The Bridge That Connected the Clouds
Girl discovers a magical rainbow bridge in the clouds connecting extraordinary places, meets Nimbus the dragon guardian, and learns that wonder exists for those who believe in it.
- 5 min read
June lived in a tall, tall house that stretched up like a sunflower reaching for the sky. Her bedroom window sat so high that she could peek out and touch the clouds with her fingertips—at least, that’s what she liked to pretend.
One particularly puffy Tuesday morning, June noticed something extraordinary. Between two especially round clouds—one that looked like a sleeping elephant and another that resembled a giant marshmallow—there sparkled a bridge. Not just any bridge, but a shimmering, rainbow-colored bridge that twinkled like it was made of morning light and wishes.
“That wasn’t there yesterday,” June whispered to her stuffed rabbit, Mr. Hopscotch.
The bridge seemed to wave at her, its colors rippling like ribbons in a gentle breeze. June couldn’t resist. She put on her favorite red rain boots (because adventures always require proper footwear), tucked Mr. Hopscotch under her arm, and climbed right out her window onto the fluffy cloud below.
The cloud felt like walking on the world’s bounciest trampoline made of cotton candy. “Boing, boing, boing!” went June’s boots as she hopped toward the mysterious bridge.
As she stepped onto the rainbow bridge, it hummed a gentle tune—something between a lullaby and a giggle. The bridge swooped and curved through the sky, connecting cloud after cloud like stepping stones across a great blue ocean.
“Welcome, welcome!” called a voice as smooth as silk and as bubbly as a bubble bath.
June looked up to see a creature she’d never imagined before. It had the body of a small dragon, but instead of scales, it was covered in soft, silver feathers. Instead of breathing fire, tiny soap bubbles floated from its nostrils with every breath.
“I’m Nimbus,” said the creature, bowing politely. “I’m the Guardian of the Cloud Bridge. And you must be very special—most people can’t even see the bridge!”
“I’m June,” she said, curtsying the way her grandmother had taught her. “And this is Mr. Hopscotch. Why can I see it?”
Nimbus smiled, which made three more bubbles pop out. “The bridge only appears to those who still believe that ordinary days can become extraordinary. Now, would you like to see where it leads?”
June nodded so enthusiastically that her ponytail bounced.
Together, they walked across the bridge, visiting the most wonderful clouds June had ever seen. There was the Cloud Bakery, where a jolly sheep with flour-dusted wool baked cookies that tasted like different kinds of laughter—giggles, chuckles, and the occasional snort.
“Try the sunset cookies,” suggested the sheep baker. “They taste like the happy feeling you get when the whole family’s together.”
June took a bite. It was delicious and warm and made her think of her mom’s hugs.
Next, they visited the Cloud Library, built inside a cloud shaped like a giant open book. Here, stories floated through the air like butterflies, and you could catch them gently to hear them whispered in your ear. June caught a story about a brave turtle who sailed across the sea in a teacup. Mr. Hopscotch seemed especially interested in a tale about a rabbit who learned to tap dance.
Then Nimbus led them to the Cloud Garden, where flowers grew that changed colors depending on your mood. When June walked by, they turned sunshine yellow and sparkly pink because she felt so happy and curious.
“What’s that?” June asked, pointing to a golden door built into the largest cloud at the end of the bridge.
“Ah,” said Nimbus, bubbles floating excitedly. “That’s the Cloud Post Office. It’s where you can send a message to anyone, anywhere—even to people you miss, or to yourself in the future, or even to your dreams to tell them what you’d like to dream about tonight.”
Inside, a wise old owl with spectacles made of morning dew helped June write her message. She thought very carefully, then wrote:
“Dear Tomorrow, please bring another adventure, but also time for cocoa with Mom. Love, June and Mr. Hopscotch.”
She sealed it in a cloud-envelope that felt like holding a sigh, and the owl promised it would be delivered by the evening breeze.
As the sun began to paint the sky in oranges and purples, Nimbus walked June back across the rainbow bridge to her window. The elephant cloud was now snoring softly, and the marshmallow cloud had turned pink in the sunset.
“Will the bridge be here tomorrow?” June asked hopefully.
“The bridge is always here,” Nimbus said with a wink. “But remember—you can only cross it when you believe the day might surprise you. The moment you decide everything will be ordinary is the moment it disappears.”
June hugged the feathery dragon gently, careful not to pop the bubbles. “I’ll remember. I promise.”
She climbed back through her window with Mr. Hopscotch, her boots still slightly bouncy from cloud-walking. As she settled into bed, she could still see the bridge glimmering faintly in the dimming light, connecting cloud after cloud like a secret road only she knew about.
Her mother came in to kiss her goodnight. “Did you have a good day, sweetpea?”
June smiled and hugged Mr. Hopscotch close. “Just wait until tomorrow,” she said. “I have a feeling it’s going to be extraordinary.”
And as June drifted off to sleep, she dreamed of rainbow bridges, bubble-breathing dragons, and all the adventures waiting in the sky—just outside her window, ready for whenever she believed.
The End