Little Cloud's Big Dream

 Once Upon A Time — 

High in the sky, there was a little cloud named Puffy. He drifted lazily across the blue sky, dreaming of all sorts of things he’d do whenever he grew up. 

One day, he saw big, dark storm clouds banding together, gathering strength and power as they moved. Puffy watched, mesmerized, as bolts of lightning and crackling thunder rumbled through the clouds. The tiny cloud shuddered as the big clouds created harsh winds and cold rains, casting dark shadows over the fields below. 

Puffy told his Mama, “I want to be just like them.” 

“But I love you just as you are, Puffy. You’re small, light, and fluffy, and that makes you unique. If you were with the storm clouds, you’d be lost in their thunder. The children would be afraid.” 

Puffy nodded and floated away under the warm, inviting rays of the sun, content to drift lazily along.

Yet, one afternoon, as Puffy floated around, he saw dark clouds gathering together in the distance. They were thick and heavy, swirling ominously, their edges dark as night. Bolts of lightning shot through the clouds, and thunder rumbled low, shaking the air. Puffy couldn’t help but watch in awe as the clouds moved with such power. 

“Where are you going?” Puffy asked excitedly, drifting closer to the storm clouds. 

“We’re heading toward the mountain,” boomed one of the storm clouds. “We’ve got work to do, little one.” 

Puffy puffed himself up, eager to join. “Please let me come with you! I can help bring the rain and thunder, too!” 

The largest storm cloud glanced down at him with a rumble of laughter. “You’re too small and light to join us, Puffy. We need clouds with strength—clouds that can carry heavy rain and strike with thunder.” 

Puffy’s heart sank. “But — I want to help!” he pleaded. 

The storm clouds moved away, gathering speed as they charged toward the mountain, leaving Puffy behind. His small, fluffy body bobbed in the breeze, and he felt a deep ache in his cloud-shaped heart. He watched the dark clouds grow in the distance, their rumbling fading and felt like he was too small to be part of something big and powerful. 

As Puffy drifted through the sky, a tiny tear formed in his fluffy body and floated away on the wind. “I’m too small,” he whispered to himself. “I’ll never be like the big storm clouds.” 

Down below, children were playing in a grassy meadow. They were laughing and running, chasing a bright red balloon that danced and floated high in the air. The wind gently pushed the balloon up toward Puffy, and it floated right into his soft, puffy body. The children squealed with delight as the balloon bounced across his fluffy form, rolling and spinning like a toy. 

Puffy couldn’t help but smile. The more the balloon rolled, the more Puffy felt part of something special—something joyful. 

His heart lifted as the children cheered below. “Look! It’s floating with the clouds!” one of the children cried. 

Suddenly, Puffy realized something: even though he wasn’t as big and powerful as the storm clouds, he could still bring happiness and lightness to the world. He didn’t need to bring thunder or rain. Sometimes, just being soft and fun was enough. 

Puffy floated closer to his mother, who watched him with a gentle smile. “Mom,” he said softly, “why am I so small?"

His mother smiled at him, her voice warm and full of love. “Oh, Puffy, being small is not something to be sad about. You have your own purpose, your own way of being important. You may not bring thunder or rain, but you bring lightness and softness to the sky. The world needs all kinds of clouds—big and small.” 

Puffy looked at himself, feeling a little better but still unsure. “But I want to be strong like them,” he said, his voice trembling. 

His mother gently caressed him with a soft breeze, lifting him a little higher in the sky. “You are strong in your own way, little one. One day, you will see that even the smallest cloud can make a big difference in the world. Besides, it’s much better to make the children happy, isn’t it?” 

Suddenly, the sun peeked through the clouds, and a beautiful, colorful rainbow appeared, joining Puffy in the sky. The rainbow stretched across the heavens, lighting up the world with every color imaginable. Puffy gleamed with joy, proud of his soft and colorful glow. 

The children laughed and pointed, dancing around with glee. Puffy smiled, happy as can be. “Making people happy is an important job, isn’t it?” 

“Yes, it is!” answered the rainbow. “Yes, it is!”