The Little Light on the Stairs
The rain stopped. Mila shook the drops from her sleeves. The sky was washed clean. The clouds smelled like wet wool and warm bread. Mo came up the soft white stairs. He came slow. Something small glowed by Mila's feet. It was a little light, round as a plum.
Mila picked the little light up. It was warm. It smelled like rain and honey. She held it in both hands. She showed it to Mo. "Here, you hold the little light," she said. Mo took it on his shell. He held it very still.
Mo carried the light up the stairs. Slow, slow, slow went Mo. The light rolled on his olive shell. Mila walked beside him. The wind smelled sweet and cold. The clouds turned pink under her feet. Up and up they went. The stairs were soft as wool.
The light slipped off Mo's shell. It rolled. Mila ran and caught it in her hands. "I have you," she said. She held it to her cheek. It smelled like rain and honey again. Mo blinked at her. Mila laughed a small laugh. Then they climbed again.
At the top sat a round cloud lamp. The lamp was dark inside. Mila reached up high. "Here, you hold the little light," she said. She set the light in the lamp. The lamp began to glow. Mo watched it. Mila watched it too.
The glow spread over the clouds. Pink, then gold, then soft grey. The whole sky smelled like rain and honey. The lamp hummed a small hum. It was warm up there. Mila yawned a big yawn. Mo yawned too. His eyes closed halfway.
Mila lay down on the soft cloud. Mo lay down beside her. The lamp glowed over them both. "Here, you hold the little light," Mila whispered. Mo put his flipper in her hand. She held on. The sky went quiet. The clouds breathed in and out.
