Tiawa's Arc

Chapter 1 of 2

Tiawa wanted one thing: to play the happy song in the kitchen. Tiawa was a small orange letter o, round and bright, and the xylophone made Tiawa glow. But right now Tiawa sat at the bottom of a big silver bowl, and Tiawa was crying. The bowl was deep and smooth. Tiawa had rolled in to reach a sunbeam. Now the sides curved up too high. Every time Tiawa pushed, Tiawa slid back down. Tears pooled on the cold metal. Then a shadow leaned over the rim. Someone set a tiny xylophone inside the bowl, right beside Tiawa. The mallet rolled against Tiawa's side. The shadow said nothing and slipped away. Tiawa stared at it. A xylophone in a bowl was a joke. Tiawa could not play the happy song trapped down here. The kitchen was far away, past the door, somewhere bright. Tiawa cried harder. But the mallet was warm in Tiawa's grip. Tiawa gave up climbing and tapped one bar. A clear note rang out. It bounced off the curved walls and came back twice as loud. Tiawa sat up. The bowl was not a trap. The bowl was a drum. Tiawa struck three bars fast, and the sound shook the metal. The bowl buzzed under Tiawa. Tiawa played faster, and the bowl began to hum and rock. Tiawa leaned into the motion. The bowl tipped onto its edge and spun. Tiawa held the xylophone tight as the whole thing rolled. The bowl rolled off the shelf. It bounced once, loud, and landed upright on the floor. The tip knocked Tiawa clear. Tiawa tumbled out onto cool stone, dizzy but free, the xylophone still clutched close. Tiawa looked up. A huge cyan castle rose ahead, carved from glowing crystal. Bright banners and party lights hung across its towers. Through the open front doors, Tiawa saw warm firelight and a long table. That was a kitchen. That was where the happy song belonged. Tiawa was out of the bowl. But Tiawa was outside the castle now, not inside it. Between Tiawa and the kitchen stood the tall front doors, and they were far bigger than any bowl. Tiawa wiped away the last tear, gripped the mallet, and rolled toward the glowing gate.