The Attic by the Snow
Sunlight warmed the attic floor. Golden dust floated in the quiet air. Outside the window, snow covered the wide field. It looked like a soft white blanket. Penny the squirrel sat near a big player. The machine had shiny metal reels. Penny loved music. Her grandmother, Grandma Hazel, sang sweet lullabies every evening. But Grandma was getting old and tired. Penny wanted to keep Grandma's sleepy songs safe forever. Penny’s mouse friend, Pip, trotted across the wooden boards. Pip carried two empty plastic spools. "We can make a music catcher," Penny said. Pip wiggled his pink nose. "Can we really save her voice?" Penny nodded her fluffy head. "Yes, we can tape every gentle word." Trunks of old clothes stood in neat rows. Colorful wool scarves and cozy coats rested inside them. Penny wanted to find good ribbon to fix the player.
The Snapped Ribbon
Penny lifted a shiny blue cloth from the trunk. Inside lay a box of old cassette ribbons. The thin brown strips looked like sweet tea. "This ribbon is very light," Pip said. Penny carefully looped the ribbon around the round reel. Her small paws worked very slowly. She pulled the brown strip across the metal guide. Pip held the side wheel steady. Click. Penny pressed the round red button. The reels began to turn. Whir, whir, squeak. Suddenly, the thin strip pulled tight. Snap! The dry ribbon broke in two. Penny’s fluffy tail drooped down. Her ears leaned back. The broken ribbon lay still on the wooden floor. "Oh no," whispered Pip. "The ribbon is too old and dry." Penny took a deep breath. She did not give up. She looked around the sunny room again.
A Fresh Spool of Music
Penny reached under the warm woven rug. She pulled out a fresh, sturdy reel of brown tape. The tape felt smooth and strong. "This one will hold the music," Penny said. Pip held the wheel with both front paws. Penny gently guided the tape through each silver peg. She looped it onto the empty wheel. Penny pressed the green button. Click! The wheels spun smoothly. Whir, hum, whir. The tape did not break at all. Just then, Grandma Hazel walked into the sunlit room. She wore her cozy purple shawl. She carried two tiny cups of warm berry tea. "What a lovely sound," Grandma Hazel said softly. She smiled at Penny and Pip. "Grandma, will you sing your bedtime song?" asked Penny. Grandma Hazel sat on a velvet trunk. She rested her paws on her lap.
