Sparky was a little dragon, but not a scary one! He was a very *energetic* dragon. He loved to zoom and swoop and practice his tiny puffs of smoke. But sometimes, Sparky had trouble remembering to be quiet. He wanted to play *all* the time!
One evening, as the stars began to twinkle, Sparky noticed Flicker, a little firefly, trying to blink his light on and off… but he kept bumping into things. “What’s wrong, Flicker?” Sparky asked, trying his best to keep his voice down (which was hard for a dragon!).
“I… I can’t seem to get sleepy,” Flicker whispered. “I’m too bouncy! And everything is so bright!” Sparky understood. He felt bouncy sometimes too. He wanted to zoom and play even when he was tired.
Old Man Willow, the wisest tree in the valley, rustled his leaves. “Flicker needs a lullaby, and a quiet space,” he creaked. Sparky had never sung a lullaby before. He usually practiced roaring (very softly, of course!).
Sparky took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He remembered how his mama dragon would hum when he was a little hatchling. He started to hum a gentle tune, and then words came. “Sleepy stars are shining bright, little firefly, close your light…”
His voice wasn’t perfect, and a tiny puff of smoke escaped with each note, but it smelled like warm cinnamon. Flicker slowly stopped bumping into things. His light began to blink slower and slower.
Sparky continued to sing, making up verses about sleepy clouds and quiet flowers. He realized that *being* quiet felt good. It felt peaceful. He even started to feel a little sleepy himself!
Soon, Flicker’s light dimmed to a tiny spark, and he drifted off to sleep, nestled on a soft dandelion. Sparky smiled. He had helped Flicker find peace, and he had found some peace for himself too.
Old Man Willow chuckled. “Sometimes, little dragon, the best way to feel calm is to help someone else feel calm.” Sparky yawned a big, dragon-sized yawn. He curled up near Flicker and closed his eyes, dreaming of sleepy stars and gentle lullabies. And he finally understood that even energetic dragons need a little quiet time too.