Kiki conquers the nerve-wracking nightmare.
Not too far away from here,
There lives a little clipspringer called Kiki.
A clipspringer is a kind of small deer.
They live in rocky areas where they nimbly jump from one rock to the next on the tips of their small hooves.
At dusk one night,
Kiki sneaks into the trees.
She is trying to hide away from her parents.
It will be easier to hide between the trees than on the rocky hill that we call home.
She steps carefully,
Trying her best not to make a sound.
I don't want to go to sleep tonight,
She thinks fearfully.
It's when I sleep that he comes out of the dark to scare me.
She is just about to slip into a denser part of the forest.
Then she hears the soft crack of a twig snapping behind her.
Someone is following me.
Kiki freezes on the spot.
Kiki,
Kiki,
Kiki,
Where are you?
It's bedtime.
She hears her parents calling from a distance.
Could I run fast enough to reach them before the thing behind me catches me?
She thinks,
Feeling very scared.
Kiki holds her breath and turns around slowly.
Then she sighs with relief.
Shy Bunny steps out from behind a tree fern.
Hello little clipspringer,
Why are you hiding?
Shy Bunny asks softly.
I don't want to go to sleep,
Kiki answers.
I'm afraid of the dark.
In the distance they can hear parents calling again.
Kiki,
Kiki,
Kiki,
Where are you?
Oh,
There is nothing to be afraid of,
Little one,
Shy Bunny answers bravely.
Is your name Kiki?
Is that your parents calling?
Um,
Yes,
Kiki whispers softly.
But I don't want to go to sleep.
I'm afraid of the dark and of going to sleep because that's when the nightmare comes out to scare me.
Don't worry Kiki,
I think I have a plan.
But first I need to tell your parents that you are safe.
Wait here,
I'll be back.
Kiki peeps out behind a tree to see Shy Bunny going up to her parents.
She cannot hear what they say to each other.
Soon she sees the Bunny hopping back to her.
Her parents have stopped calling her.
Come with me little Kiki,
Bunny says.
I am going to show you that there is nothing to be afraid of in the dark.
Actually,
That's when my friends come out to play with me.
Kiki's eyes go big with surprise.
Really?
She gasps.
You have friends who play with you in the dark?
Yes,
Shy Bunny says proudly.
I have many friends who play with me every night after dark.
Look,
There is one of them now.
Kiki looks in the direction where Bunny is pointing and sees at first only one and then many stars swirling towards them.
Their lights twinkle with such a warm glow that Kiki doesn't feel afraid at all anymore.
Let's play hide and seek!
Yells not so Shy Bunny.
He shows Kiki how to catch the stars with his fishing net and puts them in a jar.
They twinkle happily at him from the jar until he gently releases them back into the night.
Kiki is having so much fun that she doesn't even realize that it has gone completely dark now.
Let's play hopscotch!
Shouts Kiki.
Time for ringer roses!
The stars cheer.
This game is their favorite.
Tag,
You're it!
Kiki squeals as Bunny taps her on her shoulder.
Shy Bunny,
Kiki and the stars play until they are so tired that they flop down on the grass.
I wish I had star friends like you Bunny,
Kiki sighs.
I would never be afraid if I had friendly lights with me in the dark all the time.
They would keep the nightmare away forever.
But we are all your friends now too,
The stars exclaim.
Yes,
But I can't play with you and Bunny every night,
Kiki says.
Usually I have to be in bed as soon as it gets dark.
Wait,
I know!
One of the smallest stars bounces up and down with excitement.
Follow me!
The enthusiastic little star leads them to a cluster of trees and rustles the branches.
Tiny twinkly lights in the trees begin appearing.
Could there be stars in the trees?
No,
They're fireflies!
I'm looking for a friend to go home with Kiki,
The tiny star says.
Would one of you like to come and be her friend?
It would help her feel less lonely and scared at night when it's dark.
The fireflies fly in excited circles in the air,
Yelling,
I will!
No,
I want to!
Let me,
Let me!
Then one of them lands gently on Kiki's nose and starts glowing brighter and brighter.
I think Kiki has made a new friend,
Shy Bunny smiles.
Come along everyone,
It's time for us to take Kiki home!
Bunny waves good night to his star friends.
Kiki's new friend,
Fred the firefly,
Moves up her nose to a comfortable position next to her ear.
Bunny and Kiki walk to Kiki's home in the path of light left by the departing stars.
Oh,
It was so exciting!
Kiki launches into her story of what happened that night.
And you should see how beautiful everything looks in the dark!
Kiki's parents smile at each other as they tuck little Kiki in to get some sleep.
They make a comfortable nest for Fred next to her where he lays glowing gently.
I think I'll close my eyes for a bit now.
Good night Fred!
Good night everyone!
Kiki never had a nightmare again.
All she ever dreams of now are her friends Shy Bunny,
Fred and the stars.
Besides,
With Fred at her side,
It is never quite as dark as she remembers from before.
