The Colorful Courtyard

Lila Flutter skipped through Brightcare Hospital's front doors, her colorful dress swishing around her knees. The big red balloon sculpture bobbed in the morning breeze like it was waving hello.

"Welcome to our garden contest!" called Mrs. Chen, the head nurse. She held a clipboard and wore bright pink scrubs covered in sunflower prints. "Are you here to enter?"

Lila nodded eagerly. She pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of the sunny courtyard. Rows of empty flower beds stretched across the space, waiting for contestants.

"I'm going to grow the most amazing flowers ever," Lila announced, her grey eyes sparkling. "They'll be so perfect, everyone will giggle with joy!"

Mrs. Chen handed her a packet of daisy seeds.

The Helpful Expert

Lila knelt beside her assigned flower bed and tore open the seed packet. Tiny black dots scattered across the rich soil.

"Plant them deep and water lots," she muttered, remembering something from a gardening show.

She dug holes with her fingers and dropped in three seeds each. A woman with short blonde hair walked by carrying a watering can.

"Excuse me," Lila called. "Can I borrow that?"

The woman smiled. "I'm Dr. Martinez, the hospital's plant expert. These are daisies, right? They actually need very little water."

But Lila had already grabbed the can and poured water everywhere. Puddles formed around her bed.

"Oh dear," Dr. Martinez said.