The rain painted dots on the glass and the wind drummed on the windowsill: pop, pop, pop. Nela's room was warm and bright. On the desk stood Lusia's lamp, which liked to shine softly and tell all sorts of stories with the light. Next to her lay Lynx's crayon, always sharp, always ready to draw bold lines. Above the bed ticked Mr Tyk's clock, which counted the seconds as politely as if it were saying: tick tock, there you go, tick tock. The chest of drawers under the window had three drawers. The first knew all the socks. The second had handkerchiefs, hair elastics and a shiny pin treasure in it. The third was the lowest, a little heavy and quiet. Nela rarely looked in it. That evening, Nela sat cross-legged on the carpet and drew a house with a red roof. Lusia was brightening up the world of the paper and Lynx was gliding across the page so fast that it looked like a small fire engine. Mr Tyk looked down and muttered in his rhythm. Suddenly, a whisper came from somewhere off the floor. Very soft, as if someone was moving a feather across the carpet. - Shuuu... hello? - clearly from below. Nela raised her head. - Did you hear, Lusia? - she asked in a whisper. - 'I'm just glowing,' replied the lamp, blinking kindly. - 'It's not my shu. - Tic-tac-toe is not me,' added Mr Tyk. - I only speak Tik-tak. - Er, how about me? - Lynx rubbed at the paper and embarrassed her redness. - 'But I rather squeak. The whisper spoke again. This time softly but clearly: - Here ... here, by the handle... below... Oh, right here. Nela leaned over the dresser and touched the cool, round handle of the Third Drawer. - Who's speaking? - She asked, and her eyes got big and curious. - Me. Third Drawer - sighed something from behind the wood. - 'I'm a little bit stuck. And I have a matter as important as the sun. - Oh dear! - Lusia shimmered brighter. - Third, I've heard you for the first time! - Because you haven't needed to until now,' replied Drawer and sounded quite friendly. - Nelu, will you open me up? Just first... rules. - What rules? - Nela knelt by the dresser, feeling the soft carpet under her knees. - Knock three times. But to the rhythm of Mr Tyk. It rouses me and lubricates the hinges,' said Drawer with a slight giggle. Mr Tyk straightened his tips proudly. - Attention, I give the rhythm: tic.... yes... tick... yes... - Knock when I say 'tic'" - he added. Nela smiled and put her finger on the wood. She waited. Tick - knock. Yes - silence. Tick-tock. Yes - silence. Tick-tock. Three knocks, as even as the peas on Nela's dress. Something rustled quietly inside. The handle grew warmer and the warm smell of wood and crayons flew from the bottom of the dresser. - Ah... that's nice - muttered the Third Drawer. - A magic word more please. - Please,' said Nela as politely as she could. There was a quiet 'click', as if someone had removed a tiny padlock. Nela pulled gently on the handle, but the drawer moved just a hair. - 'Oh dear, I'm stubborn,' admitted Drawer. - 'I need Lusia's light and Lynx's bold dash. - There you go! - Lusia tilted her lampshade and let out a warm beam on the front of the drawer. - And me! - exclaimed Rysia. - What shall I draw? - A circle,' said Drawer. - A little circle, here, right at the edge. Just touch it, don't draw hard. Nela took Rysia and brushed the wooden edge. A red dot was formed, so tiny that it was almost invisible. - Thank you - whispered Drawer. - Now I will ask for Mr Tyk's breath. - Breath? - puzzled the Clock. - Hm. I'll give it a try. Mr Tyk took in a breath. The tic-tac-toe quieted for a moment, and then he sent down a soft: pffff, like blowing on a feather. The third drawer twitched. A tiny blue light winked from between the boards, like the eye of a glowing ladybird. - Did you see? - whispered Nela, wide-eyed at the flicker. - I saw it! - Lusia was delighted and blinked twice out of joy. - Me too! - squealed Rysia. - Oh my, how beautiful. - 'It's a sign,' said Drawer quietly. - A sign that something important and nice is waiting inside, but needs a helping hand. Just don't be in a hurry. Slowly, slowly... Nela sat closer. She put her hand on the handle and breathed just as slowly as Mr Tyk was ticking. The rain outside the window had quietened down, as if he wanted to listen too. Lusia made the room a cosy twilight, and shadows danced on the wall in stripes. - Are you ready? - asked Drawer. - 'Ready,' said Nela, although she felt a slight tickle in her stomach from excitement. - One... two... - counted Mr Tyk, proud as a conductor. - Three! - sang Lusia with her light. Nela pulled again. This time the front of the Third Drawer moved away by a centimetre, then by two. A quiet rustling sound came from inside, like the pages of a big book being turned over. The blue light shimmered harder and formed a tiny circular shape.... Something inside moved, rang like a silver bell and then, very slowly, began to lean towards Nela.