The Mysterious Footprints

Lexile: 580 | Grade: 3

Passage

Lila loved snow days. She woke up early, pulled on her boots, and ran outside. The world was quiet, and the snow sparkled like sugar on the ground.

As she walked across the yard, Lila noticed something strange—tiny footprints in the snow. They weren’t from a dog or a cat. They were too small, and they went in a perfect circle around the tree in her backyard.

Curious, Lila followed the prints. They led to a small hole near the tree trunk. She knelt down and peeked inside. Nothing moved, but she saw something shiny deep inside.

The next morning, Lila returned with a flashlight. When she looked into the hole again, she saw a little button, a tiny sock, and a piece of glittery ribbon. She smiled. 'It must be a winter fairy!' she whispered.

Lila didn’t tell anyone. Every morning that week, she left a crumb of cookie or a tiny drawing by the hole. And each day, something new appeared. A pebble shaped like a heart. A pine needle tied with thread.

She never saw the fairy, but that was okay. Sometimes, magic is quiet.