Kaia and the Missing Moonie

Tonight, the house was quiet and golden with bedtime light. A little lamp glowed beside Kaia’s bed, making a soft circle on the rug. Kaia was in her pajamas, ready for sleep. She reached for Moonie Bear, her snuggly bedtime friend... But Moonie was not there. Kaia felt a small worried flutter in her tummy. “Oh,” she whispered. “Where did Moonie go?” Bluey came close and gave Kaia a kind smile. “Let’s do a sniff-around,” said Bluey. “We can look carefully, one cozy place at a time.” Kaia took a slow breath. Then she looked under the bed, behind the chair, and beside her favorite blanket. Just then, the curtain rustled softly. Kaia’s eyes grew wide. “Could that be Moonie?” She paused. She breathed in... and out. Cinderella folded her hands gently. “Let us listen carefully,” she said. “Sometimes a quiet room tells us where to look.” Everyone listened. The curtain rustled again. But it was only the breeze, tickling the fabric. “It’s all right,” Kaia said. “We can keep looking.” Then, near the door, the neighbor’s cat sat very still, holding something suspiciously soft in its paws. “Moonie?” Kaia wondered. Her worried flutter came back. Winnie-the-Pooh spoke in his warm, rumbly voice. “Perhaps we should check cozy hiding spots,” he said. “Soft things do enjoy soft places.” Kaia took another calm breath. She asked gently, “May I see, please?” The cat opened its paws. It was not Moonie Bear. It was only a little bit of fluffy blanket. Kaia smiled. “Thank you for helping.” Then she looked at her bed again, nice and slowly. Behind her pillow, tucked into the warm fold of her blanket, was Moonie Bear. “There you are,” Kaia whispered. She hugged Moonie close. And Kaia knew that when a worry comes, she can pause, breathe, and ask for kind help. Goodnight, Kaia. Goodnight, Moonie. Sleep cozy.