High above the world, where the air was soft and quiet, lived a little cloud named Leo. Leo wasn't like the other clouds. While they drifted slowly, sighing gentle mist and settling down for the night, Leo bounced and wiggled. He liked to watch the last rays of sun peek through his edges, and he loved to count the first tiny stars appearing one by one.
But as the sky grew darker and the moon rose like a friendly face, Leo still felt bouncy. "Why do I have to stop bouncing?" he puffed to a wise old cloud nearby. "The night is so interesting! There are fireflies twinkling below and quiet crickets singing their sleepy songs."
The wise old cloud smiled a soft, hazy smile. "Ah, little Leo," he murmured gently. "The night is wonderful, but it is also a time for rest. Even clouds need to settle and be still so they can gather fresh water drops and be ready to drift and play again when the sun returns."
Leo didn't quite understand. Being still felt strange. He tried to bounce less, but his edges still wiggled. He looked down and saw houses with warm lights going dim. He saw little shapes in windows pulling curtains closed. Everything seemed to be getting ready for sleep.
He watched as a little girl tucked her favourite teddy bear into bed. He saw a sleepy kitten curl up on a soft rug. Even the flowers in the garden seemed to droop their heads, closing their petals for the night. It looked… peaceful.
Maybe being still wasn't so bad, Leo thought. He decided to try what the wise old cloud suggested. First, he stopped his bouncing altogether. He just hung quietly in the dark blue sky. It felt a little wobbly at first, like standing on one leg, but soon his mist settled.
Next, he took a slow, deep sigh, the kind that helps you relax your shoulders. He let his misty edges soften and spread out, not in a bouncy way, but in a gentle, floating way. He listened to the quiet sounds of the night – the distant hoot of an owl, the soft rustle of leaves in a sleepy breeze.
He imagined all the little creatures below finding their cozy spots. The birds in their nests, the fish in the quiet parts of the stream, even the busy ants tucked away in their hills. Everyone was taking a moment to rest and be still.
As Leo settled himself, a wonderful feeling began to spread through his misty form. It was a feeling of comfort, like being wrapped in a soft blanket made of moonlight. His wiggles disappeared. His edges became smooth and calm. He felt light and peaceful.
He realized that stopping the bouncing and being still wasn't missing out on the night; it was becoming a part of the night's quiet, gentle rhythm. He wasn't just watching the sleepy world anymore; he was joining it. He felt the coolness of the upper air and the soft glow of the moon on his surface.
Leo closed his misty eyes, feeling perfectly still and calm. He knew that resting now would help him gather strength and dew drops, so he could be a big, fluffy, happy cloud for playing tomorrow. With a final, peaceful sigh, little Leo the cloud drifted into a soft, quiet, cloud sleep, ready for sweet dreams until the sun tickled him awake.