The Blue Ribbon Breeze

At the kitchen table, Momma braids Leira’s hair and hums a quiet morning tune while Leira’s favorite blue hair ribbon waits nearby. Then a stray breeze rattles the screen door and whisks the ribbon into the yard. As Momma and Leira listen for the fading hum among the roses, they race to rescue the little blue flutter before it disappears.

Morning light striped the kitchen table. Momma worked three neat sections of Leira's hair between her fingers, humming low and soft. Leira held still, though her toes drummed under the chair. Her favorite blue ribbon waited beside the sugar bowl. "Make it snug, Momma," she said.

Momma's tune went hum-hum-hummm. Leira tapped the ribbon's two V-shaped tails against the table, right along with it. Momma tucked in the last strand. "There. Your braid is ready." Leira reached for the ribbon, just as the screen door gave a tiny shiver.

RATTLE-RATTLE! The screen door banged against its frame. A stray breeze slipped through the open doorway, scooped up the blue ribbon, and spun it past Leira's reaching hand. Its glossy tails flashed once, then fluttered out into the yard. "My ribbon!" Leira cried.

Momma and Leira hurried down the porch steps. The ribbon bobbed over the grass ahead of them. "Listen," Momma said. Under the rattle of leaves came a thin, fading hum. It sounded almost like Momma's kitchen tune, and it drifted toward the roses.

The blue ribbon dipped behind the rosebush and vanished. Momma paused by the porch. "Maybe the screen door is still humming." Leira crouched beside the roses. "No. The sound is in here." The tune tickled through the leaves, where the breeze could still reach.

Leira parted two rose branches. There it was! The blue ribbon had snagged low in the bush. Each breeze brushed its satin against the rose leaves. Hum-hum-hummm. That was the sound. "It's making Momma's tune!" Leira said. Another gust tugged the ribbon toward the far side.

"There!" Leira pointed through the rose leaves. Momma reached carefully between the branches and scooped the fluttering ribbon into her palm before the breeze could pull it free. The cornflower blue lay still against her hand. Leira clapped once. "You got it!"

Back at the kitchen table, Leira looped the rescued ribbon around Momma's hair and tied a careful bow. Momma hummed the morning tune again, softer now. She touched the blue bow and said, "Mommy loves you always!" Leira leaned against her shoulder and hummed along.