0:00 A single maple tree can have over fifty thousand leaves.0:05 And each one, in its own time, gets to have a brand new adventure.0:12 It reminds me of how Lumi the firefly found her own light, just by being brave enough to begin.0:21 Tonight’s story is about a beginning like that… and a little leaf named Leo.0:29 Leo was a beautiful little leaf, painted in the most brilliant shades of autumn red and sunset gold.0:39 All season long, he had lived happily on his branch, high up in a tall maple tree.0:47 He loved feeling the warm sun on his face and dancing in the summer breeze.0:54 But now, the air was changing.0:57 It was cool and crisp, and the moon was a big, silver coin in the dark sky.1:05 Leo felt a change inside him, too.1:08 A feeling of… readiness.1:11 A soft, warm puff of wind came along.1:14 It wasn't a pushy wind.1:17 It was a gentle sigh that whispered through the branches.1:22 It seemed to whisper right to him.1:26 It’s time, little one.1:28 And so, Leo let go.1:30 For a moment, he felt like he was falling.1:34 But then, the breeze caught him.1:37 It lifted him up, and he began to float.1:41 Oh, it was a WONDERFUL feeling.1:44 He twirled and spun, a tiny, silent dancer in the moonlight.1:50 He was no longer attached to his branch… he was free to see the world.1:57 The gentle wind carried him over a wide, open meadow.2:03 The long grass below him was washed in silver by the moonlight, and he could see tiny field mice scurrying home, their little shadows dancing right beside them.2:19 He floated on, toward the sound of soft murmuring.2:23 It was a sleepy river, whispering secrets to the smooth stones on its bed.2:31 Leo looked down and saw the stars reflected on the dark, glassy water.2:38 It was like there were two skies… one high above, and one deep below.2:45 The breeze guided him into a grove of ancient, whispering trees.2:51 Their leaves rustled with a sound like soft rain, and Leo imagined they were telling the stories of all the seasons they had ever seen.3:05 On one sturdy branch, he saw a great owl.3:09 The owl’s eyes were big and round and golden.3:13 It blinked, very slowly, at Leo.3:16 It was a silent hello.3:19 A quiet, “welcome to the night.” Leo dipped and bobbed in the air, a little bow in return.3:28 He looked up past the branches, at the endless sky.3:33 It was filled with so many twinkling stars.3:37 One star seemed to shine JUST for him.3:41 He felt a little flicker of joy, and he imagined he was twinkling right back.3:48 The breeze began to slow.3:51 It carried him lower now… and lower… and lower.3:56 The world was getting closer.3:58 He saw a patch of ground that looked softer than anything he had ever known.4:06 It was a thick, plush bed of deep green moss.4:11 The breeze set him down, ever so gently.4:15 He landed without a sound.4:17 Leo snuggled into the soft moss.4:20 He was warm.4:22 He was safe.4:23 He was not on his old branch, but he was home.4:27 The brave little leaf closed his eyes, ready for the sweetest of dreams.
