0:00 The thumping started at exactly ten-oh-three.0:04 It wasn't a quiet whisper in the corner, like the one Maya discovered in her moonlit room.0:13 This was a deep, steady...0:15 THUMP.0:16 THUMP.0:16 THUMP.0:17 Right above Alex’s bed.0:19 In the attic.0:20 Alex pulled the blankets up to their chin.0:24 The only light was a sliver of moon, painting a stripe across the floor.0:31 Everything in the room was asleep.0:35 The toys were asleep.0:37 The books were asleep.0:39 But the ceiling was WIDE awake.0:42 THUMP...0:43 THUMP...0:43 THUMP.0:44 It sounded...0:45 rhythmic.0:46 Almost like a beat.0:48 Alex’s heart started to beat along with it.0:52 A tiny drum in the quiet room.0:55 Was it a giant?0:56 Practicing his stomping?0:59 Was it a monster playing basketball?1:02 A very, very clumsy monster?1:05 Alex slid one foot out of the warm bed.1:09 Then the other.1:10 The floorboards were cool.1:13 Tiptoe, tiptoe, to the bedroom door.1:16 The hallway was dark, but Alex knew the way.1:21 Past the sleeping parents’ room.1:24 To the little string that dangled from the ceiling.1:29 The string that led to the attic.1:32 Alex took a deep breath.1:34 Reached up.1:35 And pulled.1:36 The stairs unfolded with a long, slow, creeeeeak.1:41 It sounded like the house was yawning.1:45 Alex put one foot on the first step.1:48 It groaned.1:49 Another foot on the second.1:52 It moaned.1:53 Each step was a new sound in the quiet night.1:57 At the top, a square of darkness waited.2:01 The thumping was louder here.2:04 THUMP.2:04 THUMP.2:05 THUMP.2:06 It was coming from the far corner.2:09 Behind a stack of old boxes.2:12 Alex peeked around the boxes.2:14 And saw...2:15 not a giant.2:17 Not a monster.2:18 It was a creature, but the smallest, fluffiest, roundest creature Alex had ever seen.2:26 It looked like it was made of lost socks, bits of sparkly tinsel, and a whole lot of happy dust.2:35 It had two big, wobbly button eyes.2:39 And it was standing on an old wooden crate, very seriously lifting one fluffy foot...2:47 and bringing it down with a...2:50 THUMP.2:51 It lifted the other foot.2:53 THUMP.2:54 It was trying to tap dance.2:56 The little creature saw Alex and froze, one foot in the air.3:02 It looked embarrassed.3:04 Alex didn't scream.3:06 Alex giggled.3:07 A tiny puff of a laugh.3:09 The creature’s button eyes blinked.3:13 Alex took a step forward.3:15 "Are you...3:16 dancing?" Alex whispered.3:19 The creature, a Grumble-Fuzz, Alex decided, wobbled its head in a nod.3:26 It was practicing for the annual Attic Talent Show, but it just couldn't get the rhythm right.3:35 Alex smiled.3:36 Alex stayed for a few minutes, quietly clapping a slow, steady beat.3:42 One...3:43 two...3:44 three...3:44 four.3:45 The Grumble-Fuzz started to thump its feet in time.3:50 THUMP-thump, THUMP-thump.3:52 It looked so proud.3:54 Soon, it was time for bed.3:57 Alex tiptoed back down the creaky stairs, pushed them back into the ceiling, and slipped back under the covers.4:07 The thumping started again.4:10 THUMP-thump, THUMP-thump.4:12 But now, it wasn't a scary sound.4:16 It was the sound of a new friend, practicing their dance.4:21 It was the best lullaby in the whole wide, sleepy house.
