The Marsh Theatre was buzzing. The audience was packed, humming with impatience. The main star, the dragonfly Lilina, was about to perform. Her shows always sold out. Tonight was no exception.

Backstage, panic.

Lilina, the dragonfly, could not find her colchicum powder. She used it only for her concert makeup. Without it, she refused to go on stage.

"Find it!" hissed Mr. Water Strider, the master of ceremonies, rushing between the mosquito stagehands. "Search everywhere!"

Lilina lay on a couch, a towel over her face, groaning in despair. The audience grew restless.

Water Strider scanned the props for an idea. Then he noticed three frogs. They were rummaging through costume trunks, laughing at the ridiculous outfits. They had already pulled on red caps and tiny shorts and were hopping around, giggling.

Water Strider grabbed them and shoved them toward the stage.

"Try to make it look graceful," he whispered.

He stepped on stage and announced in his grandest voice:

"For the delight of our esteemed audience, artists from the Royal Marsh Ballet present their new avant-garde performance, 'The Dance of the Mind on a Cloudless Day'!"

The orchestra crashed its cymbals. Music began. The audience applauded. Water Strider bowed and hurried offstage.

Backstage, the search continued. Lilina lay with a towel on her head.

"This is it," she whispered. "My career is over. Just bring me my handbag so I can leave in dignity."

Then she suddenly jumped up.

"The powder was here all along! Here it is!"

She dipped a fluffy white dandelion into the shimmering powder, dusted her face, and was instantly transformed.

Her joy was so great that she began to dance. Her feet carried her straight to the stage, where the three frogs were still performing their clumsy dance.

The audience erupted in applause.

Tilda Publishing

The Marsh Theater