Arlo’s Star Under Straw — Under the hill wind, Arlo poked one hand from his blanket and reached toward the bright star humming through the open stable roof. Read the full story →
Under the hill wind, Arlo poked one hand from his blanket and reached toward the bright star humming through the open stable roof. The straw tickled his wrist with dry little shh-shh sounds, and the wooden manger gave a gentle creak each time he wiggled. He wanted to tap one ray of light, just once, so he stretched farther than he had ever stretched before.
The star did not come down. Instead, Arlo’s brave fingers brushed something cool beneath the straw. A tiny silver bell, no bigger than a berry, rolled into his palm and gave one clear ting! From the rafters, a sleepy swallow lifted its head; outside, the dark hills seemed to hold their breath.
Arlo blinked at the bell, then at the star. The same shine lived in both places—the high sky and the secret straw. He kicked once, delighted, and the bell answered ting-a-ling while the star hummed on. If you peek into the straw around Arlo’s bed, can you guess where that first brave stretch found its tiny ting?
