Eudora Welty reflects on her early experiences with storytelling, emphasizing the importance of listening. She suggests that actively seeking out stories engages listeners in a deeper way than simply hearing them. For children, this listening is a formative part of their growth, as they intuitively understand that stories are waiting to be discovered whenever adults begin to share them.

This keen sense of anticipation illustrates the natural curiosity children have for narratives, likening their eagerness to catch a story to waiting for a mouse to emerge from its hiding place. Welty highlights how this early participation lays the groundwork for a lifelong appreciation of storytelling.