Kai was a toddler. He was just three years old. Kai was full of energy during the day and loved sleeping at night.

Except...

At home, Kai slept squished between Mommy and Daddy like a warm marshmallow. Blankets everywhere. Feet everywhere. Very cozy.

Mommy and Daddy were on vacation and Kai was visiting his grandparents, Güela and PapPap, for TEN WHOLE DAYS. Kai had never slept in a bed alone. Mommy and Daddy, Güela and PapPap were curious to know how he would do. 

The house smelled like coffee in the morning and clean sheets at night. The floors creaked. The cuckoo clock tic-tocked. 

The bedroom had a small wooden bed with a squeaky frame. A soft blue blanket with tiny stars. A pillow that puffed when you plopped it. A nightlight that glowed just a little. Kai's dinosaur sat on the pillow, waiting. This bedroom was his Daddy's old bedroom. Güela and PapPap fixed it just in time for Kai's ten day stay.

Kai stared. "This bed looks...brave," Kai said. 

NIGHT ONE

Güela tucked Kai in that night. PapPap gave him a kiss and turned off the light. 

They both tip-toed silently away. 

The room went quiet. 

TOO quiet.

Suddenly—

"GÜELA WHERE ARE YOUUUU?!"

Güela rushed to the room.

"My blanket slipped," Kai whined. "Fix it, pleeeeease!"'

She tucked him in and Kai closed his eyes. 

But a few minutes later...

"GÜELA WHERE ARE YOUUUU?!"

PapPap came running this time.

"My dinosaur is scared."

PapPap whispered something into the dinosaur's ear and then everything was fine.

"GÜELA WHERE ARE YOUUUU?!" he yelled for the third time.

"I heard something!"

Güela listened carefully for a moment and heard the small pendulum of the cuckoo clock swaying left, right, left, right. "It was the clock." she whispered. 

The time on the cuckoo clock marked 12:53am. 

Kai smiled, closed his eyes, hugged his dinosaur tightly again and FINALLY slept. 

The following morning...

Güela yawned. PapPap did too. They both needed an extra cup of coffee. And Kai played with his toys. 

NIGHT TWO

Kai climbed into bed. The moonlight danced and made shadows on the wall. The house creaked. Güela tucked him in. "Now you go to sleep" she said. But Kai had different plans that night. 

"GÜELA WHERE ARE YOUUUU?!"

At 9:08pm, he asked for more water. At 10:41pm, he asked for a hug. The third time he yelled for Güela, it was 12:17am, and he wanted to sing a song. 

Güela, of course, brought him a small glass of water, gave him a tight bear hug, and sang a tiny song until Kai closed his eyes and slept. That night, or perhaps, morning, Güela collapsed into bed and she too slept. 

The next morning...

PapPap fell asleep in his chair, Güela almost poured coffee into the cereal. Kai giggled. 

NIGHT THREE

Kai tried very hard to sleep. He hugged his dinosaur more tightly. He wiggled his toes. He closed his eyes, but at 10:32pm, he yelled,

"GÜELA WHERE ARE YOUUUU?!" 

PapPap came running this time. "What is it?", he sleepily grimaced.

"I'm checking that you're there." Kai grinned, 

PapPap tucked Kai one more time and leaned in to kiss him goodnight. 

In the morning, Güela found PapPap in Kai's bed snoring.