Scarlett and the Whispering Wok Dumpling

Little Scarlett, with her bright blue eyes and bouncy blonde pigtails, loved adventures. One evening, Mum and Dad took her to a very special place in bustling Hong Kong: the Whispering Wok Dim Sum restaurant. It wasn’t just any restaurant; little whispers of magic floated through the air, and sometimes, if you listened closely, you could hear the bamboo steamer baskets hum a gentle tune.

Scarlett bounced on her seat, her pale blue dress swishing. So many yummy smells! Steaming baskets filled with plump dumplings, fluffy bao buns, and crispy spring rolls floated by on silent, gliding trolleys. “Oh, look, Mum! A happy har gow!” she giggled, pointing at a shrimp dumpling that seemed to wink at her.

But then, Scarlett spotted the last custard bun on a trolley that was whizzing past. "Mine! I want that one!" she cried, reaching out. The trolley zipped a little too fast, and the bun was gone. Scarlett's happy feeling suddenly turned into a big, hot, fizzy feeling inside. Her clever brain felt all muddled. She stomped her foot, a tiny 'thump!' and then, without meaning to, she pushed her hand out, and *oops!* she accidentally bumped Dad's arm. It wasn't a hard push, but it made her feel even fizzier. Mum gave her a soft, understanding look. "Oh, dear Scarlett," she said gently. "Perhaps a little quiet time outside would help us both feel a bit calmer, darling." So, hand in hand, they stepped out into the quieter, cooler evening air.

Outside, Scarlett sat on a little bench, a tiny tear rolling down her cheek. The fizzy feeling was still there, like a little storm cloud rumbling in her tummy. "I didn't mean to, Dad," she whispered, her voice a little wobbly. Just then, a tiny, plump, steamed dumpling, round and perfectly white, seemed to wobble its way out from a forgotten bamboo basket near the restaurant door. It had the kindest, wisest little smile.

“Hello there, little one,” squeaked the dumpling, its voice as soft as steam. “I’m Percy, the Peaceful Dumpling. It looks like you’ve got some big feelings all tangled up inside, doesn’t it?” Scarlett nodded, her blue eyes wide. “Sometimes,” Percy continued gently, “feelings get so big and buzzy, they make us want to push or shout. But your clever brain knows a secret! When feelings feel like a jumble, you can take a deep, deep breath, like you’re smelling the yummiest flower. Let the air fill you up, then *whoosh* out it goes, taking a little bit of the tangle with it.”

“And then,” Percy whispered, “instead of pushing, you can use your lovely words. Words are like little magic spells that tell people how you feel.” Scarlett tried it. She took a deep breath, just like Percy showed her, and then another. The fizzy feeling started to calm down, like bubbles gently popping. “I’m sorry, Dad,” she said, looking up with clearer eyes. “I wanted the bun, and my feelings got too big.” Dad knelt down, giving her a big, warm hug. “It’s okay, my darling Scarlett,” he said. “Everyone has big feelings sometimes. The clever thing is learning how to be kind to them, and to ourselves.” With a final, happy wobble, Percy the Peaceful Dumpling rolled back into his basket. Scarlett, feeling cosy and calm, went back into the warm, happy restaurant, ready for a truly peaceful sleep.