The sun was beginning to dip below the rooftops, painting the sky in soft shades of orange and pink. Inside his room, a little boy named Joshua was playing quietly with his soft toy bunny, Barnaby. They were having a very important conversation about carrots, which Barnaby seemed to be an expert on.
Joshua’s mom gently peeked into his room. “Almost time for bed, sweetie,” she whispered with a smile. Joshua hugged Barnaby close. Getting ready for bed was part of his quiet time, a gentle winding down after a busy day of exploring and playing.
First, it was time to gather the toys. Joshua carefully put each block back in its box, stacked his books neatly, and tucked Barnaby into a special spot on his pillow. He knew where everything belonged, and putting things away made his room feel calm and ready for rest.
Next came the bedtime routine. Joshua padded to the bathroom in his dinosaur slippers. He stood on his little stool to reach the sink and brushed his teeth with his sparkly toothpaste, making sure to get every single tooth nice and clean. He washed his face and hands, feeling fresh and ready for snuggles.
Back in his room, Mom helped him put on his favorite cozy pajamas, the ones with the little stars that seemed to glow in the dim light. Joshua climbed into his bed, pulling the soft blanket up to his chin. Barnaby the bunny was already waiting, looking very sleepy.
Joshua looked around his room. As the light faded, some things looked a little different. The chair in the corner cast a long shadow that looked a bit wobbly. But Joshua didn't feel scared. He used his wonderful imagination.
He imagined the wobbly shadow was a friendly, sleepy giraffe, stretching its long neck one last time before lying down to rest. He whispered, “Goodnight, sleepy giraffe.” He imagined the pile of clothes on his floor was a little hill where fluff-ball sheep were settling down for the night. “Goodnight, fluffy sheep,” he murmured.
Using his imagination made his room feel not just safe, but magical and full of quiet, sleeping friends. He felt warm and cozy under his blanket, nestled in his bed with Barnaby beside him. His room felt just right.
Joshua took a deep breath and snuggled down. He felt so comfortable and safe in his bed. He closed his eyes, thinking of the sleepy giraffe and the fluffy sheep, and knowing that his imagination could turn anything into a quiet, happy friend. He was ready for dreams.