cover
At the sunny base of Sunflower Hill, outdoor morning, Sammy stands on the dirt path clutching a bulging backpack and gazing upward nervously. Cally bounces beside him smiling, while Milo adjusts his cap, studying the slope.
Sammy looked up at Sunflower Hill and gulped. "It’s so tall," he whispered, gripping his heavy backpack. Cally bounced beside him and smiled. "You can do it, Sammy!" she cheered. Milo adjusted his cap. "Let’s find a good path together." With their friends at his side, Sammy took his first step.
On a cloudy hillside path muddied by rain, Sammy skids with arms flailing, one boot sliding. Milo, kneeling on a dry rock, points toward larger stepping stones while Cally steadies Sammy’s elbow, both children focused and concerned.
The ground was muddy, and Sammy slipped a little. "Whoa!" he yelped, nearly falling. Milo rushed over. "Try stepping on the big rocks," he suggested. Cally reached to steady Sammy with a warm hand. "Little by little," Sammy repeated, bravely moving forward.
Beneath a shady oak midway up the hill, outdoor midday, Sammy sits on mossy roots opening his heavy backpack stuffed with colorful books. Cally leans over giggling at the titles, while Milo rests against the trunk sipping water.
"My backpack feels so heavy," Sammy sighed. Cally peeked inside and giggled. "You packed your favorite books!" Milo said, "Let’s rest for a minute." They all sat beneath a leafy tree. Sammy took a deep breath. "Okay, ready!" he smiled, standing up once more.
Higher on the sunlit slope, afternoon breeze, Cally stands on a rock clapping and cheering brightly. Sammy, a few steps below, waves back grinning, while robins perched on nearby branches sing, petals fluttering around the children.
Cally clapped her hands as they climbed higher. "Hooray for Sammy! You’re doing it!" she cheered. Sammy grinned and waved. Even the singing robins joined in. "Thank you, Cally," Sammy said shyly. His steps felt lighter with every word.
Among towering purple flowers along a narrow winding path, late afternoon light flickers through petals. Milo leads, gently pushing aside blossoms, Sammy brushes a drooping leaf from his face, and Cally follows smiling, sunbeams catching their dusty shoes.
Tall flowers blocked their way. "Let’s go around," suggested Milo. They followed his winding path through purple petals. Sammy brushed away a drooping leaf. "Thanks, Milo!" he said. The sun peeked through, shining on their faces.
On a steep grassy patch under the warm sunset glow, Sammy bends forward panting, sweat on his brow. Cally wraps him in a quick hug, comforting smile shining, while Milo stands close, offering an encouraging thumbs-up.
Sammy panted. "This is taking forever," he moaned. "Every step counts," Milo said kindly. Cally gave Sammy a gentle hug. "Keep going, little by little," she whispered. Sammy smiled and nodded, feeling brave again.
At a jagged stone crossing near the hill’s summit, cool evening light, Sammy wrinkles his nose studying uneven rocks. Milo extends a steady hand toward him, and Cally whispers guidance beside them, all three balanced cautiously mid-step.
A patch of stones made the path tough. Sammy wrinkled his nose. "This part is extra tricky," whispered Cally. Milo offered his hand. "We can do it together!" Hand in hand, they hopped carefully until the rocks were behind them.
On a dusty patch of trail just below the crest, dimming twilight, Sammy sits on the ground rubbing a scuffed knee, face frustrated. Kneeling nearby, Milo and Cally lean in with worried eyes, hands reaching to help him up.
Sammy slipped, landing with a soft thud. "Are you okay?" Milo and Cally cried, rushing to his side. Sammy rubbed his knee. "I almost want to give up," he muttered. Cally squeezed his shoulder. "But you’re almost there!" Milo nodded. "Just a few more steps, Sammy!"
With the hilltop glowing in early starlight, Sammy, Milo, and Cally sprint the final grassy stretch, joyful faces lit by lingering dusk. Their arms pump in unison, distant summit stones and wildflowers framing their determined charge.
Sunflower Hill’s top was now in sight. Sammy’s heart fluttered with hope. "We’re almost at the top!" he gasped. Milo encouraged, "Let’s finish together." Sammy grinned. With laughter and cheers, they dashed the last steps.
At Sunflower Hill’s breezy summit garden under golden sunset, Cally spins laughing amid blooming beds, skirt twirling. Nearby, Sammy stands beaming proudly, backpack dropped, while Milo reclines on soft grass, hands behind head, smiling at the colorful panorama.
They reached the top and gazed at the beautiful garden below. "We did it!" Cally cheered, spinning around. Sammy beamed, feeling proud to have finished. Milo flopped on the grass, smiling. "We kept going, little by little," Sammy whispered. The friends grinned at each other, happy and tired.
Still on the summit lawn during bright mid-morning sun, Sammy, Milo, and Cally sit on a picnic blanket, crackers and fruit spread between them. They raise paper cups of juice together, wide grins catching the light.
The friends shared their snacks in the sunshine. "Best climb ever!" Cally giggled with a mouthful of crackers. Sammy giggled too. "I couldn’t have done it alone." Milo raised his juice. "Here’s to climbing big hills, little by little!" They clinked their cups and snacked happily.
On the descending forest path at warm sunset, Sammy walks in front glancing back toward Sunflower Hill with a thoughtful smile. Behind him, Milo and Cally laugh together, maple leaves glowing orange around their tireless silhouettes.
On the way home, Sammy looked back at Sunflower Hill. He still felt the strength from his friends’ cheers. "I’m glad I didn’t give up," he said. "Me too!" laughed Milo and Cally. Sammy smiled. "Let’s remember: Keep going, little by little."
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