Nilo and the intermission noise

During the big break, the schoolyard was a hive of activity. Children were laughing, shouting, running around.
Footballs were flying, rucksacks were being put down, someone shouted "Nilooo!" and then someone else shouted even louder.

Nilo was standing in the middle of the hustle and bustle.
He actually wanted to play along, but everything was so loud, so fast, so much.
The screeching, the whistling, the squeaking of the sneakers - everything was mixed up like a sea of voices.

Nilo's chest became tight.
His heart was beating too fast and the air felt tight.
He just wanted it to stop.

There - a soft "moo" right next to him.
A soft, warm, vibrating sound, like a cuddly song.

Next to him stood Lady Moozie.
Her soft, velvety fur shone in pastel colors, and her large, friendly eyes looked at Nilo - calmly, patiently.
A fine, calming scent of meadow and vanilla was in the air.

"Phew, quite a lot here, isn't it?" she hummed.
Nilo just nodded. His shoulders were still hunched.

Lady Moozie smiled.
"I know what it's like. When everything gets too loud, wave breathing helps me. Do you want to try it?"

Nilo looked at her questioningly.
Lady Moozie sat down comfortably, her belly rising and falling calmly.

"Look," she said gently,
"we're breathing like the waves of a calm lake."
She demonstrated:
"Breathe in... the wave rises."
She slowly raised her shoulders and puffed through her nose.
"Breathe out... the wave sinks."
She lowered her shoulders, her lips forming a soft "moooo" that vibrated like a little melody.

Nilo tried it.
He breathed in - the air reached his stomach -
and out, very slowly, with a "Mmmmm".

One more time.
And one more time.

With every breath he took, the noise around him became quieter.
Not really quiet - but further away, as if behind a protective screen.

Lady Moozie nodded contentedly.
"See? You can carry your own little wave inside you. Whenever the world is too loud."

Nilo smiled faintly.
He felt his feet on the ground again.
The sun tickled his hands and his heart beat more calmly.

The break bell rang.
Everything got a bit mixed up again -
but Nilo breathed his wave.
Breathe in - wave rises.
Breathe out - wave sinks.

And deep inside, Lady Moozie was still humming a soft, soothing "moooo".