lights out

one night

the lights went out.

all at once, the whole house went dark. beanie could not see her own paws.

from across the room

butarro did not move at all.

• butarronothing went anywhere. it's all still here.
• butarrolisten with me.

because of that

beanie crossed the room by listening.

she could not see the way. so she let the house tell her.

1. the rug is softer than the floor. she followed the soft.
2. clang. the rain cup. she froze.
3. tick. tick. the clock lives beside the map.
4. “over here.”

press listen to hear the next sound.

on the rug, in the dark

they sat where the soft was.

• beaniehow do you do this every night?
• butarrothis is just how the house sounds.

until finally

the lights came back on.

beanie kept her eyes closed a little longer.

• beaniei want to hear it a bit more.

ever since

on dark nights, beanie listens first.

the soft rug, the clock by the map, and one quiet bear who is always where he said he would be. the rain cup is back on the shelf. she put it there by feel.

tonight, turn off the light for one minute and listen. what does your room sound like?