Queen Neena and the Whispering Woods
by
Thomas
A story about Sadness
for your 1st Grader.
Queen Neena walked into the deep, green woods. She looked around and noticed how still it felt. Usually, she heard birds singing and leaves dancing. Today, there was only quiet.
Small, bright mushrooms glowed near the base of an old oak tree. Drops of dew sparkled on their tops like little jewels.
“Where are the happy sounds?” Queen Neena whispered. She raised her hands, hoping to greet a friendly bird. But no bird landed. Her heart felt heavy, like a stone.
Queen Neena took a step forward. Each step felt slower than before, as if her feet were stuck in mud. She did not feel excited. She felt sad, though she did not know why.
“Why am I feeling this way?” Queen Neena asked aloud. “Maybe I just need to share my sadness. I have heard that talking can help.”
The trees stood all around Queen Neena. They seemed to listen, their branches arching low. She imagined them whispering back, telling her it was okay to feel sad sometimes.
“I will try,” Queen Neena said. She took a deep breath, then told the woods about her sadness. Her voice trembled, but she felt a tiny bit lighter with each word.
An old tree stump rested beside a small clearing, shaped like a little chair. Its rings told stories of many years gone by.