Leila's torch lay half under her pillow. The room smelled like clean sheets and leftover toast crumbs. Soft rustling came from under her bed — RUSTLE — then a tiny sigh. Leila sat up as her tomato-red bobble hat flopped over one ear. "Who's there?" she asked, but nobody answered. She swung her feet to the floor, and the rustle stopped cold. Something under the bed wanted her to notice.
Leila clicked on her torch, and a bright circle slid under the bed. Two round eyes blinked back, and she froze. One soft tap on the floor drew the eyes closer. Two louder taps sent them scooting away. "Huh — you like soft sounds," she said. A whisper of "Hello" brought the eyes nearer as something fluffy shifted in the beam.
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Leila reached too fast, and her elbow knocked a book — THUNK. The fluffy shape shot backward into deep shadows. "No — wait!" she cried, then covered her mouth. A tiny whimper rose as dust puffed, and Leila's knees shook. She stayed anyway. Soft as socks, she said, "I scared you, and I won't yell." Silence stretched until one small paw appeared.
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Leila practiced a silent "Heh-llo" on her own palm first. Then she tried it aloud, barely a breath. The creature inched forward on fur like warm lint. "I'm Leila — what's your name?" she asked. A small voice like wind under a door answered, "Mumble." She grinned so wide her cheeks ached. "Hello, Mumble," she said, and he copied her: "Heh… llo."
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Mumble lifted both stubby paws into the torch light. On the wall a rabbit hopped, then a bird, then a wobbly dragon. Leila snickered at the dragon's droopy wings. "Your turn," he squeaked. She shaped her hands into a clumsy cat. He fixed one ear with a paw tip. Shadows danced across her tomato-red hat and the bedroom wall.
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Leila slid back under her blanket. Mumble curled in the soft gap where the bed met the wall. "Goodnight, Mumble," she whispered. "Heh-llo… goodnight," he answered, proud of both words. She switched the torch off, then on once more for one last rabbit shadow. The torch went dark, and the house settled. Outside a night bird called while fur rose and fell in tiny breaths under the bed.
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