The Little Drop and the Tap

In Dana's bathroom lived a tiny drop of water. When the tap was shut tight, the drop slept quietly in the pipe with all her sisters and waited for her turn.

The little drop loved her turn. In the morning she jumped into Dana's palms, splashed in the toothbrush cup and sparkled on the bristles like a tiny glass bead. Then everything went quiet again, and she could doze in the cool, dark pipe.

One evening Dana brushed her teeth, gave a big yawn and ran off to her room without turning the tap all the way. Drip. Drip. Drip. First one of the drop's sisters fell, then another, then another. They dropped into the sink and vanished down the dark little hole of the drain.

"Wait, where are you going?" whispered the drop. "Nobody's waiting for you down there!"

But her sisters couldn't stop. All night long the tap dripped softly, and drop after drop slipped away to nowhere.

Early in the morning Grandmother heard the sound and closed the tap. Then she filled a whole bucket from it and set it down in front of sleepy Dana.

"This is how much water ran away last night while we were all asleep," said Grandmother. "Our garden could drink this for three whole days."

Dana looked into the bucket. The water was as clear as glass, and her own face wobbled in it.

"Grandma, where does the water in the tap even come from?" she asked.

Grandmother sat down beside her and began to explain. Far, far away, high in the mountains, lies white snow. In spring it melts and runs down in little streams to the river. Big pumps take the water from the river, clean it, and push it a long, long way through pipes under the streets and houses. Only then does it reach their tap, so that Dana can wash her face.

Dana imagined her little drop. There it was, rolling down the mountain, glittering in the sun, ringing in the stream and riding through the long dark pipes. Such a long journey, all the way here, just to slip down a drain?

"I feel sorry for the water," Dana said quietly. "It tried so hard to get to us."

From that day Dana had new rules. While she soaps her hands, the tap stays off. She turns it on only to rinse away the bubbles. And for brushing her teeth she fills one cup of water instead of leaving the stream running.

To make it more fun, Dana made up a song for soapy hands. While the song plays, the water rests. When the song ends, the tap can open. Her little brother liked the game so much that he started singing too, even though he never quite hit the right notes.

A month went by. Grandmother added everything up and was amazed. Their family had saved enough water to fill a small swimming pool.

And the drop in the pipe was very pleased. Now she knew she wouldn't be wasted. Her turn would always come, and when it did, someone would truly need her.

That evening Dana brushed her teeth, turned the tap off tight, tight, tight, and listened. The bathroom was quiet. Not a single drop was falling.

The little drop slept in the pipe and dreamed of white mountains and a ringing stream. The tap was silent, and a soft, even hush filled the house. Dana closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Goodnight.