Imagine a sunny little town, nestled beside a sparkling river. In this town lived two girls. One was named Clara, and her family had lots of money. She always wore fluffy dresses and shoes so shiny she could see her face in them. The other girl was named Lily. Her family didn't have much, but Lily always had a kind smile and a song in her heart.

One bright morning, Clara was showing off her new silk ribbons. "Aren't they the prettiest, Lily? Much nicer than your plain ones."
Lily just smiled. "They are very bright, Clara. You look like a rainbow!"

As they walked near the edge of the woods, they met an old woman. She had kind eyes that twinkled like stars and she was carrying a small basket.
"Hello, little ones," she said, her voice like rustling leaves. "I have something for you."
She reached into her basket and pulled out two small, plain-looking seeds. "Plant these with care," she told them. "And see what grows."

Clara looked at the tiny seed in her hand. "A seed? Is that all?" she huffed. "My father buys me the biggest, most colorful flowers from the market." She carelessly dug a little hole with her shiny shoe by a dusty path and dropped the seed in, not even bothering to cover it properly.

Lily, however, held her seed gently. "Oh, thank you!" she said to the old woman. "I will find a special spot for it and give it water every day." She hurried home and planted her seed in a little pot on her sunny windowsill.

The next day, where Clara had dropped her seed, nothing had changed. Maybe a little weed poked up nearby, but that was all. Clara shrugged and went to play with her expensive dolls.

But in Lily’s little pot, a tiny green sprout had pushed its way out of the soil! Lily was so happy. She watered it and sang to it. Each day, the plant grew taller and stronger.
Soon, a bud appeared. And then, one morning, the bud opened. It was the most beautiful flower anyone had ever seen! Its petals were soft like velvet, and they shimmered with gentle colors – soft pinks, sunny yellows, and sky blues. And the best part? The flower smelled like sweet cookies and warm sunshine. When Lily was near, the flower seemed to glow a little brighter.

Clara came to visit and saw the amazing flower. Her jaw dropped. "Where did you get that?" she asked, a little bit jealous.
"It grew from the seed the old woman gave us," Lily explained, her eyes shining. "Isn't it wonderful?"

Clara remembered her own seed, forgotten by the dusty path. She ran to look, but there was only a patch of dry dirt. She felt a little sad.
Lily saw Clara’s face. "Don't worry," she said kindly. "You can come and enjoy my flower anytime. It seems to like sharing its beauty."

And so, Clara learned that sometimes the smallest, plainest gifts, when treated with care and kindness, can bring the most wonderful surprises. And Lily’s little flower made everyone in the town smile, reminding them that a little bit of love helps everything grow beautifully.

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