Hazel the hamster was a very busy little creature. All day long, she scurried and played, collecting seeds and fluffing her nest. But now, the moon was peeking through the window, and it was time for bed! Hazel yawned a big, sleepy yawn. But… oh dear! Her nest wasn’t quite cozy enough.
She’d used all her softest fluff, but it still felt a little lumpy. “I wish I had just one more piece of cotton,” she sighed. She peeked out of her cage and saw Barnaby Bear and Penelope Penguin playing nearby. Barnaby was building a tower of blocks, and Penelope was carefully arranging her seashell collection.
Hazel was a little shy, but she knew she needed help. She took a deep breath and called out, “Excuse me, Barnaby? Penelope? Would either of you happen to have a little bit of cotton I could borrow for my nest?”
Barnaby, even though he was concentrating on his tower, immediately stopped. “Of course, Hazel!” he said, rummaging in his toy box. He found a small bag of cotton balls. Penelope waddled over, holding a fluffy piece of cotton from her seashell display. “Here you go, Hazel! Sweet dreams!”
Hazel’s whiskers twitched with happiness. “Oh, thank you both so much!” she squeaked. She carefully added the cotton to her nest, making it perfectly soft and snug. It was the coziest nest in the whole wide world!
She snuggled down, feeling warm and grateful. Barnaby and Penelope waved goodnight. Hazel realized that even though she liked doing things herself, sometimes asking for help made everything even better. And having good friends to help you was the best feeling of all.
She thought about her busy day, the fun she had playing, and how kind her friends were. She closed her eyes, feeling peaceful and content. A little hamster routine – play, collect, prepare, and then snuggle down with a cozy nest and happy thoughts – was the perfect way to end the day.
Soon, Hazel was fast asleep, dreaming of sunflower seeds and fluffy cotton. And as she slept, she knew that tomorrow would be another wonderful day, especially with friends like Barnaby and Penelope by her side. Now close *your* eyes, little one, and have sweet dreams too!