Lily loved thinking about superheroes. With big capes and zooming fast, they helped everyone! Tonight, as the sun painted the sky orange and pink, Lily was getting ready for bed. She put on her softest pajamas. "I wish I could be a superhero right now," she whispered to her teddy bear, Mr. Snuggles.
Mommy came in with a warm glass of milk. "You *can* be a superhero right now, Lily-bug," she said with a smile. "Bedtime superheroes don't zoom fast, they have special quiet powers."
Lily tilted her head. "Quiet powers? What are they?"
"Well," Mommy explained softly, "a bedtime superhero's first power is 'Quiet Steps'. Can you walk to the toy box with super-quiet steps so you don't wake up the little mouse outside?" Lily tiptoed across the rug, her feet making almost no sound at all. "Swish, swish..." she whispered. "I have Quiet Steps power!"
"That's right!" Mommy said. "Now, your next power is 'Gentle Tidying'. A bedtime superhero makes sure all their friends, the toys, are cozy and safe for the night. Can you gently put your blocks in the box so they can sleep?" Lily carefully placed each block inside, making sure they were not bumped. "Night-night, blocks!" she said softly. She felt a warm, happy feeling inside.
"Wonderful!" Mommy praised. "Your 'Gentle Tidying' power is very strong. Now, one of the most important bedtime superhero powers is 'Listening Ears'. Can you use your Listening Ears to hear the quiet night sounds outside, like the crickets singing?" Lily closed her eyes and listened very, very carefully. She heard a tiny chirp, chirp, chirp from far away. "I hear them! My Listening Ears power is working!"
Finally, Mommy tucked Lily into bed. "Now, your last and coziest superpower is 'Sleepy Stillness'. A bedtime superhero lies very still and lets their body get sleepy so they can have energy for quiet helping tomorrow." Lily snuggled down under the covers, holding Mr. Snuggles.
She felt safe and warm. Thinking about her Quiet Steps, Gentle Tidying, and Listening Ears made her feel strong and good inside. She didn't need a cape or to zoom; she was a special bedtime superhero, helping the world get ready for sleep just by being kind, gentle, and quiet. With a soft sigh, Lily used her Sleepy Stillness power, and soon, the bedtime superhero drifted off to dreamland.