Tully and the Two Little Tings
When Tully discovers a mushroom with a marvelous ring, forest teatime becomes quite an event. But can she make room for a badger who prefers his afternoons quiet?
✨ Make a Storybook FreeA MayaLili Original · ages 3-5 · free to read and print
Tully found the mushroom beside a mossy stump. Its golden cap had one tiny dimple. “Just right for my hammer,” she said, lifting her twig. Tap. DING! A leaf trembled. Tully’s whiskers wiggled. “Oh! You’re not a mushroom. You’re a teatime bell!”
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Tully found the mushroom beside a mossy stump. Its golden cap had one tiny dimple. “Just right for my hammer,” she said, lifting her twig. Tap. DING! A leaf trembled. Tully’s whiskers wiggled. “Oh! You’re not a mushroom. You’re a teatime bell!”
Tully wanted company for tea. She tapped again. DING! From all over the forest came fluttering, pattering guests. She poured berry tea into little blue cups. There were oat crumbs, too. A beetle sat on the biggest crumb. “Saved you a seat!” Tully told a robin.
Then the ferns rustled. Out came a badger, wearing a very crumpled frown. “I like silence,” he grumbled. “Your ringing bounced straight through my nap.” Tully lowered her twig. She had wanted everyone to come—not everyone to wake. “Could we try something smaller?” she asked.
Next afternoon, Tully waited until teatime. She barely touched the golden cap. Ting. Ting. Two little notes, soft as teaspoons kissing. The badger opened one eye. “That’s all?” “That’s all,” said Tully. “And only at teatime.” He sniffed. “Is that warm blackberry bread?”
Soon the badger had his own blue cup—and the corner slice. “I sleep better now,” he admitted. Tully blinked. “With a bell?” “With something to wake up for.” He brushed a crumb from his waistcoat. “Tomorrow,” he added, “save me another corner.”