[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Shimshin’s searching stopped abruptly as he heard a thin wailing arising somewhere close by. He cocked his head listening to the strange sound for a moment before loping to the door. Taking from his mouth the handsome brooch he had just managed to dislodge from the cloak draped along side a gray dress, he peered though the keyhole, and saw nothing. Whinnying mournfully he put his lips close to the opening and let the brooch clatter to the floor as he grasped the door handle awkwardly. The wailing stopped.

The monkey was just about to take up again the shiny prize when several small fingers appeared from under the door, frightening him. Shimshin snatched up the brooch and dashed for the window barking with alarm. He swung quickly outside and leapt from shutter to enter another, quieter room. But too dull it was, and he quickly tired of it. Pulling on the door, it opened slightly and the monkey slipped through, and into a long hallway.

Ambling cheerfully along, Shimshin saw a small figure in the hall crouching down to speak into a keyhole. Running up, he leapt on the narrow back, and perched on the little boy’s head, leaning over to look down at his face and the water droplets there. Studying the tears, he touched one with his tiny black finger and taking the brooch out of his mouth he brought the tear up, tasting it.