Deep beneath the park where children played, there was a secret place called the Underground World of Lost Objects. It smelled like old library books mixed with warm cookies—just the way Leo’s grandma’s house did when he visited. The air hummed with a strange sound, like a hundred tiny bells tinkling all at once, and the floor felt squishy under Leo’s sneakers, as if he were walking on a giant marshmallow.

One day, while chasing his runaway yo-yo, Leo tumbled down a slide made of forgotten umbrellas and landed with a plop! right in the middle of this hidden world. A round, chubby sock puppet named Mr. Bumble—who had lost his other half years ago—waved at him from behind a mountain of mismatched mittens. "Welcome, Leo!" Mr. Bumble squeaked. "We’ve been waiting for someone brave enough to help us!"

The problem? The Underground World’s most treasured treasure—a shiny, golden puzzle—had been scattered into twenty pieces. Without it, the lost objects would never find their way back home. Leo gulped. Twenty pieces? That was huge! His hands felt clammy, like he’d just dipped them in a bowl of cold spaghetti. But he squared his shoulders and said, "I’ll do it!"

Piece one was easy—a corner with a picture of a smiling sun. Click! Piece two was a bit trickier, hiding under a pile of rubber duckies that smelled like bubble bath gone wrong. Leo sneezed—achoo!—and the duckies scattered like popcorn. Mr. Bumble giggled. "Oopsie-doodle!"

By piece five, Leo’s forehead was wrinkled like a raisin. The edges of the puzzle were jagged, like a dragon’s back, and nothing seemed to fit. He tried forcing a blue piece into a green spot. CRUNCH! The puzzle groaned. "No, no, no!" Leo whispered, his voice wobbly. A nearby teapot, missing its lid, clinked sympathetically. "Patience, dear," it chimed. "Even snails finish their races."

Leo took a deep breath. The Underground World smelled like damp earth and cinnamon now, and the tinkling bells had softened to a lullaby. He picked up a piece shaped like a star and turned it slowly. Click. It fit! His heart did a little dance. Piece by piece, the puzzle came together—a beautiful picture of a rainbow arching over a field of lost toys, all waiting to be found.

When the last piece slid into place, the golden puzzle glowed like a tiny sun. Whoosh! A gust of wind swept through the Underground World, carrying the scent of fresh-baked bread. The lost objects cheered, and Mr. Bumble hugged Leo so tight his ribs creaked. "You did it!" he squealed. "And look—your yo-yo’s back too!"

Leo grinned. The puzzle wasn’t just a game; it was a reminder that even the trickiest things could be solved, one little step at a time. As he climbed back up the umbrella slide, the squishy floor tickled his toes, and the tinkling bells followed him all the way home.