Good night,
Friend.
It's time for a bedtime story.
Tonight our story is.
.
.
Mouse and the Fireflies.
Mouse's kite bobbed against the orange sherbet sky.
As the sun slipped behind soft purple mountains,
Mouse yawned.
It was time for bed.
Mouse rolled the kite string.
His kite began lowering.
A group of fireflies joined him.
Their bellies flickered with golden light.
Good morning,
They said.
You mean,
Good evening,
Said Mouse.
No,
Good morning,
Said the biggest firefly.
Good morning,
Good morning,
Said the tiniest firefly.
And top of the morning,
Too,
Said a firefly wearing sunglasses.
Mouse looked up at the sky.
The sun was setting.
The stars were waking up,
Getting ready to twinkle.
Like fairy lights in the night sky.
Soon the round moon would glow overhead,
Lighting the way for those who traveled the forest at night.
Good morning,
Good morning,
Good morning,
Sang the fireflies.
They flew in circles around Mouse's head.
I don't understand,
Said Mouse.
Your night is our morning,
They said.
When your day ends,
Ours begins.
The fireflies said that where they lived,
It was always morning,
Always sunny,
Always bright.
Mouse was intrigued.
I have never seen such a place,
Said Mouse.
Come and visit,
Come and visit,
Said the fireflies.
They danced excitedly in the sky.
They told him they lived in a land beyond the mountains.
Mouse looked at his watch.
It's late,
He said,
And that is far for me to walk.
You can fly with us,
Said the fireflies.
All right,
Said Mouse.
Hold on,
Said the fireflies.
The fireflies flew up to Mouse's kite.
With tiny legs,
They lifted the kite high into the air.
Mouse gripped the kite string as his feet left the earth.
Up,
Up,
Up he went.
Mouse flew through the dark night sky.
He followed his kite,
Which was lit by the glow of the fireflies.
Higher and higher they flew,
Farther than Mouse had ever been.
Suddenly Mouse saw a great light,
Where the mountains met the sky.
The light got brighter and brighter.
The fireflies landed in a forest of glowing gold.
Everywhere he looked,
The world around him was covered in sparkling gold.
Gold trees and flowers,
Golden grass and a golden river.
And where the river ended,
An enormous golden lake.
Mouse blinked,
For he had never seen such a sight.
Hundreds of fireflies swam in the golden water.
Some fireflies were diving.
Some were on rafts,
Sipping lemonade.
All came out of the golden lake,
Glowing like the brightest moon or the midday sun.
So that's why fireflies glow,
Said Mouse.
Yes,
Said the fireflies as they dove into the water.
Mouse walked up to the lake.
Golden waves lapped against the shore.
Slowly Mouse dipped one paw into the lake.
He pulled it out quickly.
Mouse's paw glittered in soft,
Liquid gold.
He held his paw in front of him.
It glowed like a lantern.
He smiled.
The light made him feel warm and cozy inside.
The fireflies came out of the water,
Dripping with gold.
Do you like it here?
They asked.
Would you like to stay here with us,
Where it is always morning?
Mouse said that while it was beautiful,
It wasn't his home.
The fireflies understood.
They took a small glass jar and filled it with golden water.
Take this with you,
They said.
Then you will always have golden light wherever you go.
Mouse held the jar in one paw and the kite string in the other.
The fireflies flew back to Mouse's home,
Making a golden rainbow across the sky.
They landed at Mouse's house.
Mouse waved goodbye to the fireflies.
Mouse went into his house.
He brushed his teeth and put on his pajamas.
Mouse climbed into bed.
He put the jar of water on his nightstand.
The golden water lit his room.
Outside the window,
The fireflies twinkled in the night sky.
Mouse pulled up his covers.
He soon fell asleep in a room that glowed soft and gentle,
Like the light of the fireflies.
The End
