The Bell Nobody Packed — Under the peppermint moon, Junie patted her gift sack. Crinkle, crinkle went the paper. Read the full story →
Under the peppermint moon, Junie patted her gift sack. Crinkle, crinkle went the paper. No jingle. She wanted one ribbon bell before the lantern parade, so every child would hear her coming. “Between us,” she whispered to the snow, “I am not going back without it.”
She left the cozy lantern shed and followed tiny footprints past pine trees and sleepy cottages. Snow squeaked under her boots. A silver fox traded directions for her last sugar cookie, and Junie’s tummy grumbled all the way to the fence. There, she shook the sack again. Crinkle. Thump. Still no bell.
Then her left boot went jing. Junie froze. Tucked under the buckle, where nobody ever looked, was the missing ribbon bell, warm from walking. She laughed so loudly a snowflake slid off a roof. Next time you spot her on the snowy path, see if you can find the boot that knew where she belonged.
