In the Land of Suspended Time, where the clocks had all taken a nap and the sun hung in the sky like a giant, lazy balloon, there lived a girl named Meddy. Her hair was as wild as a bird’s nest after a windy day, and her pockets were always stuffed with treasures—smooth pebbles, a bent spoon, and once, even a very confused ladybug named Lulu.

One morning, Meddy skipped down the path to the Great Marshmallow Tree, where the sweetest clouds in the land grew like cotton candy on branches. The air smelled of warm vanilla and buttery popcorn, and the sound of giggling raindrops plink-plonked into puddles that never dried. Under her feet, the path was as squishy as a fresh pancake, leaving little syrup footprints behind her.

But today, something was different. A long line of children snaked around the tree, all waiting their turn to pluck a marshmallow cloud. At the very front stood a boy named Pip, hopping from one foot to the other like a frog on a hot griddle. His cheeks were puffed out like two little balloons, and his hands clutched a basket so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Sniff-sniff. The air suddenly smelled of burnt toast—oh no! Pip’s marshmallow cloud was turning black at the edges! Crackle-pop! It split right down the middle, and half of it tumbled into the grass with a sad little poof. Pip’s eyes grew as round as saucers, and his bottom lip wobbled like jelly on a plate.

Meddy’s heart did a tiny flip. She remembered how her own marshmallow cloud had once fallen into a puddle, and how the water had tasted like salty tears. Without thinking, she dashed forward, her shoes squelching in the pancake path. "Pip!" she called. "Let me help you!"

Pip blinked. "But… but what about your place in line?" His voice was as squeaky as a mouse in a squeaky toy.

Meddy grinned. "I’ll go after you!" She grabbed a low-hanging branch and gave it a tug. Twang! A fresh marshmallow cloud popped off like a cork from a bottle. She plopped it into Pip’s basket, where it landed with a soft fwump. The cloud was as fluffy as a kitten’s belly and smelled like caramel and happiness.

Pip’s face lit up like a lantern. "It’s even better than the last one!" he cheered. Then, with a sudden whoosh, he hugged Meddy so tightly she could barely breathe. "You’re the best!", he wheezed.

Just then, the Great Marshmallow Tree gave a deep, rumbling giggle. Its leaves shimmered like silver confetti, and a warm breeze tickled Meddy’s nose with the smell of cinnamon and laughter. A new cloud, bigger and softer than the rest, floated down and landed right in her hands. It was as light as a feather and as sweet as a secret whispered in your ear.

As Meddy skipped home, her pockets jingling with treasures and her heart as full as a jar of fireflies, she realized something wonderful. The Land of Suspended Time had given her the best gift of all—not just a marshmallow cloud, but the warm, wiggly feeling of making someone else smile.

And that, my friend, is a treasure sweeter than any cloud in the sky.