I'm five years old, it's getting cold, I've got my big coat on

I hear your laugh and look up smiling at you, I run and run

Past the pumpkin patch and the tractor rides, look now, the sky is gold,

I hug your legs and fall asleep on the way home

XxX

Today was the day we would pick out the family's pumpkin. My little legs carried me around the field, tottering to and fro in search of the perfect gourd to carve. Occasionally I'd fall, the frost grass melting a bit and soaking my pants a bit more with each meeting. Giving up on finding my pumpkin, I decided I needed a break.

I sulked to the hay bales and sat down, pulling myself up with my arms, then situating myself while making as little noise as possible. After a few seconds of resting my head in my hands, suffering silently for my art, a bug moved in front of me. Not any a bug, but a bug whose butt was glowing. I was fascinated. I jolted off of the hay and tumbled, head over heels, turning my mistake into a summersault. I stood up and clapped my hands, turning my mistake into a trick and letting the cold air sting my lungs as I inhaled, then ran, the best I could, for the light.

"Be careful!" My papa chuckled. I lost track of my bug and walked towards my father. His face was bright, gleaming with pride as he watched me. He held out his arms, ushering me to jump into then. When I arrived he lifted me up, gently tossing me upwards. I squealed in delight, my papa was and still is the best ride in the whole wide world.

"Glowbug?" I asked quietly, pointing in the direction of the flying bug.

"It's a firefly."

"Firefly." I repeated the word giggling. "Firefly!" I chanted the word for a few minutes, still in his arms, bouncing.

"I'll race you Hotaru!" Never race my father; he is simply too fast, but I didn't know this, so just as soon as my feet crunched on the ground, I sprinted. I watched as all of the imperfect pumpkins were out of view. My ears picked up sounds of feet behind me and tried to run faster. Instead I fell.

Grass filled my mouth, mixing with a bit of dirt. Instantly my papa picked me up and gave me butterfly kisses. Our noses touched ever so lightly and his golden hair swayed back and forth. My knee may have been bleeding, and I may have lost the race and lost track of my firefly, but my papa was there to make it better.

"Are you going to be okay firefly?"

"Firefly?" I smiled, eyes shifting back and forth, looking for the flitting bug.

"You're my firefly." He picked me up and we walked toward his car, tapping me on the nose ever so casually. I didn't think I gleamed in the night, or flew so gracefully, but somethings don't make sense at first.

Mama was going to be mad that we didn't get a pumpkin, but that didn't matter. All that mattered was me being a firefly, and I dreamt of the adventures I'd have in the backseat of the car. I faintly recall the feeling of a hand running through my hair as I slept.

I woke the next morning, pillows fluffed, blankets around me, in my bed.