Alijah is a little boy. He is kind and brave. He lives in a cozy house with soft rugs and a squeaky door.
Today, Alijah hears a tiny “plink!” in the kitchen.
He looks.
A small gold key is on the floor.
Alijah picks it up. “Oh! Key!”
A gentle voice says, “Hello.”
A Princess steps from behind the curtain. She is small and shiny, like a picture in a storybook. She smiles.
“I lost my music box key,” she says.
Alijah holds up the key. “This?”
The Princess claps. “Yes! But… where is my music box?”
Alijah thinks. He is careful. He is smart.
“Let’s look in the house,” he says.
They walk to the living room.
Tip-tap. Tip-tap.
They peek under the couch.
Dust bunnies wiggle.
“No box,” says Alijah.
They go to Alijah’s room.
There are blocks. A teddy. A little drum.
The Princess points. “Maybe in the toy basket?”
Alijah reaches in.
He pulls out a sock.
He pulls out a spoon.
He pulls out… a squeaky duck.
“Quack!” says the duck.
The Princess giggles. “Silly duck!”
No music box.
Then—knock knock.
The front door shakes.
A Bounty Hunter stands outside. He has a big hat and a jingling belt.
“I’m looking for a Princess thing,” he says.
The Princess hides behind Alijah.
Alijah stands tall. “No. This is our house.”
The Bounty Hunter sniffs. “I hear a jingle-jingle.”
Alijah whispers, “Quiet, Princess.”
The Princess holds her breath.
Alijah sees the Bounty Hunter’s shoe lace is untied.
Alijah points. “Your lace! Uh-oh!”
The Bounty Hunter looks down. “Huh?”
Alijah gently closes the door. Click.
Alijah and the Princess listen.
Footsteps go away. Clomp… clomp… gone.
The Princess sighs. “Thank you, brave boy.”
Now they search again.
Alijah hears a faint sound.
Tink… tink…
It comes from the hallway closet.
The closet is dark.
Alijah feels a tiny shiver.
The Princess takes his hand. “We can do it together.”
Alijah opens the closet. Creeeak.
Inside are coats, a scarf, and a shoe box.
The shoe box is humming: mmm-mm.
Alijah lifts the lid.
There it is—a pretty music box with a moon on top.
The Princess smiles wide. “My music box!”
Alijah gives her the gold key.
The Princess puts it in. Turn, turn.
The music box plays a sweet tune.
La-la… la-la…
The house feels warm, like a hug.
Even the dust bunnies seem to dance.
The Princess says, “You helped me. I have a gift.”
She opens a tiny pouch.
Inside are bright stickers shaped like stars and hearts.
“And a little toy crown,” she adds.
Alijah’s eyes go big. “For me?”
“For you,” says the Princess.
Alijah puts on the toy crown. It fits just right.
Outside, far away, the Bounty Hunter hears the music.
He stops.
He smiles a little.
“Okay,” he mutters. “Not today.”
Alijah and the Princess sit on the rug.
They play the music box again.
La-la… la-la…
Alijah pats the crown and laughs.
In his house, he feels safe, brave, and happy.