Stella the Little Rocket Finds the Quiet Stars
Stella was the smallest rocket on the whole launchpad, and oh, how she loved to zoom.
All day long she whooshed up into the deep blue dark, looping past the silver Moon and waving to the planets. She raced the shooting stars and almost, almost won. She drew big swirly patterns with her trail of stardust, and turned slow somersaults just because she could.
But when night settled over space and it was time for all the little rockets to rest, Stella's engines were still humming. Buzz, buzz, buzz. She'd had such a busy day that she couldn't seem to switch off.
An old, wise star noticed the little rocket darting back and forth, unable to be still.
"Little one," the star said gently, glowing soft and warm, "come and rest beside me. Watch the quiet stars."
Stella drifted over and hovered close. All around her, one by one, the stars were dimming their bright lights down to a soft, sleepy glow. The whole sky was settling, like a giant blanket being smoothed flat.
"Now, little rocket," said the star, "switch off your big bright boosters. You don't need them now."
Stella turned off her boosters. The loud roar faded to a gentle hum.
"Good. Now breathe out a little puff of stardust — slowly."
Stella breathed out a small, glittering puff. It floated away into the dark like a tiny silver cloud. She breathed out another, slower. And another, slower still.
With each soft puff, her humming engines grew quieter. Her bright lights dimmed to a warm, cosy twinkle. The busy day drifted off behind her, far across the sky.
The Moon pulled a wisp of cloud across its face. The planets turned slow and silent. The whole of space went calm and gentle and still.
"Goodnight, Stella," whispered the quiet stars, all around her.
And the smallest rocket on the launchpad floated softly among them, her stardust settling like a blanket, finally and happily fast asleep.