On a large, sunny meadow, full of buzzing bees and colorful butterflies, something wonderful was happening. The dandelions, which only yesterday had shone like little suns, had transformed into delicate white globes. Each globe was full of tiny seeds, and each seed had its very own little parachute. They all waited eagerly for the wind.
All of them, except for one.
A little seed, let's call him Dandy, clung tightly to his Mother Dandelion. While his siblings whispered cheerfully and looked forward to the great flight, Dandy trembled. Not from the cold, for the sun was pleasantly warm, but from fear.
"I'm not flying anywhere," he whispered, snuggling even closer. "I'll stay here with you, Mama."
Mother Dandelion gently stroked him with her remaining leaf. "But Dandy, my little one, the flight is the most important thing that awaits us. It is our great mission."
"A mission?" Dandy didn't understand. "That sounds like something for the big and the brave. I'm small and I'm scared. What if I fall? What if the wind carries me somewhere dark and cold?" His little voice was full of worry.
His mother smiled. "Those are very good questions. It means you are thinking. Come, I'll show you something." She leaned over slightly and pointed to a bare patch of soil a short distance away. "Do you see that bare ground? It's warm there, the sun shines on it, and when it rains, it gets plenty of water. It's a perfect place for a new dandelion. But how could one get there?"
Dandy thought for a moment. "Well... I guess it would have to roll there somehow?"
"Exactly! It would have to get there somehow," his mother agreed. "And we dandelions have come up with the very best way in the world to do it. We don't need legs or wheels. We have the wind and our wonderful parachutes." She gave him another gentle nudge. "Look at your parachute. It's light and soft, isn't it? It is made precisely to let the wind lift you and carry you as if on a cloud. It isn't dangerous; it's like swimming in the air."
Just then, the first gentle breeze blew. Some of Dandy's siblings cried out with joy, let go, and soared gracefully into the sky. They looked like tiny dancing specks against the blue background.
"Look! They're flying!" Dandy exclaimed, watching them in awe.
"Yes, they are flying," his mother nodded. "They are flying to find new homes. Each and every one of them will find its own little spot, put down roots, and in the spring, a beautiful yellow dandelion will grow from it. Thanks to them, our meadow will be even more beautiful and even more yellow. And the bees will have more flowers from which to gather sweet nectar. Do you understand? Our mission is to make the world a more beautiful and cheerful place."
Dandy watched one of his brothers as he twirled in the air current and then slowly landed right in the middle of the empty spot his mother had shown him.
"Look! He did it!"
"Of course, he did. He was ready for it, just like you," his mother said encouragingly. "Fear is just a feeling that tells us to be careful. But you are careful and clever. You know you need to land on soft earth where the sun shines. This fear is just reminding you to choose your spot well."
Another, slightly stronger wind blew. It rustled in the grass, singing a song of faraway lands and new meadows. Dandy felt the wind pulling at him, calling to him. His parachute filled with air and lifted him gently. He was still holding on, but not as tightly anymore.
He looked at his mother. In her, he saw no fear, only pride and love.
"Don't be afraid, little one. I will always be right here. And in the spring, when you turn into a yellow flower, I will be so proud of you. And maybe my next grandchild, your child, will fly over to visit me."
Dandy liked that idea. That he himself would one day be a big, strong dandelion, and his children would fly off to discover the world.
He took a deep breath. The air smelled of grass, sun, and adventure.
"Alright then," he whispered with determination. "I'll try."
He let go.
In that moment, the wind embraced him lovingly and lifted him high, high above the meadow. At first, he was startled, but then he opened his eyes. What a magnificent sight it was! The world below him looked like a giant green blanket with colorful dots of flowers. He saw an ant crawling up a blade of grass, looking like a tiny moving dash. He saw a stream that glistened like a silver ribbon.
He was flying! He was really flying!
The wind carried him gently and safely. Dandy laughed and did little pirouettes in the air. He was no longer afraid. He felt free and important. He was an explorer on a great mission!
After a while, the wind began to carry him lower. Dandy remembered his mother's words and looked carefully below him. He was searching for the ideal spot. And there it was! A patch of soft, dark soil next to a sun-drenched stone, where he would grow well.
With one last gentle puff of wind, Dandy landed softly. His little parachute folded up beside him, as if in thanks for the safe journey. Dandy burrowed into the soil, which was pleasantly warm. He felt tired, but immensely happy.
He had completed his first mission. Now, rest awaited him, and then the most beautiful part—growing. He looked forward to surprising the whole world with his bright yellow flower in the spring.
And maybe you, children, the next time you see a white dandelion puffball, you can help it. With a parent's help, blow on it gently and send the little seeds on their great mission—to make the world more beautiful.