Mina and the Star Key, Part 3: A Cloud in a Jar

Mina and the Star Key, Part 3: A Cloud in a Jar

The Story Begins

The evening was quiet and soft. Beyond the windows, the sky was turning blue, and drops from watering sparkled in the garden. Mina stood by the greenhouse in her yellow cardigan, looking at the large green leaves that touched the glass.

"You can stay outside a little longer," Mama called from the doorway. "Then we’ll go in."

"All right, Mama," Mina replied.

Just then, something moved gently in her pocket. It was the little silver star key. It did not jingle loudly. It only rustled softly against the pocket cloth.

Piko flew out from behind Mina’s hair and settled on her shoulder. His round little body glowed with warm golden light.

"The little key is wriggling," he buzzed. "Maybe the evening is tickling it."

Mina smiled. She already knew that the star key did not open ordinary doors. Sometimes it found doors so tiny that no one else would even notice them.

Near the greenhouse window, she suddenly saw a narrow little door. It was hidden behind a large pot of mint. It had a round handle, and a tiny cloud was painted on the wood.

"Ah," Mina said softly. "There you are."

She slipped the star key into the little keyhole. The key turned with a gentle chime. The door opened a crack, and damp air drifted out, smelling of rain and leaves.

Behind the door was no dark hallway. There was a small, cosy space full of plants. Leaves hung from the ceiling like green ribbons. Empty flowerpots stood on shelves, and a wooden table stood by the window.

Piko tilted his head.

"Something is hiding," he whispered.

On the table stood a large glass jar with a lid. Inside, a tiny white cloud was huddled. It was round like a puff of cotton wool. Its edges trembled gently.

Mina crouched beside the jar.

"Hello," she said. "I’m Mina. This is Piko."

The cloud drew itself even farther into the middle of the jar.

"Don’t disturb me," it muttered in a thin voice. "There’s too much wind outside."

"But the wind isn’t blowing very much here," Mina said.

"Maybe it will," said the cloud. "And if I fly out, I’ll get lost. The sky is so big."

Piko was about to say something, but Mina raised a finger. Not to hush him. She simply wanted to listen first.

She sat on a low chair beside the table. For a little while, no one spoke. From inside the jar came a quiet whooo, whooo. The cloud turned slowly around and around.

"You don’t have to go outside straight away," she said after a while.

"I don’t?" A tiny white bit of cloud peeped out.

"No," Mina nodded. "We can just sit here."

Later, one long fern leaf moved behind the greenhouse glass. Then another. A very gentle evening breeze began to blow, and the leaves started to rustle.

Shh, shh, shh.

The cloud stopped trembling.

Mina did not move. She only watched carefully. When the leaves grew still, the little puff curled in on itself again. When they rustled once more, a peaceful white mist spread through the jar.

"Do you like hearing that?" she asked.

"Leaves know how to whisper," the cloud replied. "When they whisper, the sky doesn’t seem quite so big."

Piko fluttered near the window so quietly that his wings barely made a sound.

"Maybe the leaves could whisper closer," he suggested.

Mina opened the window only a tiny crack. Fresh air came in, but it was not strong. It brought the scent of mint and a gentle rustling.

When Things Start to Change

Shh, shh, shh.

Then the little girl carefully moved the jar closer to the window with both hands. She did not do it quickly. First, only a little. She stopped. A moment later, she moved the jar a little more.

"Is this good?" she asked.

"A little closer," the cloud whispered.

Mina moved the jar only a finger’s width. Now it stood right by the window. Outside, the leaves swayed, and their shadows danced across the glass.

The cloud stretched into a small, soft line.

"I’d like to have a look," it said. "But the lid is closed."

Mina looked at the lid. She could have lifted it all the way. But the cloud might have been frightened. So she lifted it only a little, just enough to make a narrow gap.

"You can come out with just your nose," she said with a smile. "If you have a cloud nose."

Piko giggled. "Clouds are all noses. And bellies. And fluff."

A thin wisp of mist slipped out of the jar. It stopped right beside the lid.

"Am I outside?" asked the cloud.

"A little," Mina said. "And you can stay a little longer, too."

The wisp drifted towards the window. Just then, the leaves rustled softly. The cloud dared to stretch farther out. First came a little puff, then a soft strip, and at last the whole cloud came out of the jar.

For a moment, it hung in the air above the table. Neither Mina nor Piko moved. They only breathed slowly with it.

"I’m not flying away!" cried the cloud, then quickly lowered its voice. "I mean… not yet."

"You can go slowly," Mina said.

The cloud drifted towards the open window. There, it was welcomed by the shh, shh, shh of green leaves. Above the greenhouse, there was no huge, empty sky. There were the first stars, a thin moon, and peaceful blue clouds.

At last, the tiny cloud floated higher. It did not hurry. A soft, damp trail lingered in the air behind it. One round drop fell onto a flower by the greenhouse that was hanging its head.

The drop chimed as it touched the ground. The flower slowly lifted itself, and light gleamed on its leaves.

"It had a drink," Mina said happily.

Piko buzzed contentedly. "The flower wanted a little water too."

The cloud was already floating among the other evening clouds. It turned around once more, as if to wave, and then disappeared into the soft blue sky.

Mina closed the window, put the lid back on the empty jar, and walked towards the little door. But near the grass, she noticed something strange. A tiny silver drop lay between the blades.

It glowed ever so softly.

The little girl watched it for a moment. Then she slipped the star key back into her pocket. Piko settled on her shoulder, and his light felt pleasantly warm.

"Mina?" Mama called from the house. "It’s time to come in."

"I’m coming!" Mina answered.

When she looked back one last time, the silver drop gave one more gentle sparkle in the grass.