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Talamai set out from station uncertainly, wondering which way to go first. She crossed her arms tightly and tucked her chin down into her scarf; the early morning was sunny, but chilly.

She had only recently heard about the lamp-adoption program, but had known right away that she wanted one. What could possibly be better than a companion lamp?

The forest was empty, and silent save for the quiet rustle of leaves and branches. Talamai made her way deeper into the forest, where the trees were immense, with massive trunks and thick sprawling roots that slowed her down as she picked her way across them. It was awhile before she saw the first lamp - a little brown table lamp that hopped busily across the tangled roots of a giant oak tree. It was cute, but it ignored her.

Several minutes later, she watched a line of stately floor lamps proceed across a clearing, almost afraid to breathe - they were so elegant she thought she might scare them away. A short while after that she was startled by a whole swarm of tiny flashlight bulbs skittering across the ground and around her feet. She reached out a hand hesitantly, then changed her mind, sighed, and let her hand drop to her side. The bulbs disappeared into the undergrowth and she walked onward.

All of these lamps, in their various stages, were wonderful creatures, and she knew that she could take any one of them home and love it dearly. But none of them had yet reached right into her heart and said clearly, "take me home." She had heard about the bond that lamps could form with their people, and she wanted to experience that.

What kind of lamp would make a perfect match for me? she wondered. And then she saw it, far away in the depths of the forest: a twinkle.

Intrigued, she made her way toward it, hopping over tree roots and climbing over boulders as the little glimmer beckoned her closer. She emerged from the shade of the trees onto the bank of a little gurgling stream. Perched atop a pile of mossy stones, as if it had been waiting for her, was a small round lightbulb. It wasn't very glittery yet, but there was a small but distinct swirl of blue-green sparkles in the very heart of the bulb.

Grinning, Talamai held out her hands, very sure this time, and the little bulb hopped right into her palm. "Hey, there.... Thaddeus," she said.

The secretary back at the station looked up as Talamai came back in the front entrance. "Oh, I see you've got yourself a little baby glitter lamp!" she said brightly.

Talamai smiled and nodded.

"What else?"

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