Leo was a little boy who loved to play! He loved building tall towers with his blocks, zooming cars across the floor, and pretending to be a brave knight. But tonight, Leo didn't feel brave. He felt…sleepy. Really, really sleepy. He tried to build a tower, but his blocks kept tumbling down. He tried to zoom his cars, but they just seemed to wobble and stop.
“I don’t want to be sleepy!” Leo mumbled to his stuffed lion, Roar. “Brave knights aren’t sleepy!” Roar, of course, didn’t answer, but Leo imagined Roar was saying, “Even brave knights need to rest, Leo.”
Leo looked out his window. The stars were beginning to twinkle. He imagined each star was a tiny little light, watching over him. One star winked extra bright. Leo thought it looked like a friendly face.
“Hello, Star,” Leo whispered. “I’m feeling sleepy, and it’s making me feel a little…small.”
Suddenly, Leo imagined the star talking back! “It’s okay to feel small, little one,” the star twinkled. “Even the biggest stars were once tiny sparks. And feeling sleepy just means your body is getting ready for wonderful dreams!”
“But what if I miss all the fun?” Leo asked. The star chuckled, a soft, shimmering sound. “The fun will still be here when you wake up! And while you sleep, your imagination can have even *more* fun, soaring through the sky with me!”
Leo snuggled deeper under his covers. He closed his eyes and imagined himself flying among the stars with his friend. He wasn’t a brave knight right now, and that was okay. He was a sleepy little boy, safe and warm, ready for sweet dreams.
He realized that being sleepy wasn’t a sign of weakness, but a sign that he had a full day of adventures. And tomorrow, he would have even more! He felt a peaceful calm wash over him.
Leo yawned a big, sleepy yawn. He hugged Roar tight. “Goodnight, Star,” he whispered. “Goodnight, Roar.” And as the stars twinkled above, Leo drifted off to sleep, knowing that even the bravest boys need their rest. Sweet dreams, little one.