In a tall green tree stood a little treehouse. It had a red door, a round window, and a tiny bell that went ting-ting in the wind.
Momma's Little King Helper lived there. He was a small Knight with shiny boots and a blue cape. He was gentle. He was brave. He liked to help Momma King with little jobs.
“Please carry this apple,” Momma King said.
“Yes, Momma!” said Momma's Little King Helper.
He carried apples. He folded soft flags. He polished the little gold crown. He always said, “I can help!”
One warm morning, the treehouse bell went ting-ting-TING!
Momma King looked in her crown box.
“Oh dear,” she said. “My golden crown is gone.”
Momma's Little King Helper made a small gasp. “Gone?”
“Gone,” said Momma King. “Will you look for it?”
“Yes, Momma. I will look. I will be kind, too.”
At the treehouse door waited Sun Knight. Sun Knight wore a yellow cape like a sunbeam. He was cheerful and quick. His helmet had a bright round top.
“I heard the bell!” said Sun Knight. “May I help?”
“Yes!” said Momma's Little King Helper. “Two Knights can look very well.”
They found a trail on the wooden floor. It was not a big trail. It was a trail of crumbs.
“Crumb, crumb, crumb,” said Sun Knight.
“Maybe someone had a snack,” said Momma's Little King Helper.
The crumbs went down the rope ladder. The two Knights climbed down slowly. Step. Step. Step.
Below the treehouse, the grass was soft. A ladybug waved. “Hello, Knights!”
“Did you see a golden crown?” asked Momma's Little King Helper.
The ladybug pointed with one tiny leg. “I saw Bandit run by. He had something shiny. He went to the berry bush.”
“Thank you!” said both Knights.
They walked to the berry bush. Plop! A blue berry fell on Sun Knight’s helmet.
“Now I am a Blueberry Knight,” he said.
Momma's Little King Helper giggled. “You are still Sun Knight.”
Behind the bush sat Bandit. Bandit was a little raccoon with a striped tail. He held the golden crown in both paws. But he did not look mean. He looked worried.
“Bandit,” said Momma's Little King Helper, softly, “that crown belongs to Momma King.”
“I know,” whispered Bandit. “I only wanted to look at it. It is so bright. But then it rolled into this bush. My tail got stuck. Now I cannot get out.”
Sun Knight looked at the thorny branches. “Ouchy bush,” he said.
Momma's Little King Helper nodded. “We can help you. But first, no more taking things without asking.”
“I promise,” said Bandit. “I will ask.”
The little Knight found a long, smooth stick. Sun Knight held the bush apart with his round shield. Momma's Little King Helper carefully lifted Bandit’s tail free.
Pop!
Bandit tumbled onto the grass. The crown rolled out too. Roll, roll, roll.
Momma's Little King Helper caught it just before it reached a puddle.
“I got it!” he cheered.
Bandit clapped his paws. “You helped me, even when I made a bad choice.”
“Everyone can make a better choice next time,” said Momma's Little King Helper.
Back up the rope ladder they went. Step. Step. Step. The treehouse bell sang ting-ting-TING!
Momma King smiled when she saw her crown. “My brave little helper found it!”
“And Sun Knight helped,” said Momma's Little King Helper. “And Bandit said sorry.”
Bandit lowered his ears. “I am sorry, Momma King.”
Momma King gave a kind nod. “Thank you for telling the truth. Next time, you may ask to see my crown.”
Bandit smiled. “I will.”
Then Momma King opened a secret drawer in the treehouse table. Inside were three tiny treasure boxes.
One box held a silver star badge for Momma's Little King Helper. One held a sunny gold badge for Sun Knight. One held a little red berry-shaped button for Bandit.
Momma King pinned the silver star on her helper’s blue cape. “You are now the Keeper of the Treehouse Crown,” she said.
Momma's Little King Helper stood tall. His boots shone. His heart felt warm.
Sun Knight said, “Hooray for the Keeper!”
Bandit said, “Hooray!”
The three friends shared apple slices in the little treehouse. Outside, leaves swished. Inside, the bell went ting-ting.
And Momma's Little King Helper smiled.
“I can help,” he said.
“Yes,” said Momma King. “You surely can.”