Roya and Nava stood by a brick wall in an autumn garden. The warm, gentle sunlight rested on their shoulders, and the leaves rustled softly under their feet.
Roya said,
“The sky looks dark, don’t you think?”
Nava replied,
“Yes, it does.”
Roya continued,
“Let’s paint it.”
Nava picked up an imaginary brush from Kafteki’s feather and began painting the sky. Slowly, the sky brightened, and a small cloud peeked out from among the branches. This was Nimbus, the kind and rain-bearing cloud.
“I am Nimbus,” the cloud said, “a gentle cloud who, when the flute of God is heard, sends rain to wash away the soil of sadness.”
Roya and Nava realized they had a mission: to wash away the soil of sorrow, color the sky, and comfort the dry, frightened hearts. The rivers were dry, and the earth cracked, but Nimbus’s rain and Nava’s flute could bring hope and life again.
Along the way, they met the Dust-and-Sadness Giant. The giant was lonely and sad, sprinkling dust to protect his fear.
Roya said,
“We also want to be friends with giants. We want to hear your story too.”
The giant trembled slightly and began,
“I was once a child, and I was afraid…”
Roya, Nava, and Nimbus listened kindly.
At the end, the Dust-and-Sadness Giant asked anxiously,
“Does that mean I will be destroyed?”
Roya smiled,
“No, you won’t be destroyed. Only your fear and bitterness will fade. If you want, you can be happy again.”
Then they set a rule for their play:
“Sometimes, you can be sad and sprinkle dust, but we are here too, and we have the right to laugh and be joyful. We’ll take turns playing.”
Thus, friendship and kindness replaced fear and loneliness. Nimbus’s rain fell in gentle droplets, Nava played his flute, and the dry soil gradually softened, ready for life and greenery to return.
Roya and Nava stood hand in hand with Nimbus and the Dust-and-Sadness Giant.
The dried riverbed softened under Nimbus’s rain, and the droplets danced to the melody of Nava’s flute.
Leaves, tired from drought and dust, gently fell to the ground, and the rustling sounded like children’s laughter.
The Dust-and-Sadness Giant became playful, sprinkling dust, but Nava and Roya remembered: turns are for everyone.
Anyone feeling sadness could sprinkle a little, and anyone feeling joy could laugh and be happy.
Roya said,
“See? Sadness and joy can be friends.”
Nava played his flute, and Nimbus sent a tall, sparkling drop that landed on the earth like a gentle kiss.
The Dust-and-Sadness Giant nodded,
“So I am not alone… and fear no longer frightens me.”
Roya smiled,
“We are together. Every drop of rain, every note of the flute, is a step toward happiness.”
The land, once dry and sad, now thrived with play, laughter, and rain.
That day was the first day everyone understood:
Sadness can be a friend, when accompanied by kindness, play, and taking turns.
And the sky, bright and blue, witnessed the newly formed friendship of Roya, Nava, Nimbus, and the Dust-and-Sadness Giant.
Minoo parniani