01 / 12
After the table was cleared
Sefa's cup waited on the table.
It was empty, but when she set it down, it made a small bright sound.
She lifted it a little and set it down again.
There it was.
Back to contents ↑02 / 12
A softer tap
A wooden spoon lay beside the bowl on the shelf.
Sefa brought it over.
She touched it lightly to the cup.
The sound was softer than she expected.
She leaned close and tried once more.
Back to contents ↑03 / 12
A beginning
One tap. A little wait. Two taps.
She liked that.
She did it again, and hummed after the last sound.
The hum rose, then came down.
A tune was beginning to find a shape.
Back to contents ↑04 / 12
Too many sounds
She tapped faster.
Her hum hurried to keep up.
Soon the little tune was crowded.
Sefa stopped with the spoon in the air.
The kitchen seemed very quiet, but only for a moment.
Back to contents ↑05 / 12
Something behind the quiet
A curtain brushed the window frame.
Outside, a bird gave a short call.
Somewhere in the room, a floorboard creaked.
Sefa put the spoon down.
The kitchen had been making its own sounds all along.
Back to contents ↑06 / 12
The curtain's part
She watched the curtain lift and settle.
Her hum grew longer, then rested.
The curtain moved again.
Sefa waited before humming back.
It did not know it had joined her song.
Back to contents ↑07 / 12
Room in the middle
She picked up the spoon.
One tap. A little wait. Two taps.
This time she left a space before the hum.
The space felt like part of the tune.
She tried leaving it there again.
Back to contents ↑08 / 12
A longer ending
Her hum wandered past the place where it had ended before.
It rose a little higher.
Sefa followed it, then brought it gently down.
The empty cup waited on the table.
It did not mind having a smaller part.
Back to contents ↑09 / 12
To the doorway
She left the cup and spoon together.
At the garden door, she tried the tune without them.
The tapping part stayed in her head.
She hummed the spaces too, although nobody else could hear those.
Back to contents ↑10 / 12
An answer
Mama came to the door.
Sefa sang her little tune.
At the pause, Mama hummed a low answer.
Sefa looked up.
That was new.
She began again, leaving the space ready for it.
Back to contents ↑11 / 12
Two parts
Sefa took the higher part.
Mama took the lower one.
Sometimes they met in the middle and laughed.
The song no longer sounded exactly as it had at the table.
Sefa liked the way it had grown.
Back to contents ↑12 / 12
An ordinary cup
Later, Sefa washed the cup and set it on the shelf.
It looked like an ordinary cup again.
Tomorrow it might begin a different tune.
Or it might simply hold water.
That would be something to listen to as well.
Back to contents ↑