The Quiet Drum

Harry and Chloe set up for music club. Harry puts a drum by his chair. Chloe gets the sticks. “Let’s try a beat,” she says.

Chloe taps the drum. It makes a dull thud. She taps it again. “That is a very quiet drum,” says Harry. They look at each other.

Harry checks the sticks. Chloe checks the top of the drum. “Nothing is broken,” she says. “Why does it sound so strange?”

Harry looks inside the drum. “I can see something,” he says. He pulls out a soft towel. Chloe begins to laugh. “That was in my bag!”

“I put it there when we moved the drum,” says Chloe. “I forgot to take it out.” She taps the drum again. This time, it makes a loud beat.

Harry plays a beat. Chloe claps along. “Now it sounds like a drum,” says Harry. “And not a pillow,” says Chloe. They laugh and play again.