Deep in the Whispering Woods lived a bear named Bramble. He was a big, sturdy bear with fur the color of chocolate. He had a very special scarf—a long, chunky, knitted scarf in colors of forest green and mustard yellow. It went around his neck once, and twice, and the tassels hung down like long, soft fingers.
Most animals in the woods like to run. They go zoom and zip! But not Bramble. Bramble liked to go... slow. One sun-shiny morning, Bramble decided to have a parade. Can you say a parade? But this was a special parade. It only had one rule: you must walk with happy, slow feet.
Bramble started to walk. Thump. Pause. Thump. Pause. His big amber eyes twinkled. He listened to the trees. The leaves went 'Shhh, shhh.' Bramble’s tassels went 'Swish, swish.' It felt very good.
Suddenly, along came Skitter the Squirrel. Skitter was very fast! He went patter-patter-patter! He was so fast he went—Bum!—right into Bramble’s soft, woolly scarf.
'Slow down, Little Skitter,' Bramble said with a voice like warm honey. 'We are listening to the hidden music. Can you hear it?'
Skitter stopped. He wiggled his nose. He took a big breath of the piney air. He tried a slow step. Crunch! He tried another. Crunch! It sounded like a tiny drum.
Then came Pip the Bluejay. Pip was very noisy! 'Squawk! Squawk!' she cried, flapping her wings. Pip was in a big hurry. She tried to fly over them but—Puf!—she landed right on Bramble’s sturdy shoulder.
'Hush, Little Pip,' Bramble whispered. 'Listen to the wind. It’s singing a sleepy song.' Pip tucked in her wings. She looked at the green and yellow scarf. She decided to walk on her little bird feet. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Even a sleepy Hedgehog joined in. He looked like a slow-moving pebble. Tiny feet on the soft moss made a sound like 'Pitter-pat, pitter-pat.'
They all walked together. Bramble led the way, his big scarf swaying. They weren't in a hurry to get anywhere. They were just happy to be right here. They listened to the 'Crackle-pop' of a dry twig. They felt the 'Whoosh' of the cool breeze.
The sun started to go down, turning the sky a soft, sleepy pink. The parade reached the Great Root-Resting Spot. It was a place with very soft grass and old, kind trees.
Bramble sat down. He was a big, warm mountain of fur. Skitter the Squirrel curled up in a fold of the mustard scarf. Pip the Bluejay snuggled into the emerald wool. Even the little Hedgehog found a cozy spot.
Everything was quiet. Everything was still. Bramble let out a big, happy sigh. 'Ahhh.'
The parade was over, but the friendship was just beginning. It was the best, slowest, happiest day in the Whispering Woods. And that’s how it all turned out just right.