The Night Train to Dreamland

Choo-choo... shhhh. Choo-choo... shhhh. If you listen very carefully on a quiet night, you might hear it: the Night Train to Dreamland, chuffing softly through the dark.

The train was small and round and painted midnight blue, with windows that glowed like warm honey. Its driver was a kindly old badger named Mr. Whiskers, who wore a cap made of cobwebs and starlight.

Every night at bedtime, Mr. Whiskers blew his whistle, and the train set off to collect its sleepy passengers.

All Aboard

First stop: the rabbit burrow. "All aboard for Dreamland!" called Mr. Whiskers. Three bunny brothers hopped in, yawning so big their ears flopped.

Second stop: the tall oak tree. Two baby squirrels climbed aboard, already half asleep, their tails wrapped around them like blankets.

Third stop: the lily pond. A family of ducklings waddled up the ramp in a fluffy yellow line, quacking the softest goodnights.

The train grew warmer and cozier with every stop. The seats were made of moss. The pillows were made of dandelion fluff.

Fourth stop: the bramble patch. A whole family of hedgehogs rolled aboard, each one curled into a prickly little ball. Mr. Whiskers checked everyone's ticket, which was simply one great big yawn. "Tickets, please," he said kindly, and the whole train yawned in reply.

Arrival in Dreamland

As the train rolled on, Mr. Whiskers sang the Dreamland song: "Rock-a-bye, roll-a-bye, over hill and dale, the Night Train carries sleepy heads along the silver trail..."

One by one, the passengers drifted off. The bunnies dreamed of carrot cake. The squirrels dreamed of acorn mountains. The ducklings dreamed of swimming in a lake of warm milk.

And when the train reached Dreamland, with its candy-cane lampposts and marshmallow clouds, every passenger was tucked into the softest dream you can imagine.

As the train rolled through the starlit hills, Mr. Whiskers walked down the aisle and tucked a soft leaf blanket around every sleeper. "Sweet dreams, little ones," he murmured. "Dreamland is just around the bend, and the pillows there are softer than clouds."

Moral of the Story

Bedtime is a journey, and every good journey is sweeter when we travel it together.