Once upon a time, in a cozy little town in the United States, lived a bright and bubbly seven-year-old girl named Madison. Madison had a best friend named Minji, who was eight years old and lived far, far away in Korea. They had met one magical summer when Minji’s family visited the U.S., and the two girls became inseparable, giggling over shared secrets and dreaming up grand adventures. But when Minji had to return to Korea, Madison’s heart felt like it had a big, empty hole. She missed Minji so much that she decided she had to see her again, no matter what it took.
Madison knew that traveling to Korea was a big deal—it was across the ocean, and plane tickets cost a lot of money. But she was determined. “I’m going to save every penny I have!” she declared, clutching her sparkly pink piggy bank. Every week, Madison added to her savings. She earned coins by helping her mom with extra chores, like watering the flowers or sorting the laundry. She even set up a lemonade stand in her front yard, where she sold cups of lemonade for 25 cents each, smiling brightly at every customer. “This is for Minji!” she’d whisper to herself as each coin clinked into her piggy bank.
Months passed, and Madison’s piggy bank grew heavier. She counted her money every night before bed, dreaming of the day she’d hug Minji again. She imagined them running through a field of colorful flowers in Korea, laughing and chasing butterflies. Sometimes, she and Minji would video chat, and Minji would show her the twinkling lights of Seoul or teach her a few Korean words, like “annyeong” for hello. Those calls made Madison even more determined to save.
One sunny afternoon, after almost a year of saving, Madison’s mom helped her count all her coins and dollars. “Madison, you’ve saved enough for a plane ticket!” her mom said with a proud smile. Madison’s eyes sparkled like stars. “I’m going to Korea to see Minji!” she squealed, jumping up and down.
The day of the trip finally came. Madison packed her favorite stuffed bunny, Sprinkles, and a heart-shaped locket with a tiny picture of her and Minji inside. The plane ride felt like forever, but Madison kept herself busy drawing pictures of all the things she and Minji would do together. When the plane finally landed in Seoul, Madison’s heart raced. She walked through the airport, holding her mom’s hand, until she saw a familiar face—Minji, waving wildly with a huge grin, holding a sign that said, “Welcome, Madison!”
The two girls ran to each other and hugged so tightly it felt like they’d never let go. “I missed you so much!” Madison said, tears of joy in her eyes. “I missed you too!” Minji replied, her voice bubbly with excitement. That week, Madison and Minji had the best adventure ever. Minji showed Madison her favorite places in Korea: they ate sweet red bean buns, visited a palace with golden roofs, and even tried on colorful hanboks, giggling as they twirled in the bright dresses. At night, they stayed up late, whispering stories under a blanket fort, just like old times.
When it was time for Madison to go home, she felt a little sad, but her heart was full. “We’ll always be best friends, no matter how far apart we are,” Minji said, giving Madison a tiny charm shaped like a star. Madison gave Minji a matching charm shaped like a heart. “Together, we make a perfect pair,” Madison said, and they promised to visit again soon.
Back in the U.S., Madison hung the star charm by her bed and smiled every time she saw it. She knew that with hard work and a big dream, she could always find a way to be with the people she loved, no matter how far away they were. And as she drifted off to sleep, she dreamed of her next adventure with Minji, under a sky full of twinkling stars.
The end. Goodnight, sweet dreamer!