The Sleepy Little Cloud

High up in the evening sky, where the stars were just beginning to peek out, there floated a very small cloud called Wisp.

Wisp was soft and white and round, like a ball of cotton wool. And Wisp had a very important job. Every night, Wisp floated slowly over the little town of Hush, to help everyone get ready for sleep.

“Time to start,” said Wisp, with a yawn. “Float, float, float.”

First, Wisp drifted over the bakery at the corner. The baker had finished the last loaf of the day and was wiping the flour from her hands.

Wisp sprinkled a little cool, soft mist over the roof. Sssh. The baker smiled and sat down. “Goodness,” she said, “what a quiet, cosy evening.” She turned off the oven and went up to bed.

Next, Wisp drifted over the school on the hill. Everything inside was still and tidy, with the chairs tucked in and the paintings on the walls. The school was already sleeping. Wisp gave it a soft pat and floated on.

Then Wisp drifted over a little blue house with a round window. In the window sat a girl called Mina, looking out at the stars. She had her teddy in her arms.

“Hello, little cloud,” whispered Mina.

“Hello, Mina,” said Wisp, in a voice like a feather. “It’s almost bedtime. Would you like to watch me float?”

Mina nodded. Wisp drifted slowly across the window, in, and out, in, and out, like a big, gentle breath.

“Breathe with me,” said Wisp. “In… and out.”

Mina breathed in. Mina breathed out. Her teddy rose and fell with her.

“In… and out.”

The stars twinkled, slow and sleepy.

“You’re doing it beautifully,” said Wisp. “Now, one more thing. Let’s say goodnight to the day. What was your favourite thing today?”

Mina thought. “The park,” she whispered. “And the ducks.”

“Goodnight, park,” said Wisp softly.

“Goodnight, ducks,” whispered Mina.

“Goodnight, Mina,” said Wisp.

“Goodnight, little cloud.”

Mina pulled up her blanket and tucked in her teddy. Her eyes felt heavy, heavy as warm pebbles. She yawned a big, slow yawn.

Wisp drifted on, over the rooftops of Hush, one by one, with a soft sssh, a gentle mist, a cool, quiet hush. The windows went dark. The lights went out. The whole town grew still.

At last Wisp floated up, up, up into the night sky, past the twinkling stars, until Wisp was right beside the moon.

“Everyone’s asleep,” said Wisp, with a very big yawn. “My job is done.”

“Well done, little cloud,” said the moon.

Wisp curled up, soft and white and round, in the quiet blue sky. The stars blinked sleepily. The night grew calm and deep.

And below, in the little town of Hush, everyone slept, and Wisp slept too, floating, floating, floating on the gentle night.

The end.