After days of hazy, drowsy heat, one evening brought wind, thunder, and a bit of rain. And the following morning dawned clear, cool, and breezy, the sort of almost-fall weather that made everyone want to skip the day’s chores and run outside to play.

Following breakfast, Mama Chipmunk’s grandchildren bounced off to the woods, carrying the kites they’d pieced together (twigs, fallen flower petals, discarded cicada wings, string) in the hope of a day such as this. As they neared the forest meadow, they called to their friends — Squirrel’s nieces and nephews, and Mouse’s children — to join them for kite-flying.

(Early September 2024)

Story © Jennifer McClain Singleton / Read+Purr

This is another vignette in my ongoing series of Tiny Garden Stories: peaceful 1-minute tales that let you read like a kid again. Click one of the first two buttons below to go to (or back to, if that’s where you fell down the rabbit hole) either the “Public Garden” archive page or (if you’re a Story Club member) to the members-only “Private Garden” page. Or click the third button to learn more about my Tiny Garden Stories.

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