In a pretty, colorful village, lived a little gnome named Gnorman. Gnorman was a very, very grumpy gnome. He had a long, white beard and a pointy red hat, and he always had a grumpy frown on his face. The only thing Gnorman loved was his garden. His garden was perfect. The red roses were perfectly red. The green grass was perfectly cut. He had a tiny sign that said 'KEEP OUT.' 'I do not like visitors,' Gnorman would grumble. 'Visitors are messy.' He did not like anyone touching his perfect, clean garden.
One sunny day, a little girl named Daisy was playing. She had bright red boots and a happy smile. She was chasing a beautiful, blue butterfly. 'Come back, butterfly!' she giggled. The butterfly flew high, and Daisy looked up, running and laughing. She did not see the little garden. She did not see the 'KEEP OUT' sign. She ran right past the gate and... THUD! She tumbled right into Gnorman the gnome's perfect, prize-winning yellow sunflowers. She had made a mess. 'Oh no!' she whispered.
Gnorman heard the noise. He stomped out of his little mushroom house. He was so angry! His face was red and his beard was shaking. 'You! Girl! You ruined my garden!' he shouted in his grumpiest voice. 'You made a mess!' He was ready to yell some more, but then he stopped. The little girl was not running away. She had tears in her big, blue eyes. She was gently, very gently, trying to help a bent sunflower stand up straight again. 'I am so sorry, little flower,' Daisy whispered to the sunflower. 'I did not mean to hurt you.'
GGnorman's grumpy heart felt a little... different. He saw her kind hands and her sad, sorry face. He saw that she was kind. 'Well,' Gnorman grumbled, but his voice was a little softer. 'It... it is just a flower.' Daisy looked up. 'I am very, very sorry I made a mess, Mr. Gnome.' Gnorman looked at his perfect garden. Then he looked at the kind little girl. He realized his garden was a little bit lonely. 'My name is Gnorman,' he said. 'Would you... would you like to help me water the roses?' Daisy smiled a big, happy smile. 'Yes, please!' From that day on, Gnorman and Daisy were friends. He even changed his sign. Now it said: 'Welcome, Friends.'