resting in their green bushes under the warm sun.

Shaurya laid his head against Mamma's shoulder. He gave one big, sleepy yawn. Ahhh.

Baba pulled the soft blanket up over Shaurya's little toes. Baba kissed his soft forehead. Mamma kissed his round, warm cheek.

You are so sweet, little Shaurya, Baba whispered. Sweeter than the sweetest summer berry.

Shaurya closed his eyes. In his dreams, he saw purple berries, warm sunshine, and shiny blue dragonflies dancing softly across the sky.

Sleep tight, little Shaurya. Goodnight, sweet boy, goodnight.