0:00 The very last giggle in the house vanished on a Tuesday.0:07 Now, last week we discovered what happens when shadows get the hiccups, but this… this was something else entirely.0:22 One minute, Dad was telling his silliest joke—the one about the penguin and the trampoline—and the next… nothing.0:36 Just silence.0:38 Leo’s mom tried a super-tickle-attack, her fingers wiggling and ready.0:47 But Leo didn’t even squirm.0:50 The giggles were just… gone.0:54 The whole house felt heavy and quiet, like it was holding its breath.1:03 That night, Leo heard it.1:06 A soft, strange sound.1:09 Thump-thump.1:11 Thump-thump.1:12 It wasn’t the house settling.1:16 It wasn’t the pipes groaning.1:20 It was a sound like a bunny’s foot wrapped in a fuzzy sock, tapping on the floor.1:30 Leo sat up in bed, listening.1:34 The sound was close.1:36 Very close.1:38 Thump-thump.1:39 It was coming from… of course it was.1:44 It was coming from under the bed.1:48 Every scary story says you don’t look under the bed.1:55 But every brave hero knows… sometimes you have to.2:02 Leo took a deep breath, slid out from under the warm covers, and knelt on the chilly floor.2:13 The thump-thump stopped.2:16 Holding their breath, Leo lowered their head, cheek to the carpet, and peeked into the darkness.2:29 And saw… two big, shy, lavender eyes blinking back.2:35 It wasn't a monster.2:38 It was a creature about the size of a slipper, made of what looked like dust bunnies and moonlight and soft, grey fluff.2:53 It was clutching a tiny, shimmering ball of golden light.3:01 And as Leo watched, the creature brought the little ball to its ear, and a tiny, perfect giggle escaped.3:14 It was Dad’s penguin-and-trampoline giggle!3:20 The creature didn’t look mean at all.3:25 It looked… lonely.3:27 It wasn't stealing the giggles.3:31 It was saving them.3:33 Because it loved the sound so much.3:38 Leo didn’t scream.3:40 Leo didn’t run.3:42 Leo… understood.3:44 Slowly, Leo pulled back from under the bed and sat up.3:51 Then, Leo thought about the funniest thing they could imagine—a squirrel wearing a tiny hat, waterskiing behind a duck.4:07 A little bubble of a laugh started in Leo’s tummy.4:13 It grew into a full, sparkling, wonderful GIGGLE.4:19 And under the bed, the little creature’s lavender eyes went wide with delight.4:29 A brand new, shimmering orb of light floated from Leo, drifted down through the air, and landed gently in the creature's fluffy paws.4:47 It let out a soft, happy rumble, like a tiny engine starting up.4:55 The house wasn’t empty of giggles anymore.5:00 And Leo knew, from then on, there would always be enough to share.5:09 One for the house… and one for the quiet, fluffy friend who loved the sound of joy.
