Three Soft Taps and a Hum

"Shhh, said the snow. Shhh, shhh, shhh." Snow fell on the little cabin high on the mountain. It fell on the roof, soft and slow. It fell on the window, flake on flake. Inside, the fire was warm and the lamp was low.

Kit sat by the window and watched. Kit was a small helper robot. Kit had round blue eyes, two little wheels, and a warm hum inside. Nana Bo sat in her big chair and knitted. Click, click went her needles.

Kit put one hand on the cold glass. The snow made the world pale blue. Kit liked the snow. It was soft and quiet. "Shhh," said Kit, very soft. "Shhh, shhh, shhh."

Then something came up the path. It was a small brown yak. He had a woolly coat and a snowflake on his nose. He stood at the door. Knock, knock, knock.

Nana Bo opened the door. Warm air puffed out. It smelled of wood smoke and cinnamon. "Come in, little one," said Nana Bo. "This is Ivo. He lives down the hill."

Ivo sat by the fire. Kit rolled behind the big chair. Quick as a blink. Kit's words felt stuck, like a pebble in a jar. Kit peeked out. One blue eye. Then the other.

Ivo looked up. "Hello," said Ivo. Kit's words stayed stuck. Kit rolled back behind the chair. Kit's hum went small. It went tiny, like a hum in a pocket.

"Take your time," said Nana Bo, soft as a blanket.

"Shhh, said the snow. Shhh, shhh, shhh."

Nana Bo knitted. Click, click. The fire went crackle, crackle. The snow went shhh.

Kit wanted to say hello. Kit wanted it a lot. Kit rolled out a little bit. Kit's little door went pop. "Pop," said Kit. Then Kit rolled away again.

Roll out. Roll back. Roll out. Roll back. Kit's little wheels went round and round.

Kit tried again. Kit rolled out to the rug. Kit lifted one hand. Tap. Tap. Tap. Three soft taps on the floor.

Ivo lifted one hoof. Tap. Tap. Tap. Three soft taps back. Kit's blue eyes went round and bright.

Kit rolled out more. Out to the rug. Close to Ivo's woolly nose. "Hello," said Kit, small as a whisper. "Hello," said Ivo, warm as the fire.

Kit's hum got bigger. "Mmmm," went Kit. "Mmmm," went Ivo. Two hums made one warm sound, like a little song with no words.

Then Ivo saw the blue blanket. It was soft and small and sleepy. Ivo pulled one corner. Kit pulled the other. "Mine," said Kit. "Mine," said Ivo. Both held on.

Then Kit looked at Ivo's cold toes. Kit looked at the blanket. Kit let go. "Here," said Kit. "You too." Kit tucked the blanket over Ivo. Then Kit tucked it over both of them.

Ivo wiggled his ears. "Friend," said Ivo. Kit's hum went warm and bright. Kit rolled close. Their wheels went bump, soft as a pillow.

Nana Bo brought two little cushions. Plump, plump, down on the rug. Kit sat on one. Ivo sat on the other.

Then came a yawn. "Ahh-ohh," yawned Ivo. Kit yawned too. "Ahh-ohh." The two yawns floated up and mixed with the warm air.

Outside, the moon came up over the mountain. It sat in the window like a round lamp. Snowflakes landed on snowflakes, without a sound.

The lamp went low. The fire went soft and red. The room was warm as a pocket.

Kit and Ivo lay on the rug. The blue blanket covered them both. "Shhh, said the snow. Shhh, shhh, shhh."

Kit's hum went slow. Ivo's eyes went closed. Goodnight, Ivo. Goodnight, Kit. Goodnight, moon at the window. Goodnight, snow.