The Whispering Floorboard

Starring Defne Fısıltı

Defne Fısıltı believes every creak in her house is a secret waiting to be heard, and she always greets them with a whisper before telling anyone what she's learned. When her grandmother's favorite striped scarf vanishes and the family cat gets blamed, Defne's habit of staying quiet too long lets the mix-up grow into real hurt feelings. She finally breaks her own rule, speaks up before she's ready, and uses her secret listening skill to find the scarf caught in the very floorboard that started it all.

In the house of Defne, every creak has a **name**, Each whisper of wood plays a quiet little **game**. "Hello, little secret," she breathes to the **floor**, "I'll listen real close, then I won't tell no **more**."

Büyükanne calls out, "Where's my scarf, oh so **fine**? The mustard and plum one, all striped in a **line**!" Minnoş the cat gives a curious **stare**, While Defne stays still with her secretive **air**.

"That cat!" says Büyükanne, "He's hidden it **somewhere**!" Minnoş just blinks with an innocent **stare**. But Defne heard something, a creak near the **wall**, Right where the chalk mark sits crooked and **small**.

She kneels by the board where the creaky sound **grew**, But whispers, "Not yet, little secret, shh, **you**." She wants to be certain, she wants to be **sure**, So she waits and she waits while the trouble grows **more**.

Büyükanne shuts Minnoş outside in the **cold**, "No more sneaking!" the grandmother **scolds**. The cat gives a mournful, unhappy little **cry**, And Defne feels tears start to sting in her **eye**.

"Wait!" Defne shouts, though her voice starts to **shake**, "I heard something creaking, a floorboard **mistake**! I wasn't quite sure, so I kept it a **secret**, But Minnoş is innocent, please just believe **it**!"

They pry up the board with a creak and a **groan**, And there is the scarf, all curled up **alone**. It slipped through a crack while the dusting was **done**, Striped mustard and plum, caught by no one but **fun**.

Minnoş comes bounding back in from the **door**, His tail wraps round Defne who's proud to the **core**. She wraps the warm scarf round her grandmother's **neck**, Then whispers, "Next time, little secret, don't **wreck**."