The sound of rustling grasses
From the ancient Greek myth concerning Midas (not the touch-it-and-it-turns-to-gold one but the other one). Midas was given donkey’s ears by Pan as punishment for his poor musical taste (in Pan’s opinion). Only his barber knew, but he had to tell someone so he dug a hole in a field and told it. But reeds sprung up there, and the rest is myth
King family – 1960s?
Naomi’s family growing up
Most sources I found give it as “asses’ ears” which implies ≥4 ears, compounding the punishment in ways that a good story ought to address. That’s why I’ve gone with “ass’s ears”
—Mark