Mia looked out over the spiky green weeds and brown swamp muck. The sticky air pressed her skin and she heard the trees creaking and bugs buzzing. She peeked back at the creepy forest and knew she couldn’t turn around.

On the other side of the swamp was a bright grassy meadow and cool blue river. She’d have to make it across but something about that swamp mud looked tricky. It was bubbling and burping with strange slurping noises, almost like it was breathing.

She picked up a stick and tossed it into the muck. It stuck straight out for a second but then sank right in as if the swamp had eaten it up! She’d have to use her magic floating stones to get across so she pulled two from her backpack.

She tossed the first stone into the mud. It sat right on top without sinking. She leaped on it, dropped the second one in front of her, and hopped to that one. Then, she reached back to pick up the first stone and tossed it out in front of her. After leaping to that one, she repeated the steps and soon moved smoothly across the swamp.

She came to a small weed covered hill where she decided to rest. But when she jumped to the hill, it rose up under her feet! She stumbled back to her last floating stone. Standing before her was a big creature that was shaped like a man, but made from the weeds and mud of the swamp.

“Hello,” said the creature in a deep voice.

“Hel-hello,” said Mia. Her head told her to run but her legs were frozen solid.

“Sorry if I scared you.”

“That’s OK,” said Mia. It hadn’t tried to eat her yet and was being nice so far. She brushed her hair from her eyes and shook her legs out, trying not to look scared stiff.

“Can you help us cross the swamp?” asked the creature.

It moved to the side and Mia noticed two tiny weed and mud creatures sleeping on the ground. The color returned to Mia’s face and she rubbed her hands together.

“How did you get to this island?” asked Mia.

“We had a mud boat, but the little ones put a hole in it while playing. It sank and we’re stuck.”

Mia rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, thinking that a boat would have easily saved all of them. But then she reminded herself that the baby creatures didn’t try to sink it, they were only playing. And if her help was needed, she’d try her best.

“I’m Mia. What’s your name?”

“Mucky . . . and the little ones are Muddy and Weedy.”

Mia figured out a way to get them all across the swamp. She pulled a third floating stone from her backpack and said, “I’ll put all three stones on the mud and jump to the third one. You’ll cross to the second one and reach behind you to pick up the first. Hand it to me and I’ll throw it down and we’ll keep going like that.”

“But what about Muddy and Weedy? I can’t carry them both and pick up a stone,” replied Mucky.

“I’ll carry Weedy,” said Mia.

Mucky handed him to Mia. She was surprised that the little creature was so light. Mucky picked up Muddy and thankfully they both stayed asleep. The four of them started across the swamp.

The stone passing was going well until Muddy and Weedy woke up. Weedy pushed against Mia, trying to get down. Muddy kicked at Mucky and leaned towards the ground.

Suddenly, Mucky yelled out from behind and Mia turned to look. Muddy had knocked the stone from Mucky’s hand and it was sinking in the mud after landing upside down!

Mia thought quickly and said, “Mucky, jump to my stone!”

They faced each other and jumped at once to each other’s stone. Mia was now closest to the sinking one. She handed Weedy to Mucky and the two tiny creatures immediately pulled and pushed on each other, causing Mucky to nearly fall.

Mia remembered that little babies like singing so she called out, “Muddy, Weedy – do you want to hear a song?”

The two creatures looked at her and stopped moving for a moment. She knew she had a chance. The only song that popped in her head was “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” so she sang it out in a loud voice. The two little ones bobbed their heads while listening. Mia kept singing while she dug her hands under the sinking stone and barely managed to flip it over before the swamp ate it up.

She took Weedy back into her arms and the four of them made it across the swamp, singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” all the way. As soon as her feet touched the soft grassy meadow, Mia flopped on her back with a big smile.

“You two thank her for saving us,” Mucky told the little ones as they bounced in circles around Mia.

Muddy and Weedy pulled on her arms and called her name over and over.
“Mia! Mia! Mia!”

“Mia, Mia, Mia, wake up honey . . . .”

Mia’s eyes blinked open and she saw her Dad sitting on her bed, tugging her arm. It took a second to realize she’d been dreaming.

“Dad, I had the wildest dream! I was in a swamp with some magic floating stones and there was a monster called Mucky and two tiny creatures called Muddy and Weedy. I helped them get across. They couldn’t have done it without me.”

Her Dad smiled and said, “Mom and I can always use your help with your twin little sisters. Maybe your dream was teaching you something.”

“OK, Mucky,” Mia said with a giggle. “Let’s go say good morning to Muddy and Weedy. I have a feeling they will like us to sing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ all day long!”

BRING MAGIC FLOATING STONES TO LIFE!

How would you like to cross a scary swamp like Mia, float over a deep hole, hop over the ocean, or anything else you can imagine? You can do all that and more by bringing magic floating stones to life. Just pretend that any toys you can step on (like bean bags or Frisbees) are the stones. Or you can ask someone to help you cut out stone shapes from cardboard or construction paper. How about using the tops of old shoe boxes as the magic floating stones? Once you have your stones, use the same steps Mia used in the story when she was crossing the swamp. But in your imagination, you can be anywhere jumping over whatever you want!
• Your own backyard would be a great place to pretend you are crossing a creepy jungle while looking for a treasure chest.
• Turn your play room into a secret cave that you can float through on your magic stones.
• And why not invite a friend to play with you? Just like Mia and Mucky, you could pass the magic stones while each carrying a stuffed animal.
• You can even take your stones in your own backpack to a favorite park. Then use them to hop around the jungle gym, seesaw and swings.
• Remember that it’s best to play on carpet or somewhere that you won’t slip and fall while hopping from stone to stone.

Have fun and let your imagination run wild as you cross the world on your very own magic floating stones!

Published at:
Mia's Swamp Song