Lina hopped over a cobblestone. Something glinted in the dirt.
She picked up a shiny gold coin. It sparkled right in her palm.
Lina held the coin up to see her face. Then she tucked it away and walked into the market.
The market buzzed around her. Bread smelled wonderful. She walked faster, then stopped.
An elderly woman dropped her apples. They rolled everywhere. "My last coin," she whispered. "I needed it for medicine."
Lina ran after her, waving the coin high. "Wait!"
The woman turned. Lina pressed the coin into her hand. The woman scooped her up and spun around. "You found it! You found it!"
The woman gave Lina a tiny wooden bird. Lina held it close and walked home.
The baker nodded at her as she passed. "She's a good one," he seemed to say.
The flower seller smiled. The fishmonger tipped his cap. Everyone seemed to know.
Lina walked home with her wooden sparrow. The village felt different now. Brighter.
She tucked the bird into her pocket. Tomorrow, she would tell everyone about the coin.
