Emi’s close friend, Cece, was a super playful little Shih Tzu pup. Her absolute favourite thing was zooming across the grassy fields to chase birds, and she loved spinning around and around in circles around tiny Emi. However, Cece was nowhere to be seen today! Emi and her parents were deeply puzzled, so they set off to look for her everywhere.
The grassy meadow Cece loved so much was still as lush and green as ever. The breeze blew softly, and birds fluttered by, but nobody saw a trace of her. Under the giant trees, among the blossom groves, there wasn’t a single paw print of Cece to be found.
Having searched all over with no luck, Emi began to worry a little. Her eyebrows knitted together ever so gently as she whispered, “Cece is gone!”
Papa patted Emi’s head gently and said, “Maybe Cece is a bit tired today, or perhaps she just wasn’t in the mood to go out. How about we visit her home to check?”
Mama gave Emi’s cheek a tender kiss, “Don’t worry, my sweet. We will surely find Cece.”
And so, holding hands under the bright, warm sunshine, Papa and Mama walked together with Little Emi toward Cece’s home. Unlike Emi’s home—since Emi and many of her friends lived in the Oak Forest—Cece lived in a secret little place called the “Burrow Base.” It was a cosy small cavern dug right beneath an ancient weeping willow. The entrance was blanketed with bright orange and red mushrooms, alongside endless clusters of bluebells. It was a home that both Cece and Emi’s family adored!
Passing through the bluebell forest, they finally arrived at Cece’s home. Stepping slowly inside the “Burrow Base,” they noticed the soft, flickering light of tiny candles, but even after looking all around, Cece was still nowhere in sight. Just as Papa was about to speak, Emi called out: “Cece! Cece!”
At her call, the three of them held their breath. Their focus shifted instantly from their eyes to their ears, standing completely still like tiny deer, listening intently for the faintest sound.
“Emi?”
The moment Emi heard it, she knew it was Cece responding, and she immediately knew where the voice was coming from! She quickly ran toward the sound. But as Emi ran with excitement, a basket right in front of her wobbled ever so slightly. Emi stopped in her tracks, watching closely. The basket wiggled for another half-second, and then, Cece popped her little head out from inside. She asked again, “Emi? You’re here?”
Emi was overjoyed! She instantly leaped into the basket—no, she jumped right onto Cece’s tiny nose!
Cece giggled uncontrollably, “Hahaha! That tickles so much, I’m going to sneeze!”
Hearing this, Emi quickly scampered up onto Cece’s head, eagerly asking, “Cece, what happened to you today?”
Seeing Emi and Cece reunited so happily, Mama let out a relieved smile and asked, “Cece, were you just too tired to go out today? Emi was so worried about you!”
Cece finally understood why they had come all the way to her home—they were worried about her! Feeling apologetic, she explained, “I am so sorry for making you worry! I’ve been inside this basket all day because I found a bird’s egg yesterday. I don’t know where it fell from, but it isn’t broken at all. So, I’ve been trying to keep it warm with my own body heat to see if I can help the tiny life inside.”
“So that’s why!” Emi’s family exclaimed together.
Afterwards, they sat down to discuss how to successfully help this little egg. Since none of them had any experience, after much earnest discussion, they decided to seek advice from wise Grandpa Matthew. They split into two teams: Cece stayed behind at the base to keep the egg warm, while Emi and her parents did everything they could to contact Grandpa Matthew, who was away on a trip, while also asking their other friends for help.
After all, for the sake of that tiny little life, everyone was ready to do their very best.
The sunshine remained bright, the breeze continued to blow softly, the grass danced gently in the wind, and the birds offered their sweet, melodious songs.
“Tweet, tweet…” Every single chirp was a musical note, high and low, composing the magnificent symphony of life.
Meet Emi & Cece: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/183107369