Little Owl and the Quiet Kind of Brave

Chapter 1: Come Home

Little Owl had practised her song eleven times.

Once beside the kitchen window.

Twice behind the curtains.

Three times to a row of pine cones.

And five times to Grandpa, who listened carefully even when she sang the middle bit backwards.

Tomorrow, she would sing at the woodland lantern gathering.

Tonight, she wished she had chosen to carry napkins instead.

“What if everyone looks at me?” she asked.

Grandpa folded a clean scarf.

“They probably will while you’re singing.”