could finally remove the cotton from her ears. Here, away from the
noises of the palace, she felt at ease.
Sweet-smelling purple lilac trees swaying in soft evening breezes
lined the queen’s walk around the palace pond. Royal frogs lay fast
asleep on pink lily pads as she admired the moon’s reflection on the
pond’s surface. For the first time all day, Queen Minbe could enjoy
silence with her ears free of cotton. She stretched the knots out of them
and sighed. Freedom from palace noises chased her headache away. She
glanced upward at stars twinkling peacefully above. All was still, but
for a single cricket’s evening serenade.
In the moon-bright garden stood a venerable ginkgo tree gnarled with
age. On one low branch rested Cricket, enjoying the evening. Flapping
her ears, Queen Minbe listened to its gentle song and sighed. “It would
be perfectly peaceful, but for this bold cricket’s tune,” she whispered.
Others heard Cricket’s bright melody, too. Hunger prowled near the
harmless songster. A gecko crept up the same tree searching for supper.
Gecko hugged itself in delight, seeing the carefree cricket singing on the
moonlit branch. Its attention was so fixed upon Cricket, Gecko had no
idea another danger was near. For perched higher in the same tree sat
Owl, who had just spread its silent wings, preparing to swoop down
for a dinner of gecko.
The queen’s bodyguard, Chun-So, had heard the queen’s
whisperedwish.AsOwleyedGeckoandGeckocreptnear
MAYBE NOT IF YOU
HAVE ELEPHANT EARS.HEY! A CRICKET’S
CHIRPING IS BEAUTIFUL!