Sammy the Skeleton was a very friendly skeleton, but he worried a lot. All the other little monsters loved to snuggle with fluffy blankets and soft pillows. Sammy? Well, he was…bony! He didn’t *have* fluffy anything. He rattled when he tried to be quiet, and sometimes his bones would wobble when he walked. He thought bedtime was a little scary because he felt so different.
One night, Sammy couldn’t sleep. He watched Barnaby Bear yawn and curl up, and Penelope Penguin waddle into her cozy nest. “They look so comfortable,” he sighed, rattling a little. Old Man Fitzwilliam, a wise owl, noticed Sammy’s worry. He swooped down and landed gently beside him.
“What troubles you, little skeleton?” Old Man Fitzwilliam hooted softly. Sammy explained how different he felt. “I don’t have fluff! I rattle! I wobble! I don’t think I’m very good at bedtime.”
Old Man Fitzwilliam chuckled. “Sammy,” he said, “being different is what makes you *special*. Your bones are strong and help you move! Your rattle is a happy sound! And even skeletons need rest. It’s not about fluff or wobbles; it’s about closing your eyes and letting your body relax.”
He continued, “Think of your bones as a wonderful frame, holding all of *you* together. And that rattle? That’s just your special way of saying goodnight to the stars!” Sammy thought about this. He wiggled his bony fingers and toes. Maybe being a skeleton wasn’t so bad after all.
Old Man Fitzwilliam helped Sammy find a comfy pile of leaves. It wasn’t fluffy, but it was just right for a skeleton. Sammy closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to relax. He still rattled a tiny bit, but it felt…peaceful.
He imagined his bones getting stronger and his rattle becoming a gentle lullaby. Soon, Sammy the Skeleton was fast asleep, dreaming of all the wonderful things he could do with his strong, bony frame. And he learned that even a skeleton deserves a good night’s rest, just like everyone else.
From that night on, Sammy didn’t worry about being different. He embraced his skeleton-ness and looked forward to bedtime, knowing that rest was important for *everybody*, fluffy or bony!