n the shimmering sky above Quadriville, there shone a magnificent star unlike any other. His name was Mark, and while most stars twinkled in the usual circle shape, Mark was shaped like a cube—with six bright sides that oozed golden trails. At night, passersby on the streets of Quadriville saw him drip glowing colors that sparkled like liquid stardust.
The City of Quadriville
Quadriville was famous for its citizens: squares, triangles, circles, and hexagons all lived together happily under the same sky. Some worked as shape-bakers, making pastries in the form of squares or hearts; others spent their days drawing geometric art in bright colors. Everyone knew Mark the cube-star because his light was warm and comforting, like a gentle hand on your shoulder.
A Drip of Doubt
One evening, Mark noticed he was melting more quickly than ever before. Drops of stardust fell from his edges, turning into golden puddles in the sky. At first, it scared him—he worried that he might soon drip away completely. Mark sighed, thinking, “Why can’t I be more like the round stars that never melt? Is something wrong with me?”
But as Mark’s tears mixed with his glistening stardust, a shooting star streaked by. In that moment, he felt a curious sparkle in his heart. What if he embraced his difference rather than feared it?
Melting with Purpose
Every droplet that fell from Mark was filled with his kindness and creativity. The radiant golden drips floated through the air and landed on the rooftops and streets of Quadriville. Wherever they landed, they glowed like tiny lanterns, helping folks see through the dark. Children giggled and collected them in little glass jars. Townspeople used them to decorate their homes. And artists painted pictures that captured the magical droplets in bright swirls of color.
Learning About Self-Worth
Mark began to notice how his melting was helping everyone in Quadriville. Far from being a flaw, his unique nature brought light and joy to everyone. Each day, someone new visited the city just to see Mark’s luminous drips in person. Although he was slowly melting, Mark never truly shrank—because the more his light spread to others, the brighter his own heart shone.
It wasn’t just Mark’s glow that made him special; it was his willingness to share it. When children thanked Mark for lighting their evening walks, he felt a spark of confidence deep inside. Day after day, he reminded himself, “I don’t need to stay exactly the same—I can shine in many ways!”
A Gift for Quadriville
As time passed, Quadriville was transformed by Mark’s shimmering droplets. Gardens grew in unexpected places, nourished by the magic stardust. Fountains sprayed water that sparkled under the sun, bringing laughter to busy streets. Curious travelers came from far corners of the earth to watch the star-cube that dripped gold from the sky.
Soon, Mark discovered he wasn’t really disappearing—he was becoming part of the world he loved. In his heart, he realized that growth is sometimes about letting go of fear and focusing on the positive ways we can share ourselves with others. Even if we drip and change, it doesn’t mean we lose who we are.
The Lesson
Through Mark’s journey, children (and grown-ups, too) learned that being different can be a wonderful gift. Sometimes, what makes us worry about not fitting in turns out to be the very thing that helps us shine. Like Mark, we each have a light to share—and by melting or changing in our own ways, we can bring warmth, beauty, and inspiration to those around us.
