Clover's Big Whistle

Clover's Big Whistle

1High on a rocky mountain slope lived a young pika named Clover. Pikas are small, round animals, and they call to each other with sharp, high whistles. Clover had a strong whistle, but she almost never used it. She was so shy that she did not like anyone to look at her.

2One morning, Clover's cousins played a whistling game on the big flat rock. "Your turn, Clover!" called her cousin Basil. Clover's ears grew hot. She shook her head and hid behind a pile of dry grass. Basil shrugged, and the game went on without her.

3Clover liked to spend her afternoons alone on a quiet ledge high above the others. From there, she watched the sky and the slopes below. She noticed things that no one else did, like a beetle on a far stone or a cloud shaped like a fish.

4One sunny afternoon, Clover was sitting on her ledge when a dark shadow slid across the rocks. She looked up and saw a hawk circling in the sky. Down below, Basil and the others were busy gathering flowers. None of them had seen the hawk.

5Clover's heart pounded. If she whistled, everyone would look at her. But if she stayed quiet, her family would be in danger. Clover filled her chest with air and let out the loudest whistle she had ever made. At once, every pika dashed under the rocks. The hawk circled one more time and flew away.

6That evening, the whole family gathered around Clover. "Your whistle kept us safe," said Grandma Fern. Basil grinned and asked Clover to go first in the next whistling game. This time, Clover said yes. She stood up tall and felt proud of her voice.