In the Land of Suspended Time, where the clocks had all taken a nap and the sun dawdled like a sleepy cat, there lived a boy named Benji. His hair was the color of caramel left too long in the sun, and his laugh sounded like a handful of marbles rolling down a hill—clink-clank-clunk!

One morning, as Benji skipped through the Whispering Meadow, the air smelled of warm strawberries and the faint tang of bubblegum from the Giggle Trees. The grass beneath his toes was softer than his favorite blanket, and it tickled like a hundred tiny feathers. Swish-swish! went his feet, kicking up little clouds of pollen that smelled like pancakes.

Suddenly, Benji froze. His toes curled into the grass like tiny question marks. There, under the Snickerdoodle Bush, sat a creature he’d never seen before. It had ears like satellite dishes, a nose like a squishy button, and its fur shimmered like spilled glitter. The creature was humming a tune that sounded like a teapot and a kazoo having a chat—pffft-whistle-toot!

Benji’s heart did a little flip. He wanted to say hello, but his tongue felt as heavy as a sack of potatoes. His hands twisted the hem of his shirt, and his knees wobbled like jelly on a trampoline. What if it doesn’t like me? he thought. What if I trip over my own feet?

Just then, the creature turned its head. Its eyes were as round as saucers, and its whiskers twitched like tiny antennae. It sniffed the air—sniff-sniff!—and its nose wrinkled. Oh no! Benji realized he’d forgotten to put on his shoes that morning, and his feet smelled like a mix of old cheese and adventure. P.U.!

Benji’s face turned as red as a tomato. He tried to hide his feet behind a dandelion, but—WHOOSH!—a gust of wind from the Tickle Clouds blew the dandelion away. The creature giggled, a sound like wind chimes in a breeze. Tinkle-tinkle!

"H-h-hello," Benji stammered, his voice cracking like a dry twig. He waved so hard his arm felt like a windmill. Flap-flap-flap!

The creature blinked. Then, slowly, it stood up. It was as tall as a broomstick and twice as wobbly. It took one step forward—creak!—and its knee made a sound like an old door. Benji burst out laughing. Hee-hee-hoo!

"Hello," the creature said, its voice as soft as a marshmallow. "I’m Pip. I was just eating a cloudberry. Want one?" Pip held out a berry that glowed like a tiny lantern. It smelled like cotton candy and rain.

Benji’s stomach rumbled—grrrr!—like a sleepy bear. He reached out and took the berry. It was squishy in his fingers, like a little water balloon. Plop! It landed on his tongue, and suddenly, his whole mouth tasted like sunshine.

"I’m Benji," he said, his voice steady now. "Your knee sounds funny."

Pip grinned. "So do your feet!"

And just like that, the two of them dissolved into giggles. The Whispering Meadow seemed to giggle with them, the grass swaying like it was tickled. The air smelled even sweeter now, like cookies fresh from the oven, and the Giggle Trees shook their leaves—rustle-rustle!—as if they were clapping.

As the sun finally stretched its arms and yawned, Benji realized something important. Saying hello wasn’t so scary after all. It was just like sharing a cloudberry—sweet, a little squishy, and full of surprises. And from that day on, whenever Benji met someone new, he’d remember Pip’s wobbly knee and his own stinky feet, and he’d smile. Because kindness, after all, is the best adventure of all.