The Friendly Shadows

The Dream That Followed

Owen woke from a dream about enormous footsteps. The dream ended when he opened his eyes, but the fear had followed him into the room. His coat was a tall creature. The curtain was a waving hand.

Dad came in with water and sat on the floor. “The dream was not real,” he said, “but the scared feeling is real. We can help that part.”

The Bear Light

They switched on Owen's bear-shaped night-light. Dad did not say there was nothing to fear and leave. Together they investigated.

The tall creature became one coat, two sleeves and a woolly hat. The waving hand became the curtain moving in the fan. Under the bed they found a sock, a book and absolutely no footsteps.

Then Dad made the bear light face the wall. The shadows became a forest. His fingers made a rabbit. Owen's fingers made a bird with far too many wings.

A New Ending

“Dreams sometimes forget to finish,” Dad said. “How should yours end?”

Owen decided the enormous footsteps belonged to a giant who had lost one slipper. The giant found it, apologised for the noise and tiptoed home for cocoa.

Dad repeated the new ending slowly. Owen breathed in while the bear light grew bright and out while it grew dim.

The coat stayed a coat. The curtain kept waving. Owen did not have to love the dark. He only had to know what was in his room and how the dream ended.

When sleep returned, it came quietly, wearing both slippers.