Storyclover
Storyclover
At bedtime, Mina listened to the house. The floorboard creaked, the pipes sighed, and a spoon clattered in the kitchen. Mina wrote each sound in her notebook. She wanted to know where they went at night.
The Cupboard Where Daytime Noises Went to SleepA child imagines creaks and clatters curling up in a cupboard, until the house sounds friendly instead of strange.
1. At bedtime, Mina listened to the house. The floorboard creaked, the pipes sighed, and a spoon clattered in the kitchen. Mina wrote each sound in her notebook. She wanted to know where they went at night.
2. Creeeak. Mina stopped turning the page. Then came a clink from the kitchen and a thump from the stairs. The noises were not loud, but they kept her awake.
3. Mina followed the clink to the kitchen. The cupboard stood beside the table, quiet and tall. She opened one door a little. A cool smell of wood and clean dishes drifted out.
4. Mina saw bowls, cloths, spoons, and one sleepy-looking pot. Then she had an idea. Perhaps the daytime noises came here when the sun went down.
5. She imagined the creak curling like a cat. The clatter rolled itself into a ball. The sigh tucked its nose under a cloth, and the thump made a pillow from a napkin.
6. Mina made them a bed from a folded dishcloth. She placed it on the bottom shelf and whispered, “Rest now. You have been busy all day.” The cupboard seemed to grow quieter.
7. Mina closed the cupboard until only a little golden line remained. The pipes gave one soft sigh. The floorboard gave one tiny creak. Then the house settled down.
8. In the morning, the house began again. Creak, clink, sigh, and thump came out to work. Mina smiled from her bed. The house sounded friendly instead of strange.
Make a story like this →
