The Little Night Train

Every night at exactly seven o'clock, a very small train leaves the station at the end of Maple Street.

It isn't a busy train. It doesn't carry suitcases or shoppers or people in a hurry. It's the Little Night Train, and it has only one job: to carry sleepy things home to bed.

The Little Night Train is painted deep blue, with tiny silver stars on its sides. Its engine goes chuff… chuff… chuff, softly, so it never wakes anyone up. And its driver is a gentle old badger in a striped cap, who hums while he drives.

"All aboard," the badger calls, very quietly. "All aboard for Dreamland."

The first stop is the Meadow. Waiting on the little wooden platform are three yawning bunnies. They hop into the first carriage, where the seats are made of soft green moss, and snuggle up together.

Chuff… chuff… chuff.

The second stop is the Pond. A family of ducklings waddles aboard, one, two, three, four, five, and settles into a carriage lined with feathers. They tuck their heads under their wings before the train has even started moving again.

Chuff… chuff… chuff.

The third stop is the Old Oak Tree. A little owl is waiting there, rubbing her big round eyes. "I stayed up all day," she says. "Now I'm very sleepy." The badger smiles and gives her the carriage with a round window, so she can see the moon.

Chuff… chuff… chuff.

The train rolls slowly over a hill and across a little bridge. The river underneath is shining silver in the moonlight. Fireflies float alongside the carriages, like tiny lanterns lighting the way.

Now the train is getting close to one more stop. A very special stop.

It's a house with a warm yellow window. And in that house there is a bedroom. And in that bedroom there is a bed. And in that bed, there is you.

The Little Night Train slows down… slower… slower… and stops right outside your window with a soft sigh. Psssshhh.

The badger tips his striped cap. "Your carriage is ready," he whispers. "It has the softest pillows and the warmest blanket on the whole train."

You don't even have to get up. Just close your eyes, and imagine climbing aboard. The pillow is soft. The blanket is warm. The bunnies and the ducklings and the little owl are all fast asleep in the carriages ahead.

The train starts to move again, gently, gently, rocking side to side.

Chuff… chuff… chuff…

Next stop: Dreamland.

The Little Night Train will carry you all the way there, and bring you home again in the morning, just in time for breakfast.

All aboard… and sweet dreams.