by Mary E. Lowd
Originally published in Commander Annie and Other Adventures, November 2023
Once upon a time, there was a soul that wanted to anchor itself into the world. The soul watched all the creatures in the world, trying to decide what shape its anchor should take.
The mouse was small and could explore tiny places.
The deer had long legs and could run through the woods.
The bird had wings and could soar through the sky.
Then the soul saw a little girl reading a book. In her imagination, she explored tiny places, ran through forests, and soared through the sky. She could be all the creatures the soul had seen and more beside.
And so the soul became the greatest kind of creature of all: a little girl with a big imagination.
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