Sophie was a sweet little girl who lived in a village. Her hair shone as brightly as the sun and her eyes were brown like chestnuts. She loved wearing floral dresses and adored flowers of all kinds. That’s why she loved going to the meadow every day. She admired their beautiful colors, watched them turn toward the sun and sway in the wind. She would lie down in the grass, close her eyes, and breathe in the mingling scents all around her.
But one day, something strange happened in the meadow.
It was late afternoon, and Sophie was still lying in the grass. She was just about to go home when she suddenly heard music – as if someone nearby were playing the violin. Sophie had never heard such a beautiful melody! She listened carefully and looked around to see who might be playing. After a while, she noticed several crickets and ladybugs in the grass, clutching little violins. They eyes were closed, and they were smiling as to the rhythm. Sophie could only stare in disbelief.
At that moment, butterflies flew up to her. They circled her head and whispered in her ears: “Don’t stand there, sit down. And slowly, so you don’t scare them away. Only now will you see something. Look.”
Although Sophie didn’t understand what was happening at all, she did as the butterflies said. She sat quietly in the grass and waited to see what would happen. The flowers around her began to sway to the melody played by the crickets and ladybugs. One by one, the blossoms opened and closed again. They leaned in all directions, graciously, gradually, in perfect rhythm. Their colors shimmered, and their fragnance seemed to drift above them. It was as if they were dancing. Simply beautiful.
Sophie didn’t know where to look first. Just then, the butterflies flew back to her and said, “Isn’t it beautiful? Today there is a flower ball in the meadow. All the flowers are dancing and showing themselves off. The crickets and ladybugs are their orchestra, playing meadow melodies for them. No one knows that this is happening here. But the flowers like you, Sophie. They see you here every day. And they also know how much you love them – and that you never pick or trample them. That’s why they decided to reveal themselves and dance for you today.”
Sophie watched the flower ball for a long while. She remained very quiet and still, careful not to disturb or frighten the flowers. When it was all over and the sun was slowly sinking behind the mountains, she got up, waved, and whispered, “Thank you, my beloved flowers. I will never forget what you have done for me. No one has ever danced so beautifully for me before!”
Sophie promised the butterflies that she would never tell anyone about the dance. Otherwise, people would come to see it, and the meadow would be trampled. She didn’t want that to happen.
Today Sophie is all grown up – now she is Miss Sophie. But she still goes to the meadow. She still loves the flowers and admires their beauty. In return, every now and then, the flowers dance for her once more in their secret flower ball.