This is Rhea. Welcome to Little Stories for Tiny People. Today's episode is the last

story in season one of the podcast. I'll be taking the next few months off to write

more stories for you. Big people, if you haven't already, please listen to the brief

episode entitled A Message to Parents. Today's episode is a little more musical than our other

stories. So today I'm joined by my superbly musical friend, Carson, the cricket, and

his band, the cricket players. The cricket players communicate solely through their music.

They've been setting up for the last couple of minutes and tuning their instruments,

but Carson is giving me... Yup, he's giving me the thumbs up. Okay, I think they're ready.

So Carson, cricket players, give me an idea of just how excited you are about today's story.

Ooh, let's give Carson a little round of applause. That was lovely. You sound intrigued

about the story. I'm really wondering what you'll think of it. So, Tiny People and Carson

and cricket players, let's listen to our musical story over this swing. Remember, since

there are no pictures, you'll have to imagine the pictures in your mind. Or you can draw

your own illustrations as you listen. Okay, here we go.

Maya's mom was always singing. She hummed while she filled the crock-bot every morning.

She harmonized along with the top 40 station as she drove Maya to school. The weekend, she

spent repainting the living room upright, welcoming blue. The house was alive with off-key

Motown hits. Maya's mom didn't just love to sing. It was as if she had to sing. And Maya got tired

of it. Mom, could you please stop singing for a little while? Maya asked politely. Oh, was

I doing it again? Her mom asked for the puzzle look on her face. Yes, yes, you were.

Up, I didn't even notice. Sorry, honey. And for several delicious moments, Maya soaked

up the silence. But then... And the humming eventually led to full-on singing. Maya just

...