Barnaby the Teddy Who Watched the Night
Every night, when the lamp clicked off and the room went soft and dark, something special happened on the little bed by the window. A small brown teddy bear named Barnaby opened his button eyes — and began his most important job.
All day, Barnaby was carried and squeezed and dragged from room to room. He went on adventures in the garden, sat at the table for pretend tea, and got hugged so tightly at story time that his stuffing went squish. But at night, when his child's breathing grew slow and deep, Barnaby had a different job. At night, Barnaby was the Keeper of the Dark.
He sat up against the pillow, right beside the sleeping child, and he kept watch.
When a floorboard creaked, Barnaby listened, and knew it was only the house settling down to sleep — and he was not afraid. When a shadow leaned across the wall, Barnaby looked, and knew it was only the friendly old tree outside the window, waving goodnight — and he was not afraid. When the wind whispered at the glass, Barnaby heard, and knew it was only the night saying hush, hush — and he was not afraid.
"I've got you," Barnaby whispered to his sleeping child, in the soft voice only teddies have. "Nothing to worry about. I'm right here, and I'll be right here all night long. You can sleep as deep as you like."
And the child, even fast asleep, seemed to hear him — and snuggled a little closer, and held him a little tighter, and smiled the tiniest sleepy smile.
Barnaby didn't mind staying awake. He liked it. There was nothing in the whole world he loved more than keeping his child safe and warm while the stars turned slowly overhead.
So if you ever wake in the night, and everything is dark and quiet, reach out and find your teddy. Because teddies never really sleep at bedtime. They're far too busy watching over you — keeping the dark friendly, keeping you safe — until the morning light comes home again.
Sleep tight. Your teddy's got you.