Rafferty’s Sunburst Surprise — Every day, Rafferty polished the brass sunburst at the ridge observatory until it flashed across the mountains like a giant wink. Read the full story →
Every day, Rafferty polished the brass sunburst at the ridge observatory until it flashed across the mountains like a giant wink. He wanted the morning watchers to laugh before breakfast, but Chief Marmot kept sniffing the air and saying, “No tricks near official sunrise equipment.” The brass smelled like rain and pennies, and Rafferty’s feathers itched with unused mischief.
Until one day, his polishing cloth snagged on a loose ray. Because of that, the ray popped open with a tiny clack, and out rolled a round whistle hidden where nobody had ever looked: inside the sunburst itself. Because of that, Rafferty blew one cautious puff, and the whole ridge answered with a honk so grand that goats dropped their maps and marmots sat on their sandwiches.
At last, Rafferty tucked the whistle back and spun the rays toward the crowd. “One more?” he called. The next honk bounced from peak to cloud to peak, and everyone laughed so hard the joy had to fly somewhere. Next time you see those straight rays behind his face, dare them not to wink back.
