The Wren Boy Who Knocked on the Wrong Door

It is December 26th in Ireland. The morning is cold. Ciarán is ten years old. He wears a straw hat and a coat with ribbons. Today is Wren Day. Children go to houses. They sing and play music for coins.

Ciarán walks to a small white house. He knocks on the door. An old man opens it. He looks serious. Ciarán is afraid, but he plays his drum. He sings a song about a bird.

The man goes inside. He comes back with a big coin. He puts it in Ciarán’s hand. 'My mother loved that song,' the man says quietly. He closes the door.

Ciarán feels happy. The coin is warm. He thinks about the man and the old song. He puts the coin in his pocket and walks to the next house.