The Goodnight Town

sent them off to bed. The big kiss on each of their little heads. Good Night, my little ones, sweet dreams, she called as they went back to their beds. Jackson usually fell asleep during story time, but not tonight. He was wide awake. He wandered over to his bookshelf and searched through the titles. There were familiar ones about a big red dog and favorites about taco eating dragons. In the back of the shelf, a silver book glowed. The

light caught Jackson's attention and he reached for it. But before his fingers could touch it, the book tumbled out, its pages, ruffling as it slowly floated down onto his bed. Sitting down to it, you reached for the cover that read the good Night Town. The book was once again a step ahead as it fluttered its pages automatically to the first line. Here in Goodnighttown, everyone sleeps sun up

or sundown. Jackson's fingers finally reached the glowing page of the book, and instantly he became part of the story. Jackson found himself now sitting on a park bench just inside the town square. Only the bench was not like the ones in his own park. This bench was squishy and cozy, and even came with a pillow to rest your head. All around the park, the other benches looked the same, some with snoozing creatures and others getting ready to rest. A family of chipmunks chittered together as they

snored on the bench. Across the path, a toucan had added leaves and turned his bench bed into a cozy nest. The park was filled with the quiet sounds of animals dreaming. Jackson tiptoed toward the street, careful not to wake anyone. The sun was low in its sky, its eyes fluttering closed as it struggled to stay awake. It was a very sleepy sun. The stores were a sleeplover's dream. There was a shop dedicated to pillows and another for soft fuzzy blankets. The snuggle Buck shop had windows full of

plush toys. Teddy bears, dogs, dragons, bumblebees all sat there waiting for someone to snuggle to sleep. Jackson stepped inside and found a plush polar bear hugging it already. He walked over to the counter to pay. The cashier was catnapping, curled up in the middle of the counter as she purred, excuse me, I would like to buy this polar bear. Jackson whispered to the cat. It stretched its fuzzy legs and pointed one paw to the sign by the register. It read nap time from eight am to eight pm.

Please take what you'd like. Then the cat curled back down, turning its head away from him. Jackson walked along the street with his new blush polar bear toy, past shops of night lights and feedy Patches Ammaz. He stopped in for a Comet nightlight and rocket ship Jamies with more sleepy cashiers who pointed to signs about nap times. He continued on until the shops disappeared and the sidewalk turned

into a grassy path along the river. Turtles curled up on floating logs, and frogs even worth sleeping on lily pads. Is anyone awake in this town? Wonder Jackson. The sun had now made it to the edge of the trees, and Jackson watched as it grabbed some clouds and tucked itself in. The moon yawned and rose up into the sky. Well, hello there, what are you doing awake? It called down to him. I can't sleep. Jackson shrugged. Hmm, that's strange. Everyone is sleepy in good night town. Well not me.

Can you help me? The moon smiled at him. Oh, of course, hop on. It sent a cloud down next to him, and Jackson climbed onto the cloud. His feet sank through the fluff, and he settled himself down. Jackson took his comet nightlight and stuck it into the cloud. A soft light filled the space. The cloud lifted, floating slowly back toward town. He held his polar bear tight, seeing what the moon saw. Every night, white puffs escape chimneys from the houses below. Everyone inside warm and cozy.

They're poor. Lights twinkled like stars from below. The cloud floated over the trees, full of sleepy animals, nests of birds, and tree holes filled with squirrels were all snoring away. Jackson rested his head on the cloud and watched as the ground passed by. It carried toward him mountaintops, and he felt the warm weight of sleep covered his body, and he imagined that's how the mountaintops felt when covered

in snow. They passed by caves of dragons curled up with smoke and flames, following each snore from their mouths. The weight of sleep reached Jackson's eyelids and he allowed them to close as he heard the moon whisper good night. The cloud carried Jackson to the top of the page, bringing him out of the book back into his room, and pulled the covers over him and his new polar bear, making sure to plug in his comment nightlight before floating

back into the book. The glowing silver book closed quietly and tucked itself back onto the shelf again, waiting for the next time Jackson needed help. Well, my friends, as we all drift off to sleep, may you have the sweetest of dreams.