Stretching Out

One night, I was all snuggled beside Mummy in her big soft bed, and everything felt warm. The blankets were like hugs, and Mummy—my beautiful Mummy Lady Penelope—smelled like flowers and sleepy tea. I could hear her breathing gently, her arm curved just enough to hold me close. I was so happy she was with me, not going anywhere, just here, stretched out beside me.

But then, Mummy let out a big grown-up sigh and stretched. Her arms reached far, her legs too, and she groaned like how I do when I pretend to be a lion. I rolled all the way over to the edge of the bed like a little log. My head popped up from under the covers, and I blinked. Sherbet, our silly pink-nosed pug, had been shoved to the side. He was half-under a pillow, with his soft round bottom sticking right up in the air.

I blinked again. That would not do.

So I crawled across the blankets—carefully, very carefully—and gave Sherbet a little nudge. “Down,” I whispered like Mummy sometimes says to me. I gently pushed his bum down till he was lying like a proper sleepy pug, his squishy face smooshed into the bed. Then I slid myself back under the blankets like a sneaky worm, tucking myself in with a big sigh. All fixed.

But Mummy started to hum.

It was soft at first, like the lullabies she sings sometimes, but then her voice got dreamier, and I could tell she wasn’t awake. She was singing in her sleep.

I scooted closer and then slipped all the way under the covers, my head poking near her tummy. It was warm and dark under there, like a little tent. I could feel her body move with her breathing, and then… she started dreaming.

In her dream, she was on a big, shiny stage. I could see it, like magic. Lights flashing, a huge crowd cheering. Mummy had sparkly clothes on, and she was singing loud, dancing like she was floating. “Oooooh, baby, ooooooh!” she sang, tossing her hair.

And then, just when everyone screamed with happiness, she flew off the stage, arms open wide—and crashed into the crowd!

But the crowd wasn’t there.

Mummy hit the floor with a thud.

I poked my head out from under the blanket. She was lying on the bedroom carpet, her hair a little messy and her nightdress all twisted. She opened one eye and groaned.

I giggled.

She smiled and raised one eyebrow. “Oh ho…” she whispered. “Where are you?”

She started crawling toward the bed on her hands and knees. “Sherbet,” she called softly, “go find our little nighttime explorer.”

Sherbet perked up and snuffled his way under the blankets.

I knew he found me because I could feel his soft bum pressing right into my face.

“BOO!” I yelled, and Sherbet turned around so fast he flopped right onto my lap. I grabbed him and gave him a big cuddle, both of us squashed together like two peas under a duvet.

Then the covers lifted, and Mummy peeked in. Her eyes twinkled. “Peek-a…” she whispered.

“BOO!” I squealed.

She scooped me up in one big cuddle and kissed my cheek. I curled into her arms, all small and safe.

Sherbet made a little whuff, and Mummy looked down at him with a grin. “Oh, we can’t forget you, darling.”

She wrapped one arm around Sherbet too, pulling him into the cuddle. Now we were all three tangled up, warm and safe in our nighttime snuggle.

Suddenly, there was a grumble from the bed next to ours.

“Is there a reason for all this commotion?” came Parker’s sleepy voice.

Mummy blinked and tried not to laugh. “She just doesn’t want to go to bed, Parker,” she said with a soft smile. “She still wants to play.”

And I did.