Shobhana had a little baby sister who she loved cuddling and wrapping up in a colourful blanket. Her name was Indira and she was such a happy, smiley baby. Everyday Shobhana played all sorts of games with her, told her stories and sang her nursery rhymes. Indira’s favourite toy was her shaker and she would never let go of it during the day and even sometimes at night.
Early one morning Shobhana heard a loud cry coming from downstairs. It was Indira and she was very upset.
'Sha-sha! Sha-sha!'
Indira was calling out and the whole family knew what she meant…
'Has anyone seen Indira’s shaker?' Mum called out.
'I haven’t seen it this morning,' Shobhana said as she came downstairs.
Shobhana didn’t like it when Indira cried and went straight over to cuddle her baby sister. 'It’s ok Indy, we’ll find it don’t worry!'
'Sha-Sha! Sha-Sha!' cried Indira.
It was breakfast time and Mummy was making a cup of tea. She picked up the container with the teabags in and pulled the lid off. There was a loud ‘Pop!’ that made Indira look round with her eyes wide open.
'Do that again Mummy!' Shobhana said. 'Indira likes it!'
Mum put the lid back on and quickly took it off again - ‘Pop!’
Indira jumped a little and then smiled. Mummy did it again and again and each time Indira jumped and then laughed.
Shobhana started to look for other things in the kitchen that made sounds. She picked up the container that said ‘Sugar’ and began to shake it gently. The sound was soft and tingly as the sugar slid from one end to the other. It was like sand in a bucket at the beach. Indira liked that sound too and smiled.
Shobhana gave the container to her Mum who made the sugar ‘Swish! swish!’ and then the jar go ‘Pop!’
Looking around the kitchen Shobhana saw on the shelf a glass jar that was half full of pasta. Carefully, she picked it up and shook it with both hands. This made a lovely loud sound which Shobhana liked.
All the sounds together started to sound like the beat of a song.
Dad came in to the kitchen humming a tune and Indira began to clap her hands. He saw Mum shaking the sugar and Shobhana shaking the pasta. He knew what the game was and looked around the kitchen for something to add to the sounds.
He picked up the salt and pepper. They made short, sharp sounds especially the pepper. He shook them high up in the air and from side to side.
Suddenly there was a whistling sound in the kitchen - louder and louder. The kettle was boiling! Everybody stopped their shaking and looked at the kettle. Mum took it off the gas and it stopped. For a moment everybody was quiet. The only sound was the kitchen tap: ‘Drip, drip, drip.’
Dad took out a large box of cereal from the cupboard and shook it. The sound of the flakes made a rustling sound and a ‘Crunch! crunch! crunch! crunch!'
Shobhana really wanted to find Indira’s shaker for her. She quickly looked in the playroom and the living room but couldn’t find it anywhere. Where could it be?
‘We’ll look again after breakfast,’ said Dad. ‘Oh, I’ve forgotten the milk.’
'I’ll get it!' said Shobhana and ran to the fridge.
As she opened the door and reached in to get the milk, there on the shelf was Indira’s shaker! What was it doing in the fridge? Someone must have left it there by accident yesterday when they were getting Indira’s bedtime milk!
Shobhana picked up the shaker and shook it.
'Sha-sha!' she called to Indira.
'Sha-sha!' giggled her baby sister.
Indira smiled and clapped.
'Sha-sha!'
The shaker had been found. And in the least likely place of all.
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