Music and a Quiet Moment

A woodpecker, a bird that hits wood to make sounds, played music on a branch. A squirrel, a small animal with a long tail, asked him to play for her dance at an autumn party.

Her dance ended with three small steps, a turn, and a high jump.

At first, the woodpecker made many different sounds without stopping. The squirrel moved too fast and fell into some leaves.

She said there was too much music. He played more quietly, but he still never stopped. She could not find a time to jump.

The woodpecker had worked hard for weeks. He worried that fewer sounds would make him seem less good at playing.

Then he asked her to dance without music. She took three steps, turned, and waited a moment before jumping.

He wanted to play during that moment. But she explained that it was part of her dance, even when her feet were not moving.

They tried again. He played for her steps and turn, then stopped. She jumped in the quiet.

At the party, he played less. Everyone watched her jump. She landed just as he hit the wood one last time.

Everyone started clapping. He was ready to play more, but then he stopped and let them clap.