Pip was a small,
cheerful pencil who lived in Mia’s pencil case. He was excited because today
was the spelling test, and he wanted to help Mia do her best. But as soon as
Mia began writing the first few words, Pip’s tip suddenly broke. Mia frowned,
feeling frustrated, and Pip felt embarrassed. He worried that he was too weak
to help her. Sharpie the sharpener whispered kindly, “It’s okay, Pip. Every
break helps you grow sharper. Try again.”
Mia sharpened Pip
and continued writing, but Pip broke again—twice. Mia almost gave up and
reached for another pen. Pip felt sad, thinking he had failed her. But Ruby the
eraser softly said, “Mistakes don’t mean you can’t do it. They mean you’re
learning.” Mia stared at Pip for a moment, then smiled and said, “Let’s try one
more time.” Pip felt a warm burst of courage and let Sharpie make him sharp and
ready.
When they reached
the final word—“courage”—Pip broke once more. The classroom was silent. Mia
took a deep breath, sharpened Pip again, and gently whispered, “We can do
this.” Pip tried his best, and together they finished the test. After class,
Mia looked at Pip and said, “Thank you for trying with me.” Pip realized that
being brave wasn’t about being perfect—it was about never giving up.