Celeste was a little cloud, and she *loved* to zoom! She zoomed across the bright blue sky, making silly shapes for the children below. She’d puff herself into a fluffy bunny, then stretch into a long, wiggly worm. It was so much fun, but Celeste never, ever stopped. She thought zooming was the most important thing in the world.
Old Man Nimbus, a big, wise cloud with a long, grey beard, noticed Celeste’s constant zooming. He floated gently beside her. “Celeste,” he rumbled kindly, “you’re a wonderful cloud, but even the fluffiest clouds need to rest. You’re starting to wobble!”
Celeste giggled. “Wobble? What’s wobbling?” But she *did* feel a little shaky. Her puffs weren’t as strong, and her shapes weren’t as clear. She tried to make a perfect star, but it looked more like a lumpy potato.
“Wobbling means you’re tired, little one,” Old Man Nimbus explained. “When you don’t sleep, your cloud-powers get weak. Everything needs rest – the sun, the moon, even the twinkling stars. And especially little clouds who zoom all day!”
Celeste had never thought about resting before. It sounded…boring! “But what if I miss something exciting?” she asked.
“The exciting things will still be here tomorrow, Celeste,” Old Man Nimbus said with a smile. “And you’ll have even *more* energy to enjoy them after a good sleep. Think of it like filling up with sunshine!”
Celeste decided to try it. Old Man Nimbus showed her how to gently float down to a quiet corner of the sky, near the sleepy mountains. He helped her fluff herself into a cozy, round shape.
As Celeste closed her cloudy eyes, she felt a peaceful calm wash over her. She imagined drifting on a gentle breeze, surrounded by soft, quiet colors. She wasn’t zooming, she wasn’t shaping, she was simply…resting.
When Celeste woke up, the sun was shining brightly! She felt amazing! Her puffs were strong, her shapes were perfect, and she zoomed across the sky with more joy than ever before. She made the biggest, fluffiest bunny the children had ever seen.
Celeste zoomed over to Old Man Nimbus. “You were right!” she exclaimed. “Resting *is* wonderful! I feel so much better!” Old Man Nimbus chuckled. “See, little one? Even a zooming cloud needs sweet dreams.” And Celeste, the little cloud who learned to rest, continued to zoom and shape, always remembering the importance of a good night’s sleep.