Pitter-patter, pitter-patter — rain taps on the window. Aaira and Patch the puppy are playing ball indoors, roll and chase, roll and chase. What a cozy afternoon!
Ka-BOOM! Thunder shakes the windows! Patch drops the ball, tucks his tail, and freezes right where he stands. His little ears press flat against his head.
Patch dives under the sofa and shivers in the dark. Only two worried eyes peek out of the shadow. A soft voice asks, "Patch, what's wrong?"
Aaira brings the red ball, then a crunchy biscuit, and sets them down by the sofa. But Patch still won't come out. Not even one little paw.
Then Aaira remembers something. "I used to be scared of thunder too. I hid under my blanket — and having someone close always made it better."
So Aaira builds a soft blanket fort, with cushions inside and twinkly lights at the door. "Patch, look! This is our thunder hideout, just for us."
"It's okay. I'm right here," Aaira whispers, holding out one quiet hand. Little by little, paw by paw, Patch creeps closer to the glowing fort.
BOOM! Thunder again. Aaira holds Patch close and hums a soft, slow song. The fort stays warm and snug — and Patch shivers just a little now.
Patch licks Aaira's cheek — slurp! — and his tail goes wag, wag, wag. Outside, the thunder rumbles farther and farther away, until it's only a sleepy grumble.
The rain stops, and a rainbow stretches across the sky. Inside the fort, two brave friends snuggle up close, warm as toast, fast asleep. What a brave little team.
