The Curious Raindrop

Once upon a time, in a vast fluffy cloud high above the earth, there lived a curious little raindrop named Ploof. Unlike the other raindrops who were content to wait their turn to fall, Ploof always had questions.

“Why do we fall?” Ploof asked the elder drops one day.
“We fall to help the world below,” replied one. “We quench the thirst of plants, fill rivers and lakes, and even make puddles for children to splash in.”

Ploof thought this sounded wonderful, but they wanted to see it for themselves.

One windy morning, the cloud rumbled, and the raindrops prepared for their journey. As Ploof began to fall, they marveled at the view—fields of green, mountains capped with snow, and rivers winding like ribbons.

Ploof landed softly on a leaf in a quiet forest. Nearby, an ant was struggling to carry a seed up a hill. Curious as ever, Ploof called out, “Need help?”

The ant looked at Ploof in surprise. “I don’t think a raindrop can help me,” said the ant.

“Maybe I can,” said Ploof, slipping off the leaf and onto the dry ground. The earth became softer, making it easier for the ant to dig into the soil and secure the seed. “Thank you!” said the ant, and off it went.

Ploof felt a little proud but wondered what else they could do. Soon, the sun came out, warming the forest. Ploof began to feel lighter and lighter until—poof!—they floated into the air as vapor.

“What’s happening to me?” Ploof exclaimed.

“You’re evaporating!” said a nearby dragonfly. “You’ll join the clouds again soon.”

And so Ploof rose high into the sky, joining other drops to form a new cloud. Ploof shared their adventure with the others, inspiring them to look forward to their own journeys.

From that day on, Ploof understood how important every drop was, whether helping ants, watering trees, or filling rivers. And every time they fell to earth, Ploof couldn’t wait to see who or what they might help next.

Lesson: Even small acts of kindness and curiosity can make a big difference in the world.