After the sun slips below the horizon, when the lights in every house go out one by one, a river begins to flow.
Not an ordinary river.
This is the Sleepy River - deep blue like the night sky, drifting slowly above the clouds.
Ning lay tucked under her warm blanket, eyes closed tight. She felt her body growing lighter… and lighter… until she felt herself floating gently up from the bed.
The river came to collect her, softly.
Ning lay on the surface of the water, which was as soft as a pillow. The current carried her slowly, without any hurry at all.
Along the banks grew trees whose leaves were shaped like stars. When the breeze passed through, the stars drifted down and landed on her blanket without a sound.
A fluffy white rabbit sat on a cloud nearby, waving to her. “Sweet dreams,” it said, in a voice as light as a flower petal.
“Sweet dreams,” Ning whispered back. Her eyes grew heavier.
The river carried her over a bridge made of moonlight. Beneath the bridge, the water murmured and rippled - a sound like a lullaby being hummed.
A large cloud shaped like an elephant floated close. On its back was a small bed, covered in a starry blanket.
“Would you like to rest here?” the cloud elephant asked gently.
Ning climbed up onto the cloud elephant’s back and lay down on the soft bed. The elephant walked slowly across the sky.
Every star sent its warm light down to her. The breeze was cool and gentle. The lullaby from the Sleepy River still reached her ears, faint and sweet.
Ning closed her eyes once more.
And in that warm, soft darkness, a beautiful dream began…
Sleep well.
