The Flash of Green

Jake pressed his nose against the cool bus window, watching trees blur past in green streaks. His magnifying glass bounced against his chest with each bump in the road.

"Look at Jake with his bug stuff again," whispered Emma from two seats back. Several kids giggled.

Jake's cheeks burned red, but he kept staring outside. He spotted a clearing ahead where the bus would stop for their nature study. Perfect insect habitat, he thought. Lots of fallen logs and wildflowers.

"Alright, everyone out!" called Mrs. Peterson as the bus wheezed to a halt. "Stay with your partners and remember—we're looking for examples of forest ecosystems."

Jake grabbed his backpack full of field guides and stepped into the warm afternoon air. While his classmates clustered around the picnic tables, he wandered toward the tree line. A flash of metallic green caught his eye near a rotting stump.

"Just a quick look," he whispered to himself.

The Green Flash

Jake crept closer to the rotting stump. The metallic green flash darted between fallen leaves. A beetle! But not just any beetle—this one sparkled like emerald jewelry.

"Amazing," Jake whispered, pulling out his magnifying glass.

The beetle turned toward him. Its tiny eyes seemed to study Jake's face. Then something incredible happened. The world around Jake began to shimmer and blur, like looking through water.

Jake blinked hard. When his vision cleared, the trees towered above him like skyscrapers. The beetle now stood at eye level, as big as a house cat.

"You're huge!" Jake gasped.

"No," said the beetle in a voice like tinkling bells. "You're small."