Mia and Ben were four. They sat on the kitchen floor. The floor was shiny. It liked to show off.
Mia had a tiny cape. Ben had a pot lid. “I am a knight,” Ben said. “Clang-clang!”
“I am a wizard,” Mia said. “Bing!”
On the table was a bowl of grapes. Purple. Round. Very proud.
Ben pointed. “Dragon eggs!”
Mia nodded. “Yes. We must guard them.”
Just then, the sink went “drip… drip… drip.”
Ben gasped. “A water goblin!”
Mia put on her serious face. It was very small. “Hush,” she said. “We do magic.”
She tapped the sink with her spoon. “Toc-toc! Stop, drip!”
The drip went “drip.” Then “drip.” It sounded like it was giggling.
Ben leaned close. “Maybe it wants a snack.”
Mia thought hard. “Goblins like soap,” she said, because it sounded right.
They put one soap bubble on the sink edge. “Pop!” The drip paused.
Then the faucet went “psssht!” and a tiny spray kissed Ben's nose.
“Ah-choo!” Ben said, then laughed. “The goblin is tickly!”
Mia laughed too. “Wizard rule,” she said. “No tickles on knights.”
She turned the faucet handle. “Twist-twist.” The spray stopped. The drip stopped too.
A small thing looked up from the drain. It was not scary. It was a little Water Sprite with a wet hat.
“Sorry,” the Sprite said. “I was practicing.”
“Practicing what?” Ben asked.
“Tap music,” said the Sprite. “Drip-drip is my drum.”
Mia put hands on hips. “Drums are fine,” she said. “But not on bedtime time.”
The Sprite bowed. “Ok. I will drum in my cup.” It hopped into a cup. “Plop!”
Ben saluted with his pot lid. “Guard the dragon eggs,” he said.
Mia lifted one grape. “Hop!” She popped it in her mouth. “Mmm. Safe.”
Ben popped one too. “Safe,” he said, cheeks full.
The Sprite peeked out. “May I have one?”
Mia rolled a grape to the cup. “Boop.”
“Thank you,” said the Sprite. “Now I will be quiet. Shh-shh.”
They all listened. No drip. Just happy chewing and soft “yum-yum.”
Moral: When you ask kindly and fix small things together, home feels calm and fun.
