The kitchen smelled like burnt smoke, and Molly wanted to cry. Today was her best friend’s birthday party, and she was supposed to bring homemade cupcakes. But Molly accidentally added too much baking powder, causing the cupcakes to come out flat and black. They were completely ruined. Molly slumped in her beanbag chair next to the window, wanting to give up and stay home.

Molly reached out and opened the kitchen window to get the smoky smell out. Then, she saw a bumblebee flying out from the trees and toward some beautiful pink flowers. Suddenly, a giant raindrop splashed onto the bee’s back and pinned it to the ground.

The bee shook itself and dried its wings to fly again. But just as it was about to reach the flower, another raindrop crashed onto the bee’s back, and pinned it to the grass again. Then iIt happened again, and again, and again. Would it ever make it to the flower? thought Molly thought to herself. She watched closely as the bee tried one more time and finally. Flump, it landed right on the flower. Molly watched observing the bee as it sucked nectar out of the flower and gathered pollen.

Watching this, Molly realized something and started to cheer up. If the bee didn’t quit after failing to get to a flower five times, she shouldn’t give up on trying to make cupcakes either. Molly stood up, wiped the counters, and dumped the old cupcakes into the trash. She began measuring the new ingredients carefully, ready to try again.

After she put the panm in the oven, she waited. Molly couldn’t wait to see what her new cupcakes looked like. Were they going to be ruined like the last time? Were they going to be just right? When the timer dinged, she opened the oven and couldn’t believe her eyes. Inside she saw twelve golden vanilla cupcakes. They were amazing! Molly was so proud of herself for not giving up.