Tuca and the Quiet Pond

Tuca the capybara sat in soft grass by the pond. The grass was warm. Tuca was warm too. She took a slow, deep breath. The whole world breathed with her.

A tiny leaf drifted down. It landed on the still water. One small ripple spread out, slow and round. Tuca watched it. She smiled her tiny smile.

She stepped into the pond. The water was warm and soft. Tuca floated. Her toes barely touched the ground. Slow, slow, she drifted out. Everything moved slow with her.

A little otter came near. He could not sit still. "Slow down," said Tuca, soft and low. The otter took a deep breath. His paddling went slow. He floated, calm beside her.

The sky turned dim and gold. The ripples grew small. Tuca floated back to the warm grass. Her eyelids felt heavy now. Hush now, hush now.

The first star came out. Then one more. The pond lay still as glass. Tuca yawned a slow, soft yawn. She nestled in the warm grass. The moon was soft and round.

Slow breath in. Slow breath out. Tuca closed her sleepy eyes. The water hushed. The night was warm. Goodnight, Tuca. Goodnight.