The Smallest Guardians Biggest Moment
Pipsqueak finds his courage and helps a friend in need.
WHIMSICAL CHARM STORY TIME
The Smallest Guardian’s Biggest Moment
Pipsqueak liked the Belfry best when everything was where it ought to be. The great bells hung overhead. The little bells rested beneath them. Moonlight slipped through the windows, laying silver stripes across the stone floor. And Pipsqueak hung upside down from his favourite beam, tucked snugly inside his wings. Then came a sound.
Scritch. Scritch. Clatter. One of his ears twitched. “Old castles make noises,” he whispered. Scritch. Clatter. Ting! Pipsqueak opened one eye. That last sound had come from the little bell beside the far window. He knew because he had polished it that morning. “Probably the wind.” “Hello?” called a tiny voice. Pipsqueak opened both eyes. The wind did not usually say hello.
He unfolded his wings and fluttered down to the nearest railing. “Who’s there?” "Me!” Pipsqueak considered this. It was not a particularly helpful answer. “Which me?” A small brown head appeared behind the little bell. Two bright eyes blinked at him. A young mouse stood on the narrow window ledge. Behind her, the ivy trembled in the breeze. “I climbed up,” she said. “But now I can’t climb down.”
Pipsqueak looked at the ledge. Then he looked at the long drop beneath it. “Oh.” The mouse pressed herself against the stone. “Could you help?” Pipsqueak’s tummy gave a small, uncomfortable flutter. He was good at flying through the Belfry. He could swoop between the bells, circle the beams and land in spaces barely wider than his ears. But helping someone who was frightened? What if he frightened her more? What if he made a mistake?
He glanced towards the stairs. Perhaps there was a larger Guardian nearby. Someone with stronger paws, a louder voice and a much better idea. The mouse shivered. Pipsqueak stayed. “What’s your name?” he asked. “Mallow.” “I’m Pipsqueak.”
“Are you frightened, Pipsqueak?” He nearly said no. Instead, he took a breath. “A little.” Mallow’s whiskers drooped. “But,” he added, “I can stay with you while we work out what to do.” He landed beside her, carefully leaving enough room for her paws. Up close, he spotted something he had missed from the railing: a narrow stone shelf running from the window towards a wooden beam. Beyond the beam was the broad landing at the top of the stairs.
There was a way across. It was simply difficult to see in the dark. “I’m going to check the path,” he told her. “You wait here.” Pipsqueak flew along the shelf. He paused where it met the beam, then followed the wood to the landing. A cobweb brushed his nose. He sneezed.
From the window came the tiniest giggle. “That was very brave,” Mallow said. “The sneeze?” “It sounded enormous.” Pipsqueak smiled. His tummy still fluttered, but he could think a little more clearly now. He returned to the window.
“There’s a shelf beside you. It leads to that beam, and the beam leads to the stairs.” Mallow peered at it. “It looks a long way.” “We can go a little at a time.” Pipsqueak moved just ahead of her. “First, put one paw here.” Mallow did. “Now the next.” The ivy rustled behind them. Mallow froze. Pipsqueak felt himself freeze too. For a moment, neither moved. Then he looked back. “Just the leaves,” he said softly.
Mallow took another step. They travelled along the shelf, past the little bell and onto the wooden beam. Whenever Mallow stopped, Pipsqueak stopped. Whenever she was ready, he moved ahead. At last, her paws touched the broad landing. She hurried to the wall and sat down with a deep sigh. “I did it.” “You did,” said Pipsqueak. “And you helped.”
Once Mallow was safely on her way downstairs, Pipsqueak returned to his favourite beam. The Belfry looked much as it had before. The great bells hung overhead. The little bells rested beneath them. Moonlight striped the floor. But Pipsqueak stayed awake a little longer. He thought about the window ledge, his fluttering tummy and the moment he had nearly gone to find someone else. Then he thought about Mallow’s first small step. Perhaps tomorrow something else would frighten him. If it did, he would take a breath. And see what he could do.
Your own small act of courage
Can you remember a time you felt nervous but tried something anyway?
Draw yourself as a Guardian. Choose a symbol for your courage: a feather, a flower, a lantern—or something entirely your own.
Ready to meet Pipsqueak? His first Guardian chapter is now open. Step into the Belfry and join him in Explore Gothicana.