Emma's Sleepy Farm Friends

The barn lamp was low and gold when Emma pulled the blanket to the edge of the bed. In a neat row sat all the soft farm animals: a woolly sheep, a spotted cow, a fuzzy chick, and a little brown pony. She looked at them and yawned a tiny yawn.

"Time to tuck them in," said Mom, sitting down beside Emma. On the windowsill, Firefly blinked his warm little light, bright and cheerful, as if he were saying hello.

Emma picked up the woolly sheep first. She patted its soft back, one, two, three times, until its button eyes seemed to close. "Goodnight, sheep," she whispered, and tucked it under the corner of the blanket.

Next came the spotted cow. It was heavier than the sheep, and Emma held it carefully in both arms. She gave it a gentle hug before laying it down. Firefly's glow dimmed just a little, softer than before, like a nightlight turning down.

"One more hug for the chick," said Mom, and Emma scooped up the little yellow chick. It was the smallest of all. She cradled it close and patted its fluffy back until it seemed to settle right into her hands.

Only the pony was left, and Emma suddenly felt shy about saying goodnight to it. "What if I forget how to tuck him in just right?" she whispered to Mom.

Mom smiled and took Emma's hand. "There is no wrong way to give a goodnight hug," she said softly. "Your pony just wants to feel your patting hand and hear your soft voice."

Emma took a deep breath and gathered the little pony close. She patted its back slowly, the way she had patted all the others, and whispered, "Goodnight, pony. Sleep tight." It felt just right after all.

One by one, all four animals lay snug in the row, their soft eyes closed, their fluffy backs still warm from Emma's patting hand. Firefly's light had grown very soft now, just a tiny glow, like a sleepy little star.

Mom tucked the blanket around Emma too, right up to her chin. "Now it's your turn for a goodnight hug," she said, and wrapped her up warm and close.

Emma closed her eyes, listening to the quiet room and the soft breathing of all the sleepy farm friends beside her. Firefly's glow faded to the gentlest twinkle, watching over them all.

And with the woolly sheep, the spotted cow, the fuzzy chick, and the little pony all tucked in beside her, Emma drifted off to sleep, safe and warm until morning.