Today the weather felt strange.
The leaves weren't moving. The sea was perfectly still. The windmill had stopped turning.
Selenga stepped outside. Everything was oddly quiet.
"Why isn't the wind blowing?" she asked the tree.
The tree whispered back. “The wind is tired.”
“What?”
"It's exhausted. It doesn't want to blow today."
Selenga looked up at the sky. Even the clouds had stopped moving.
“Can I talk to the wind?” she asked.
"You can try. But it's in a bad mood."
The Lazy Wind
“Hello!” Selenga called out.
A soft rumble came back. “Hmm.”
"Why aren't you blowing?"
"I'm tired. I blow every single day. Nobody even notices."
Selenga was surprised. “How could nobody notice? Do you know what happens without you?”
“What?”
"Seeds can't travel. New trees can't grow."
"I don't care."
"Sailboats can't move forward."
“Hmm.”
"Kites can't fly."
The wind stayed silent.
"And my hair can't blow in the breeze."
There was a tiny gust. Selenga's hair lifted gently.
Feeling Appreciated
"Nobody's ever thanked you, have they?" Selenga asked.
The wind paused for a moment. “No.”
“Has anyone ever said you cool them down on hot days?”
“Never.”
“Has anyone thanked you for carrying away bad smells?”
“Nope.”
“You carry clouds, bring rain, make waves in the ocean—”
“Nobody says that,” the wind said sadly.
Selenga laughed. "Well, I'm saying it now. Thank you, wind. Without you, the world would be so boring."
The Big Gust
The wind went quiet.
Then—a small breeze.
Then a bigger one.
Then a huge gust. Leaves flew everywhere. Selenga's hat went flying.
“YES!” shouted the wind. "I'M BLOWING!"
Selenga ran to catch her hat. She laughed.
The windmill started spinning. Waves appeared on the sea. Seeds drifted through the air.
“Keep going!” Selenga cheered.
"I'M GOING!" the wind roared back.
And that day, the wind blew beautifully.
Why Does Wind Blow?
Wind happens because of temperature differences in the air. Warm air rises, cool air moves in to replace it—and that movement creates wind.
Why Is Saying Thank You Important?
Everyone wants to feel noticed and valued. When you thank someone, you make them happy and feel good about yourself too.
A Note for Parents
This lighthearted tale is perfect for young children ages 4 and up. After reading, try asking your child: “Who did you forget to say thank you to today?”