The Carnival of the Animals

Once upon a musical score, Camille Saint-Saëns was stumped. He was composing a piece of music to entertain his friends. An idea twinkled in his mind. A musical fantasy. Animals in a parade. A tune beckoned. Camille inked in some quarter notes. The melody slipped away. I must let this idea bloom, Camille thought. He sat in the stuffed chair by the door and closed his eyes. Music and pictures swirled in his head: A tortoise waltzed. A peacock called. A lion stomped into a forest. Soon Camille was fast asleep. He dreamed of animals in the zoo. He dreamed of animals far away.Once upon a time, he dreamed...