Quill Makes the Hidden Hook — Under the craft-shelf lamp, Quill pressed a lumpy clay bell between his hooves and frowned at the wobbly string. Read the full story →
Under the craft-shelf lamp, Quill pressed a lumpy clay bell between his hooves and frowned at the wobbly string. He wanted to hang his new collar charm before moonrise, but every loop sagged like wet noodles. The good ribbon was kept past the garland rail, where the floorboards clicked loud enough to wake the tin soldiers.
Still, Quill tip-tapped out. Pine needles brushed his ankles, smelling sharp and snowy. Halfway there, his clay bell bumped a box of glitter and left one silver smear on his nose. Then—here is the secret part—a brown pine cone rolled from under the lowest garland, and tucked between its scales was a curly bit of copper wire nobody had thought to check.
“I can bend that,” Quill whispered. He twisted the wire around a pencil, pinched it tight with his teeth, and hooked his bell to the collar he had made himself. It did not sag. It chimed once, small and brave. When you spot Quill’s little bells, keep the secret: the strongest hook began under the garland rail.
