Once upon a time, in a cozy swamp nestled among tall reeds and twinkling fireflies, lived a friendly alligator named Alfie. Alfie loved bedtime. Every night, he'd snuggle into his nest of soft moss and drift off to dreamland.
One night, Alfie heard a tiny whimper. He opened one eye and saw a little firefly, Flicker, hovering nearby. "What's wrong, Flicker?" Alfie whispered.
Flicker fluttered closer, his light dimming. "I'm lost," he squeaked. "I can't find my way back to my family." Alfie, though sleepy, knew he had to help. "Hop on my snout, little one," he said gently. "I'll help you find your way home."
Alfie carefully carried Flicker through the swamp, his big, kind eyes scanning the darkness. The swamp was usually a comforting place, but tonight it felt a little spooky. Alfie heard rustling in the bushes and the croaking of unseen frogs. He felt a little scared, but he knew he couldn't let Flicker down.
Suddenly, a deep voice boomed, "Who goes there?" Alfie froze. It was Old Man Croaker, the grumpiest frog in the swamp. Alfie took a deep breath and called out, "It's just me, Alfie, and little Flicker. He's lost, and I'm helping him find his family."
Old Man Croaker grumbled but hopped closer. He saw how worried Flicker looked and his heart softened a bit. "I saw a group of fireflies heading towards the Whispering Willow," he croaked. "That's probably where your family is."
Alfie thanked Old Man Croaker and continued on his way. Soon, he saw a beautiful willow tree shimmering with hundreds of tiny lights. Flicker gasped. "That's them!" he cried, his light shining brightly again. He flew off Alfie's snout and zipped towards the tree, his family welcoming him with joyous flashes.
Alfie smiled. He felt happy and brave for helping Flicker. As he walked back to his cozy nest, he realized the swamp didn't seem so spooky anymore. He had made a new friend in Old Man Croaker and had helped someone in need.
That night, Alfie slept soundly, dreaming of sparkling fireflies and friendly frogs. He knew that even though being brave can be a little scary sometimes, helping others always makes you feel good inside. And that’s a very good feeling to have at bedtime.