The Sky's Big Drum

BOOM!

Avi jumped. The sky was making its biggest sound.

BOOM! B-B-BOOM!

Avi ran to Papa, quick quick quick, and hid his face.

“Ah,” said Papa, lifting him up. “Do you hear that? The sky has taken out its big drum.”

Avi peeked out with one eye.

“Drum?”

“The biggest drum there is. It only plays it on special nights.” Papa patted his knees. “Come. Let’s drum back.”

So Avi sat on Papa’s lap by the window, and when the sky went BOOM, Avi and Papa went boom boom boom on their knees.

BOOM! said the sky.

Boom boom boom! said Avi.

BOOM! said the sky.

Boom boom BOOM! said Avi, louder, and this time he laughed instead of jumping.

And then — do you know what happened? The rain came. Pitter patter, pitter patter, soft and busy on the window.

“There,” said Papa. “That’s why the sky plays its drum. It’s calling the rain down for the plants. The mango tree is drinking. The tulsi is drinking. All the thirsty gardens say thank you, drum.”

The booms went further and further away. Boom… boom… boom…

The rain sang its small song. Pitter patter. Pitter patter.

Avi’s eyes went slow and heavy against Papa’s chest.

“More drum?” he whispered.

“Another night,” said Papa. “The drum is going to sleep. The rain is tucking it in.”

Pitter patter. Pitter patter. Shhh.

And the boy who drummed back at the sky fell fast asleep.