Tinkling Box

A tiny brass key stuck straight out from the side of a polished wooden box resting on the low shelf! Quick-quick, I lunged forward on floppy limbs and threw both long blue arms all the way around the carved chest—*hhuuuh*—locking my yellow paws tight over the winding tab! With one sudden sideways heave of my whole weight, the metal gave a sharp *crrrk-clack*! Then—*ting-plink-tang*! A clear, chiming music box melody started fluttering right beneath my chin! The hidden gears vibrated like tiny clockwork bees against my fluff. I squeezed the singing wood tight to my chest, letting out a raspy, breathy squeeak into the morninggg!