Ducky was a little duckling, fluffy and yellow. He loved splashing in the pond with his mama and papa duck and his four brothers and sisters. But tonight was different. Tonight was Ducky’s first time sleeping outside, under the big, dark sky.
Ducky snuggled close to his mama. “Mama,” he whispered, “I’m a little bit scared. It’s so dark!” Mama Duck smoothed his feathers with her wing. “It’s okay to be scared, little one,” she said gently. “The dark can seem big, but we are all here with you.”
Papa Duck added, “Look at the stars, Ducky. They are like tiny lights watching over us.” Ducky peeked out from under his mama’s wing. He saw twinkling stars scattered across the dark blue sky. They *were* pretty!
One of Ducky’s brothers, Pip, said, “I was scared too, but then I remembered how warm and cozy it is with all of us together.” Another sister, Poppy, chirped, “And if you listen closely, you can hear the crickets singing a sleepy song!”
Ducky listened. He *did* hear a soft chirping sound. It was peaceful and calming. He felt his mama’s warm wing and his siblings close by. He wasn’t alone. He was safe.
Suddenly, a little firefly blinked nearby. It floated closer and closer, its light a tiny, friendly glow. Ducky giggled. “Look!” he said. “A little light friend!”
Mama Duck smiled. “See, Ducky? Even in the dark, there is always light and friendship to be found.” Ducky yawned a big duckling yawn. He felt sleepy and warm and loved.
He closed his eyes, listening to the crickets and feeling the gentle breeze. The dark didn’t seem so scary anymore. He knew his family was there, and that was all that mattered. He drifted off to sleep, dreaming of splashing and twinkling stars.
And as Ducky slept, Mama and Papa Duck kept watch, making sure their little duckling had sweet dreams. Because that’s what families do – they keep each other safe and warm, even in the dark.