Behind the Banana Leaves
The jungle was quiet and cool tonight. A round silver moon shone through the tall trees. Blue fireflies floated above the slow river. It was time for the moonlight party. Ellie the little elephant stood behind big green leaves. She loved music with all her heart. The crickets hummed a sweet bedtime song. The warm wind rustled soft grass. Ellie swayed her long grey trunk gently. She wanted to dance with her jungle friends. But Ellie looked at her wide grey feet. She felt far too big and heavy. "Little animals dance so softly," she whispered to herself. Her big ears drooped low with sadness. Her heart wished she could float like a leaf. Around the clearing, the happy party started to glow. Animals began to tap their paws together. Ellie stayed behind the leaves and watched quietly. Then, a brown tail swung down from a vine right near her trunk.
Hops and Flutters
Milo the monkey dropped down to the moss. Pip the parrot landed on his head. "Come dance, Ellie!" Milo chattered with a smile. Milo leaped high into the air. He showed Ellie how to hop on one foot. Pip flapped his bright rainbow wings fast. "Flutter light like a feather!" sang Pip. Ellie took a slow breath and tried. She lifted her feet and hopped. Thump! Her heavy feet shook the soft moss. She flapped her huge grey ears. Whoosh! A big breeze blew Pip backwards. Ellie stopped and curled her trunk. She could not hop like a quick monkey. She could not flutter like a little bird. Her cheeks felt warm and she looked down. "I am too big to dance," Ellie whispered sadly. Milo scratched his fuzzy ear and Pip tucked his wings. Neither friend knew what to do next. Just then, Flora the flamingo stepped onto the moonlit path.
The Hollow Log
Flora the flamingo walked softly on long pink legs. She looked like a flower in the moonlight. "Do not worry, Ellie," Flora said gently. "Dancing is all about balance and grace." Flora stood tall on one thin foot. She pointed her pink toes and spun slowly. Ellie watched the smooth turn with wide eyes. Ellie tried to lift her left foot high. She tried to balance on three round legs. But her tummy was round and heavy. She swayed to the left and swayed to the right. Thud! Her front foot dropped down hard onto a hollow log. Boom! The old log made a deep, hollow sound. The warm noise rolled through the sleepy forest. The river frogs went quiet to listen. The fireflies blinked in time with the sound. Ellie blinked her big eyes in surprise. The deep sound felt cozy in her chest. Slowly, Ellie lifted her other heavy foot above the moss.
