Clare's Candy Cane Bridge

Clare lived in Candy Land, a world where rivers flowed with melted chocolate and lollipop trees dotted the gingerbread hills. Clare wasn't interested in eating the candy, though; she loved to build with it! Every day, she would gather cookie crumbs and gumdrops to build tiny, sparkling castles by the shore of the Great Chocolate River.

One sunny morning, Clare spotted something new on the other side of the river: the Gummy Bear Grotto, shimmering with colorful, bouncy bears. She wanted to go play more than anything! But the chocolate river was wide and gooey, with no way to get across. A big idea popped into her head like a bubblegum bubble. "I'll build a bridge!" she declared.

First, Clare tried building her bridge with long red licorice laces. She stretched them from one candy-coated bank to the other, but as soon as she took her first step… wibble-wobble, plop! The licorice bridge sagged and sank right into the thick, chocolatey mud. Clare stomped her marshmallow boot in frustration. "It's too hard!" she sighed, feeling her big idea start to melt away.

Clare sat down on a gumdrop and was about to give up. But then she looked at her hands, which were perfect for imagining and building. She wouldn't let a wibbly-wobbly bridge stop her! Her eyes landed on a patch of giant, sturdy candy canes. Her imagination sparked! Instead of a straight line, she pictured a strong arch. Working carefully, she wedged the candy canes deep into the banks, locking them together to make a beautiful, rainbow-striped arch. It was strong!

With a happy cheer, Clare took her first step, then another, all the way across her amazing Candy Cane Bridge. The gummy bears on the other side bounced and wiggled, cheering for their new friend. Clare learned that even when a big idea seems too hard, trying again in a new way can build something wonderful. And playing with new friends was the sweetest treat of all.