A Heart Still Beats

A Heart Still Beats

Mrs. Gray was angry with Thumbelina. “ You were very rude to run away, ” she scolded. “ I was upset, ” said Thumbelina. She could not forget about Pete lying in the tunnel. “ Over a silly bird?” said Mrs. Gray. She refused to talk to Thumbelina all day.

That night she went to bed early and left Thumbelina alone. “ Poor Pete, ” Thumbelina wept. “ I can’t leave him lying there as if no one cares. ” Thumbelina grabbed one of Mrs. Gray’s blankets. “ Pete was my friend. He should be covered with something, ” she thought.

She picked up the lantern and quietly opened the back door. She walked down the tunnel to Pete. Thumbelina’s heart hurt when she saw Pete lying there. “ I remember you bringing me this string, ” she said. Then she untied it from his leg. Thumbelina covered her friend with the blanket and sat next to him.

She looked up at the hole in the tunnel. “ The stars are beautiful, Pete, ” she whispered. “ But you won’t ever see them again. ” Thumbelina started to weep and laid her head on his chest. She heard a faint sound under Pete’s feathers. Boom. Thumbelina listened hard.

Boom. The sound was getting stronger. BOOM. Pete’s heart was still beating. “ He’s alive! Pete! ” Thumbelina almost shouted. “ Where am I?” Pete said, slowly opening his eyes. “ Is that you, Thumbelina?”