A strong gust of wind swept down the street. It snatched the red hat right off the girl's head.
The little girl ran barefoot after it, past the shop and past the blue house, past the sunny park. She gripped her empty head with both hands.
At the big banyan tree at the end of the road, she looked up. There it was — perched high on a branch like a bird's nest. She pointed and gasped.
She stretched her arms up and jumped. She could not reach it. She tried again, toes scraping the rough bark. The hat wobbled but would not fall.
Beep beep! A motorbike horn sounded behind her. It was Mama Siti, pushing a basket of laundry. 'Can you help me, Mam?' the girl asked.
Mama Siti stepped onto the wooden step stool by the door and reached high. Her fingers brushed the red brim — then the branch dipped and the hat slipped free!
The red hat fluttered down like a falling leaf and landed softly in the green bushes below. The girl held her breath.
Milly dove into the bush, her small hands closing around the warm cotton. She pulled the red hat free and patted it flat against her knees.
Mama Siti smiled and nodded. The girl placed the red hat back on her head, adjusted the brim, and tied the chin strap tight.
She held the chin strap with both hands and grinned. Her hat was safe at last.
Mama Siti laughed and ruffled the girl's hair. 'Next time, tie it tighter!' she called, turning back to her laundry.
The girl skipped home with her hat secure, the red shape bobbing happily against the evening sky. She could not wait to show her mum.
