The House of Hello

Hello, little one. Do you know where you are?

You are in a little house. The cosiest house there ever was.

It’s round and warm and just your size. The walls are soft. The light is dim and rosy, like the sky just before the sun comes up.

And all day and all night, there’s a sound.

Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum.

That’s a heartbeat. It’s the drum that plays just for you, steady and strong. Ba-dum, ba-dum. It says, “I’m here. I’m here. I’m here.”

You can stretch. You can wriggle. You can hiccup and kick and turn somersaults. This little house holds you, whatever you do.

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Outside the door of your little house, there’s a big house. And the big house is getting ready for you.

In the big house, there’s a cat. She’s curled up on the windowsill, sleepy as anything. Purr, purr, purr. When you come, she’ll sniff your tiny toes and purr hello.

In the big house, there are windows. When it rains, the raindrops go pitter, patter, pitter, patter, tapping on the glass. They’ll say hello too.

And in the big house, there’s a room. Your room. It has soft blankets, folded and waiting. It has toys sitting in a row: a teddy, a rabbit and a little wooden boat.

“Hello, hello,” says the cat.

“Hello, hello,” say the raindrops.

“Hello, hello,” say the blankets and the teddy and the rabbit and the little wooden boat.

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You don’t need to hurry, little one.

Stay warm in your little house for as long as you need. Grow and stretch and dream.

And whenever you’re ready, the door will open, and you’ll step out into the big, bright world.

And there, waiting for you, will be two open arms. Arms to hold you. Arms to rock you. Arms to keep you safe and warm.

And so much love. More love than the whole big house can hold.

All of it, waiting to say…

Hello, little one.

Hello.

The End