In a high stone house in the Peruvian Andes, Lina, a Quechua girl, and her alpaca 'Fluffy' help her mother weave a wool shawl, gaze at the vast starry sky with her father, listen to the mountain wind's lullaby, and fall peacefully asleep under a warm blanket.
The sun has clocked out, and the high Andes mountains have put on a purple cloak. Stars, one by one, light up the deep blue sky. In the little stone house, warm yellow light comes on. The little girl Lina holds her alpaca friend 'Fluffy'. It's time for bed, but first, there are some warm things to do.
'Click-clack, click-clack.' What sound is speaking? It's Mama working at the wooden loom. Colored yarn passes back and forth in Mama's hands. Like a little rainbow dancing.
Lina has important work! She sits on a woven mat with colorful patterns, helping Mama sort the alpaca yarn. The red yarn is like the warm sun. The blue yarn is like the clear sky. The yellow yarn is like ripe corn in the field.
'Each thread connects to someone we love,' Mama says gently as she weaves. 'We weave our thoughts and protection into this.' Lina nods seriously. She wants to weave her love for her family into it too.
The loom goes 'click-clack, click-clack.' Like a gentle song. The alpaca Fluffy lies quietly on the blanket by Lina's feet. Its wool is soft and warm. These beautiful threads are spun from its wool.
Papa walks over and gently touches the pom-pom on Lina's hat. 'My little Lina, want to go outside and see the stars?' Lina's eyes immediately sparkle. 'Yes!' she says loudly. She stands up and takes Papa's hand, walking towards the wooden door.
Outside, the air is cool and fresh. It's very quiet, only the sound of the wind can be heard. There are no streetlights, only a sky full of stars. So many, so bright, like a handful of diamonds scattered. Lina opens her mouth in surprise.
Look! A glowing band stretches across the sky. That's the Milky Way, like milk spilled on a deep blue cloth. It looks so very close to the mountain peaks opposite. 'Fluffy, look!' Lina says to the alpaca beside her. The alpaca's dark, shiny eyes reflect tiny starlight.
Papa points to a group of especially bright stars near the Milky Way. 'Our ancestors used to watch these stars to plan their lives.' 'The stars told them when to plant potatoes and corn.' Lina feels like the stars are winking at her. As if telling stories from long ago.
'Whoo—hoo—' The mountain wind begins to sing. It blows from the direction of the high snowy mountains. It sways the clay wind chimes and dried corn hanging under the eaves. Making a tinkling, ethereal sound, like nature's music.
Mama comes out and wraps a newly woven thick wool shawl around Lina. 'Listen, that's Pachamama breathing.' Pachamama is Mother Earth. Her breath is deep and long, comforting. Lina closes her eyes and rests her face against Mama's chest, listening to the wind.
Time to go back inside to sleep. Lina gently leads Fluffy back into the warm little house. Mama brings out wool blankets and sheepskin mats. Soft and fluffy. Lying down on them is like sleeping in warm alpaca fleece.
Lina lies in bed on the wool blankets and sheepskin mats. Covered with the new, colorful, and very warm shawl Mama wove. The alpaca Fluffy lies on its special little blanket by her bed. The loom is quiet now, but the wind still hums outside the window. That's the mountain singing a goodnight song.
Goodnight, click-clacking loom. Goodnight, winking stars. Goodnight, singing mountain wind. Goodnight, my little Fluffy. Goodnight, Pachamama.
Lina is asleep, breathing evenly and calmly. She still gently holds a strand of red yarn in her hand. In her dreams, there are rainbows dancing. There are stars telling ancient stories. And there is the warm embrace of the Andes Mother.
