The Sleepy Little Cars

The garage was quiet and warm. Jack knelt on the cool floor next to Dad, looking at a long row of tiny toy cars parked side by side. Each little car had worked hard all day, zooming across the rug and over pillow hills.

"Time to tuck them in," Dad said, smiling. Jack nodded and picked up a soft scrap of blanket, ready to help every car fall asleep.

A tiny glowing light drifted down from the shelf. It was Firefly, blinking gently near the toolbox. "I can help you see in the dim corners," he whispered, floating close to the row of cars.

Jack started with the little red race car. He folded the blanket over its hood, soft and snug. "Goodnight, car," he whispered, and its headlights blinked slowly closed.

Next came the yellow truck, then the blue van, then a tiny green car with round wheels. Jack tucked each one with careful hands, patting the blankets flat like Dad showed him.

But the very last car, a small silver one, didn't want to sleep. Its headlights kept blinking on and off, bright and wide awake. Jack frowned a little, not sure what to do.

"Maybe it's scared of the dark," Dad said softly. Firefly floated closer to the silver car, glowing warm and steady beside it.

Jack leaned down and hummed a quiet tune, the same one Mom hummed at bedtime. He smoothed the little blanket over the car's hood, slow and gentle.

Slowly, the silver car's headlights blinked once, twice, then closed all the way. The whole row of cars sat sleeping now, quiet under their tiny blankets.

"You did it," Dad whispered, resting a hand on Jack's shoulder. Jack felt warm and proud, watching the little sleeping cars glow softly in the dark garage.

Firefly drifted up near the doorway, his light dimming to a soft, sleepy glow. "Time for you to rest too," he whispered kindly.

Dad took Jack's hand, and together they walked toward the house. Jack looked back once at the row of tucked-in cars, happy they were all asleep.

Upstairs, Jack climbed into bed, pulling up the blanket just like the little cars. He closed his eyes, feeling snug and warm.

Outside the window, Firefly's light blinked once more, soft and far away, like a tiny goodnight wave. Jack smiled sleepily and drifted off to sleep.