Barnaby was a very brave dog. He wasn’t afraid of the mail carrier, or the vacuum cleaner, or even thunderstorms! He was a big, fluffy golden retriever, and he loved to play fetch in the park. Every night, Barnaby slept in his cozy blue bed, feeling safe and sound.
But lately, something had been bothering Barnaby. When the sun went down, and the house got quiet, he started to feel a little…wobbly inside. It wasn’t a big scary feeling, just a small, fluttery one. He didn’t understand it. Brave dogs weren’t supposed to feel wobbly!
He tried to ignore it. He wagged his tail extra hard when his human, Lily, gave him a cuddle. He chewed his favorite squeaky toy with extra enthusiasm. But the wobbly feeling stayed. One night, it felt bigger than usual. Barnaby whimpered softly.
Lily heard him. She came over and knelt beside his bed. “What’s wrong, Barnaby?” she asked, stroking his soft fur. Barnaby nudged her hand with his nose, then looked at his paws. He didn’t know how to explain the wobbly feeling.
Lily seemed to understand anyway. “Are you feeling a little scared?” she asked gently. Barnaby gave a small nod. “Even brave dogs get scared sometimes, Barnaby,” Lily said. “It’s okay to feel scared. The important thing is to tell someone.”
Barnaby wagged his tail a little. It felt good to tell Lily. She didn’t laugh, or tell him to be a big dog. She just hugged him tight. “Let’s leave the hallway light on tonight,” Lily suggested. “And I’ll sit with you for a few minutes until you feel sleepy.”
Lily sat with Barnaby, reading a story about a little bear who was afraid of the dark. As she read, Barnaby’s wobbly feeling started to fade. The light in the hallway made the shadows seem less spooky. He leaned against Lily, feeling warm and safe.
Soon, Barnaby’s eyes started to close. He yawned a big, sleepy yawn. “Thank you, Lily,” he mumbled, before drifting off to sleep. He realized that being brave wasn’t about *not* feeling scared. It was about knowing it was okay to feel scared, and asking for help when he needed it.
From that night on, Barnaby still felt a little wobbly sometimes when it got dark. But he knew he could always tell Lily, and that made all the difference. He was a brave dog, and a loved dog, and that was the best feeling of all. Now close your eyes, little one, and dream sweet dreams, just like Barnaby.