The Candy Compass

The Candy Compass Yavuz DEMİRKIRAN

Leo loved sweets more than anything. His brown skin glowed with excitement whenever he saw a candy shop. One sunny morning, he skipped to the marketplace with his small canvas satchel bouncing at his side. His curly black hair bounced too, and his hazel eyes sparkled. Today felt special, like a secret waiting to be unwrapped. 1

At the edge of the bustling marketplace, an old woman with a silver bun and a lavender apron waved him over. "Leo! I have something for you," said Gran, her wire-rimmed glasses twinkling. She handed him a small round compass. Its needle was shaped like a candy cane, and it pointed straight toward a jar of rainbow lollipops. 2

"It's a candy compass," Gran whispered. "It points to the nearest sweet surprise. But remember, sweets are best when shared." Leo nodded quickly, barely listening. He grabbed the compass and ran into the market. The needle spun and pointed toward a stall piled high with chocolate truffles. Leo's mouth watered. He was ready for adventure! 3

As Leo reached the truffle stall, a tiny creature zoomed out from behind a jar. She was palm-sized, with mint-green skin, tufty white hair, and big amber eyes. She wore a striped pinkand-white scarf and a tiny pointed hat. "I'm Pip, the compass keeper!" she chirped. "Ready to find some sweets?" Leo grinned. "Lead the way!" 4

The compass needle spun and pointed toward a stall selling sticky toffee apples. Leo bought one and crunched happily. Pip hovered beside him, her translucent wings shimmering. "Try not to eat it all at once," she said. But Leo was already licking the caramel. It was so sweet and sticky! He didn't notice the compass pointing to the next stall. 5

Next, the compass led to a stand with giant swirl lollipops. Leo bought a blue one and stuffed it in his satchel. Then he spotted a girl about his age. She had deep brown skin, long black braids with yellow beads, and a woven basket. She was buying a bag of lemon drops and smiling at everyone. "Hi! I'm Mara," she said. "Want to share?" 6

Leo hesitated. He had plenty of candy, but sharing wasn't on his mind. Still, Mara's smile was warm. He nodded and gave her a piece of his toffee apple. She gave him a lemon drop. They laughed as the sour candy made their faces scrunch. Pip twirled in the air. "See? Sharing is sweet!" she said. 7

The compass pointed toward a stall with candy canes as tall as Leo. He bought one and tried to carry it, but it was too big. Mara helped him break it into pieces. They shared with a group of children nearby. Leo felt a happy glow. Maybe sharing was fun after all. But then the compass spun again, pointing to a stall with chocolate coins. 8

Leo ran ahead, following the compass. He found a stall with chocolate coins wrapped in gold. He bought a whole bag and started eating them quickly. Pip tugged at his sleeve. "Slow down!" she warned. But Leo didn't listen. He ate coin after coin until his tummy felt funny. He sat down on a bench, feeling too full and a little grumpy. 9

Mara found him there. "Are you okay?" she asked. Leo groaned. "I ate too much candy," he admitted. Pip landed on his knee. "The compass points to sweets, but it doesn't tell you when to stop," she said gently. "That's something you have to learn yourself." Leo looked at the bag of chocolate coins. He didn't want any more. 10

Just then, Gran appeared with her wooden spoon. She smiled kindly. "Feeling a bit too sweet?" she asked. Leo nodded. Gran sat beside him. "The candy compass is a wonderful tool," she said. "But it's like curiosity—it should go hand in hand with moderation. Enjoy a little, share a lot, and you'll always feel good." Leo listened carefully. 11

Leo stood up and took a deep breath. He looked at the bag of chocolate coins and then at Mara. "I have an idea," he said. He walked back to the marketplace and found a big table. He put all his candy on it—the lollipops, the chocolate coins, the candy canes. "Everyone, come share!" he called. Mara helped him arrange the treats. 12

Children gathered around, their eyes wide with delight. Leo handed out candy to each one. He kept just one small lollipop for himself. Pip hovered above, sprinkling sugar glitter like confetti. "This is the best part!" she cheered. Leo felt a warm, happy feeling in his chest. Sharing made the candy taste even better. And his tummy felt just right. 13

From that day on, Leo carried the candy compass everywhere. But he always remembered Gran's words. He followed the needle with curiosity, but he also knew when to stop and share. The compass still pointed to sweet surprises, but now Leo knew the sweetest surprise of all was friendship. And a little moderation made every treat more delicious. 14

Leo and Mara became best friends. They often met at Gran's stall, sharing a small bag of sweets and stories. Pip always joined them, her tiny wings buzzing. "You've learned the secret," Gran said one day. "Sweets are wonderful, but friends and moderation make them perfect." Leo smiled, his hazel eyes bright. He knew she was right.