Every autumn, the village held a lantern parade. All the children made lanterns out of paper and wire, and when the sun went down, they walked together through the streets, carrying their little lights.
This year, Juniper made a lantern, but it did not turn out the way she hoped. It was small, and a bit crooked. It was only white paper, with no pictures on it at all.
She looked at the others. Anders had made a dragon, with a long tail that swished. Mina had a fish, with silver scales. Little Oskar had a rocket, with a flame made of orange tissue.
"Mine is plain," said Juniper, quietly.
She walked at the back of the parade, holding her lantern low.
Soon, they reached the dark part of the road, where the trees leaned in. The dragon's tail caught on a branch, and the dragon went out. The fish sputtered. The rocket's flame went flip, and was gone.
"Oh no," said Anders.
It was very dark under the trees. Oskar took a small step closer to his mum.
Juniper held up her lantern. It was plain white, but it was very bright. Without any pictures, its light poured out in every direction, soft and round and warm.
"Come close," she said. "There is room."
They gathered around her. Anders, Mina, Oskar, and all the others. Her little lantern lit up every one of their faces.
"It's like a small moon," said Mina.
Together they walked through the dark part of the road, all in one circle of gentle light. Nobody was hurrying. Nobody was worried. Anders fixed his dragon's tail and lit it again from Juniper's flame, and Mina relit her fish, and Oskar relit his rocket, and one by one the lanterns bloomed again.
At the end of the road, the village square shone with lights. Parents clapped. A little band played a slow, sweet tune.
Juniper looked down at her lantern. It was still small, and still white, and still a bit crooked.
But she held it up high now, and it glowed.
That night, as she lay in bed, she could see its light on the windowsill. It was the very best lantern in the parade, she decided, and she closed her eyes and fell asleep with a smile.