Tugo stood on the mossy rock at the edge of the tall hill. He flapped his short, scaly arms and leaped into the air. Plop! His heavy olive-green shell pulled him straight down into the soft clover. He sighed, watching a hawk glide silently overhead.
Three friendly meadow birds fluttered down from the sky. They tugged at Tugo’s shell with their little yellow beaks. Tugo stretched his neck out, but he did not lift a single inch from the dirt. "You need wings!" chirped a bluebird, dropping a single feather right onto his nose.
The birds darted into the tall grass. They dragged out a wildly giant dandelion fluff, as big as a beach ball! Tugo clamped onto the fuzzy white stem with both front claws. He thought about reaching the clouds as the meadow grass began to swish and whisper.
A fierce wind howled over the hill. The green blades bent flat against the ground. Tugo gripped the stem tighter and tucked his head partially inside his shell. The giant fluff violently shook until a sudden, tremendous whoosh swept across the grass.
The sweeping breeze yanked the dandelion straight upward! It pulled Tugo right off the grass and into the bright blue sky. He peeked his head out, laughing loudly as the cool air rushed past his face. The little meadow birds cheered, flying in loops around his floating balloon.
Tugo drifted leisurely over the meadow. He kicked his scaly legs, swimming freely through the puffy white clouds. He waved down at the tiny green treetops far below. "I'm a bird!" he shouted out to the open sky.
