Story 405: Bed

Bed
by
Matt Zurbo

Not every child’s bed is special,
but they should be.

A place that’s warm,
the feels safe, and has an amazing lamp,
and little personal things.

A bed should be a fortress, a boat,
a whale, a car.
A thing that flies, at the least.

Cielo’s bed was a bunk,
that felt like the tower of a castle.
It had lights like green stars, that moved across the ceiling.

Her friends, Cheetah and Superhero Girl. (Dolls)

There were books up there to read, too.

Some kids sleep four to a bed,
that’s not so bad as long as they have books to read,
storied to tell,

secrets to whisper, into the night.

Not every child reads books in bed, but they should.

Not every child has their very own fantasy world,
that their bed is the middle of,
but they should.

One just for them, as real as Alice in Wonderland,
or Jungle Book.

Cielo’s fantasy world was “Calabonya!”

“You can only get there by riding a farting unicorn
over a rainbow!” she said.
And smiled and laughed.

And made farting noises.

Not every kid has sleepovers,
but they should.

When Cielo and her friend went to Calabonya, they heard something rustling,
up in a purple Calabonya tree.

Then a splat! Whatever it was fell.
Then a flop, then a loop.
Then a flop-a-loop-a-loop-a-loop… Louder, closer, faster!

Then a bigger splat!

Cielo explained that Floop-A-Loop (hairy and round, with five red eyes, a blue-and-white trunk) would get around by rolling on its very, very big, flat feet! One would go floop. The next would go loop.

And stop by splatting into things!

“Floop-a-Loop only ever says “FLOOP-A-LOOP!” Cielo cheered.

He often saved her by farting in giant’s mouths, and things like that.

Cielo had other friends in Calabonya. Nothing the Robot,
with his rocket ankles, (looking for people to hug).

Kad-a-boing! (She bounced a lot!)

And the Mermaid Called Rose, who would only sing.
(And travel around land in a bathtub with goat’s legs.)

“Sometimes we invent songs together!”
Cielo said.

Cielo’s Calabonya friends would occasionally come out to play,
but, mostly, would hang out around her bed, there whenever she was

grumpy,

happy and glad,

bored,

sad.

Not everybody has friends like that, but they should.

All kids have nightmares. That’s a fact.

One time, Cielo dreamed the bad dragon was trying to eat her.
It was horrible! 

But Cheetah gave her a hug.
Her Calabonya friends protected her.

Her green stars made her feel safe.

Not all nightmares end with a warm smile and sleep,
but they should. 

When Cielo’s mum climbed up to see what the fuss was about, she realised, from there,
Cielo could see the whole world!  

So (while she slept) Mum and Dad left her a treat. (One parent hanging cardboard clouds and sun, while other putting pot plants and toy animals below.)

All kids should occasionally wake up to a treat. (Cielo and her Calabonya friends in bed, sleeping as it flies through the sky.)

Not every child is told their bed can fly.
but they should be.   

Cielo didn’t want to get up in the morning.
She should have.
It’s always best to leap into a day.

Not every kid does, but they should.

There’s something pretty special about
being the first one up.

You see amazing things.

Night turn to day. Sunrises.

That’s when the world belongs to
just you!

Cielo’s Mum called (up to her in her castle.)

“Come on!” Floop-a-loop is already up and dancing!
Join in!”

And Cielo did.

When you wake in something amazing, odds are,
there’ll be a wondrous day ahead.  

The End