Barnaby the Beagle was a very good dog, but he was also very, very sleepy. He loved chasing squirrels, barking at the mailman, and digging in the garden, but the best thing in the world, Barnaby thought, was bedtime.
He would curl up in his cozy dog bed, a soft, warm, comfy cloud for a dog, and close his eyes. But sometimes, Barnaby had the most wonderful dreams.
One night, Barnaby dreamed he was a star! He was a tiny, twinkling star, shining high above the houses and trees. He watched the moon dance across the sky, and he saw the fluffy clouds drifting like cotton candy.
Barnaby wiggled his little dog nose and then he smelled something yummy! He was dreaming of delicious, juicy bones and crunchy, crackling biscuits. He could feel the sweet smell of his favorite treats in the air.
He imagined a giant pile of soft, fluffy dog biscuits piled up higher than his head, and he wagged his tail so fast it made the whole sky twinkle. He imagined a plump, juicy bone, the perfect size for a little dog like him.
He dreamt of all the happy dogs he knew. He felt a warm feeling of kindness in his dream, a warm feeling of wanting to be kind and loving to all the other dogs.
Soon, Barnaby felt himself getting sleepy again. He drifted off to sleep, his dream of stars, bones, and yummy biscuits still making him smile. The warmth of his dog bed felt wonderful.
He imagined playing in the garden tomorrow, with the sunshine warming his fur, and he imagined sharing treats with all his best furry friends. And Barnaby thought, "It's nice to be kind." He was dreaming about kindness, too, because being kind was such a lovely thing.
He knew tomorrow, when the sun came up, he would be a good dog again, wagging his tail, playing, and dreaming of more wonderful things. He would also remember to be patient with everyone, and kind to all his friends. He dreamt of doing everything as a kind dog.
Barnaby woke up feeling happy and ready to play, but he remembered the good feeling of his dream, and he knew he would always be a good dog, both when he was sleeping and awake, sharing kindness and patience.
Now Barnaby, in the sweet light of the morning sun, was ready for the day ahead—filled with joy and kindness.