Candy Planet

Candy Planet Yavuz DEMİRKIRAN

Ava was eight years old and always looking for adventures. One sunny afternoon, she peeked over the fence into her backyard and gasped. There, between the apple tree and the sandbox, sat a small silver spaceship. It was no bigger than a bicycle, with a round glass dome and a door that was slightly open. 'Leo!' she called. 'Come quick!' 1

Six-year-old Leo ran over, his sandy cowlick bouncing and his moon-shaped backpack thumping. He wore his favorite green hoodie with the rocket patch. 'Whoa!' he said, his blue eyes wide. 'Is it real?' Ava climbed right in, her yellow rain boots clinking on the metal steps. 'Only one way to find out,' she said, grinning her gap-toothed grin. 2

The moment they both sat down, the spaceship hummed and the glass dome shut with a soft click. Buttons flashed in rainbow colors, and a gentle voice said, 'Destination: Candy Planet.' Before they could say a word, the ship zoomed up into the sky. Stars streaked past like fireflies, and soon they saw a planet that looked like a giant bowl of sweets. 3

The spaceship landed with a soft bounce on a field of green cotton-candy grass. Ava and Leo stepped out and stared. Ahead rose chocolate mountains, smooth and brown, with white icing snow on top. Behind them stretched a marshmallow forest, all puffy and white. The air smelled of sugar and warm cookies. 'Pinch me,' Leo whispered. 'This can't be real.' 4

A tiny creature hurried toward them, no taller than their knees. It had pale pink, see-through gummy skin, a swirl of cotton-candy hair, and round dark licorice eyes. It wore a white frosting apron and a hat made of a candy wrapper. 'Oh, visitors!' it said in a wobbly voice. 'I'm Sugarplum, the factory foreman. But I'm afraid you've come at a sad time.' 5

Sugarplum led them along a path of rainbow sprinkles to a big building shaped like a layer cake. 'This is our magical factory,' Sugarplum said. 'It makes all our food—lollipops, gumdrops, chocolate bars. But three days ago, it just stopped. No humming, no popping, no candy coming out. We don't know why.' The little candy person looked close to tears. 6

A plump candy person with golden caramel skin and a purple wrapper vest bustled over. He wore tiny round glasses and a striped scarf. 'I'm Toffee, the town baker,' he said, his green jellybean eyes twinkling. 'We've tried everything—winding the gears, polishing the pipes, even singing to it. Nothing works.' He sighed. 'Without the factory, we'll have no food for the Winter Sweet Festival.' 7

Ava looked at the factory's big glass windows and the silent silver pipes. She noticed a row of little lights on the wall. 'What are those lights?' she asked. Sugarplum said, 'They show how much laughter and friendship are inside the factory. When they glow bright, the factory works. But they've gone dim.' Ava's hazel eyes sparkled. 'So the factory runs on laughter and friendship, not electricity!' 8

Leo pulled off his moon-shaped backpack and unzipped it. Inside were a few wrapped candies from home. 'Here,' he said, handing one to Sugarplum and one to Toffee. 'Sharing makes people happy.' Sugarplum's cherry nose wiggled, and Toffee smiled. 'You're right!' Toffee said. 'But we need lots of laughter to fill the factory. How can we get everyone laughing?' 9

Ava thought hard. 'We could have a party!' she said. 'With games and songs and treats. Everyone brings something to share, and we laugh together.' Leo nodded. 'I know a silly song,' he said, and he began to giggle. His giggle was so catchy that Sugarplum started to giggle too, and Toffee let out a deep, jolly chuckle. The lights on the factory wall flickered, just a little brighter. 10

They spread the word through the marshmallow forest and up the chocolate mountains. Candy people came from everywhere, carrying baskets of sweets to share. Toffee brought a tray of warm caramel cookies. Sugarplum brought a bowl of jellybean salad. Ava and Leo taught everyone a clapping game. Soon the whole town square was filled with laughing, dancing candy people. 11

Toffee led the singing, his voice warm and rumbly. 'Oh, the candy planet spins around, with sweets for all and joyful sound!' Everyone joined in, even the shyest candy people. Ava and Leo danced until their cheeks hurt. The more they laughed and shared, the brighter the factory lights glowed. Then, with a happy whir, the factory doors swung open and out rolled a river of colorful candy! 12

The candy people cheered. Sugarplum hugged Ava and Leo. 'You did it!' Sugarplum said. 'You showed us that sharing and laughing together is what really matters.' Toffee handed them each a big bag of sweets for the journey home. 'And remember,' he said with a wink, 'a little candy is a treat. Too much can make your tummy ache.' 13

Ava and Leo climbed back into the little spaceship, waving goodbye to their new friends. The ship hummed and rose into the sky. Looking down, they saw the chocolate mountains and marshmallow forests glowing in the starlight. 'That was the best adventure ever,' Leo said. Ava nodded. 'And we helped them just by laughing and sharing.' 14

Back in their backyard, the spaceship shrank to the size of a toy and disappeared with a tiny pop. Ava and Leo sat on the grass, sharing the last of the candy from Candy Planet. 'I'm happy,' Leo said. 'Me too,' Ava said. 'And I learned that sharing and not eating too many sweets brings lasting happiness.' They smiled, knowing they would always remember their friends far away.