Tavi Finds the Quiet Spark — Under the lantern loft, Tavi tied three balloon strings around one paw and hurried toward the cake table, sniffing for the warm vanilla smell. Read the full story →
Under the lantern loft, Tavi tied three balloon strings around one paw and hurried toward the cake table, sniffing for the warm vanilla smell. The candles stood tall and striped, but not one flame winked. Tavi wanted the first glow before the moon-bunting dance began, so he stepped past the safe circle of cushions and followed a trail of silver confetti that skittered under the tables with a papery hush.
The trail led behind the tallest balloon, the star-shaped one that bumped softly against his horn. To reach it, Tavi had to squeeze through dangling streamers; they tickled his ears, and one bow slipped from his balloon bunch. “Wait for me, little shine,” he whispered. Inside the star balloon, where nobody ever thought to look, a tiny spark was napping in a curl of ribbon, smelling faintly of toasted sugar.
Tavi carried it back cupped in both hands, moving so slowly his toes made no thumps at all. The spark lit the candles, then chose his party hat’s fluffy top for one extra blink. Next time you spot Tavi mid-kick among the stars and moons, see if you can guess which balloon once held the quiet spark.
