Chapter 16: Hazel the Hummingbird and the Power of Clear Words
In the magical garden of Willow Glade, Hazel the hummingbird was famous for two things: her dazzling, rainbow-bright feathers and her lightning-fast wings. But Hazel had another trait that wasn’t as helpful—she talked as fast as she flew.
“Buzz, buzz, buzz!” Hazel zipped around, her words spilling out like a rushing stream. She was always full of ideas, but her speedy chatter often left her friends scratching their heads.
One day, Hazel had her best idea yet. “Let’s have a Flower Feast!” she chirped, flapping her tiny wings so fast they blurred.
“Great idea!” her friend Poppy the butterfly said. “What should we bring?”
“Flowers—lots of flowers! Red ones, yellow ones—oh, and maybe berries—and, uh, maybe petals? Bring it all! Tomorrow at… uh, sometime in the morning. Bye!” Hazel zoomed off before anyone could ask questions.
The next day, Hazel’s friends gathered, carrying all sorts of things: daisies, roses, leaves, even pinecones! Wren the sparrow brought a pile of moss.
Hazel gasped, “This isn’t what I meant!”
Poppy frowned. “Hazel, we didn’t understand what you wanted. You talked so fast, and your instructions were all over the place!”
Hazel felt her feathers droop. She hadn’t meant to confuse her friends. She flew off to her wise friend Oliver the owl, perched in his tree.
“Oliver,” Hazel said, “I wanted to make the best feast ever, but no one understood me. What am I doing wrong?”
Oliver ruffled his feathers and gave Hazel a thoughtful look. “Hazel, you’re like a whirlwind. Fast and exciting, but hard to follow. Clear words and careful thinking can be just as powerful as fast wings. Let me show you.”
Oliver gave Hazel two special tools: the Compass of Clarity and the Pen of Precision.
“The Compass will slow you down and help you find your direction,” said Oliver. “And the Pen will teach you to focus your words so others can understand.”
Hazel practiced with Oliver. She learned to slow her words, think carefully, and use just the right ones. It wasn’t easy—sometimes she still zoomed ahead—but she worked hard.
The next morning, Hazel tried again. She gathered her friends and said, “Friends, let’s have a Flower Feast tomorrow at noon. Bring ten red roses, five yellow tulips, and three daisy chains. We’ll meet under the big willow tree.”
This time, her Compass of Clarity glowed softly, and her Pen of Precision sparkled.
When the feast day arrived, the garden was filled with exactly the flowers Hazel had imagined. Everyone cheered as they arranged the blossoms into a beautiful flower palace.
Hazel beamed. “When I slowed down and thought clearly, look what we created together!”
From that day on, Hazel wasn’t just the fastest bird in Willow Glade—she became the best communicator, too. Whether planning a feast or solving a problem, her friends knew they could count on her clear and thoughtful words.
Hazel learned that when you slow down and choose your words carefully, you can make your big ideas shine—and bring everyone together.