Lila was busy coloring a picture of a butterfly when her eyes caught something shiny on the floor. It was a beautiful, bright red crayon, much shinier than the ones in her own box. Her small hand reached out to pick it up, and she held it up to the light, admiring its gloss.
Max, her friend with curly hair and a mischievous grin, leaned over from his seat. "Wow, that's a nice crayon, Lila! You should keep it," he whispered.
Sofia, with her pigtails bouncing as she walked over, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's so pretty. Just add it to your collection," she said, her voice filled with excitement.
Lila looked at the crayon again, feeling the weight of the decision. Keeping it was tempting, but something inside her hesitated.
Lila thought about how happy the crayon made her feel, but then she remembered a story her teacher told about honesty. She imagined how the person who lost the crayon might feel sad looking for it.
"No one will know," Max insisted, his voice playful yet persuasive.
Lila took a deep breath and stood up, holding the crayon tightly. "I need to find who this belongs to," she declared, her voice steady with determination.
Sofia and Max exchanged glances. "Are you sure?" Sofia asked, a hint of doubt in her eyes.
Lila approached her teacher, Ms. Green, who was carefully organizing art supplies. "Ms. Green, I found this crayon on the floor. It’s not mine," Lila said, her small voice filled with honesty.
Ms. Green smiled warmly. "Thank you for being honest, Lila. Let's find its owner together," she replied, placing a comforting hand on Lila's shoulder.
Max and Sofia watched as Lila sat down, a smile on her face. "That was brave," Max admitted, admiration in his voice.
"Yeah, I'm proud of you," Sofia added, her eyes shining with newfound respect.
Lila beamed, feeling happy and light-hearted. She realized that being honest was far more rewarding than keeping something that wasn't hers. The day continued with laughter and fun, the lesson of honesty shining brightly in her heart.
