Barnaby Bear loved bedtime. Not just because his Mama Bear read him a story, or because his room was snug and warm. Barnaby loved bedtime most of all because of his duvet. It was the fluffiest, softest, most wonderful blue duvet in the whole wide forest.
Every night, after his bath and his story, Barnaby would climb into his little bed. He’d pull the big blue duvet right up to his chin. It felt like snuggling inside a gentle cloud, or being wrapped in a giant, soft hug. The edges tucked around him just right, making him feel perfectly safe and sound.
Underneath the duvet, the air felt warm and still. Barnaby wiggled his toes. His feet were cozy. He snuggled his nose into the soft fabric. It smelled faintly of clean laundry and sleepy bear fur. It was the smell of bedtime, and it made him feel calm.
Sometimes, when Barnaby snuggled under his duvet, he liked to close his eyes and imagine things. He imagined the fluffy duvet was really a big, peaceful boat, gently rocking on a calm, quiet lake. He was the captain, tucked safely in his cozy cabin, drifting slowly towards the land of sleep.
Other times, he imagined the blue duvet was a big, soft field of forget-me-not flowers, all swaying gently in a slow, sleepy breeze. He was a tiny seed, tucked deep under the warm, soft petals, getting ready to sprout and grow big and strong in the morning sun.
Tonight, as he pulled the duvet close, Barnaby imagined he was a little cloud floating very, very slowly across the nighttime sky. The duvet felt just like the fluffiest part of the cloud. He floated past sleepy stars that blinked softly, and a quiet moon that smiled down at him.
Floating on his duvet cloud felt so peaceful. He didn't have to hurry anywhere. He just drifted, gently up and down, up and down. His breathing slowed down to match the slow, gentle movement of the cloud. In and out, soft and quiet. His body felt heavy and relaxed.
The warm, soft duvet wrapped around him like a comforting hug. It chased away any wiggles or jiggles. It smoothed out any busy thoughts from the day. All that was left was the feeling of warmth, softness, and perfect peace.
As the imaginary cloud drifted slower and slower, Barnaby felt his eyelids grow heavy. The soft hum of the night sounds outside his window seemed far away and gentle. He was safe and warm, tucked under his favorite blue duvet. The gentle drifting feeling helped him relax completely.
He took one last deep, slow breath, feeling the softness of the duvet against his cheek. He was a sleepy bear cub on a sleepy cloud, wrapped in the coziest blanket in the world. And as the cloud came to a stop in the quiet sky, Barnaby Bear drifted peacefully off to sleep, warm and safe until morning.