The Song of the Oak Tree

Tap, tap, tap.

Nora wiggled her toes under her heavy, warm quilt. She pulled the fluffy pink blanket all the way up to her chin, until only her bright eyes and her button nose peeked out. Her bedroom was dark, and that strange little tapping sound was coming from the window.

Tap, tap, rustle.

Nora scrambled across the soft mattress and snuggled extra close to Luna. She buried her face in Luna’s thick, grey fur. Luna smelled like warm sunshine and fresh backyard air.

"Luna," Nora whispered, her voice as quiet as a mouse. "Do you hear that? Is a tiny, pointy-toed monster knocking on our glass?"

Luna did not look worried at all. She was sitting right in the middle of Nora’s favorite pillow, looking like a sleepy little silver queen. Her long, white whiskers twitched in the dark. Her green eyes were half-closed and calm.

Tap, tap, tap.

Luna’s ears did a clever little dance. First, her left ear pointed toward the window. Then, her right ear turned like a tiny, furry satellite dish. She let out a long, rumbling purr. It felt like a warm, vibrating motor against Nora’s cheek.

Purr, purr, purr.

Luna looked at Nora and gave her a slow, happy blink.

Nora knew exactly what that slow blink meant. It was kitty-talk for: You are safe, little friend.

Nora took a deep, brave breath. If Luna wasn't scared, then Nora could be brave, too. She crawled out from her cozy blanket fort and sat up on her knees. She copied Luna. She closed her eyes halfway, let her shoulders drop, and listened very, very closely.

She did not hear a monster. She did not hear anything scary at all.

Rustle, rustle, tap.

Nora opened her eyes and looked through the glass. The bright, friendly moon was shining down on the sleeping yard. In the silver light, Nora saw the long, leafy arms of the giant oak tree. The tree lived right outside her bedroom window. In the summertime, its big green leaves kept her room cool and shady. In the autumn, its leaves turned bright orange and red, like a campfire.

Right now, a gentle night wind was blowing through the yard. The wind was playing a quiet game of tag with the branches. Every time the wind pushed a branch, a tiny, soft twig gently brushed against the glass.

Tap, tap.

"Oh!" Nora giggled, her tummy feeling light and silly. "It is just you, Mr. Oak Tree!"

She watched the branches sway back and forth in the breeze. It looked like the giant tree was waving a slow goodnight to her. The leaves made a soft, swishing sound as they rubbed together.

Shhh-shhh, rustle-rustle, shhh.

It sounded like a song. The wind and the tree were singing a soft, rustling lullaby to all the sleepy things in the world. Nora imagined the little bluebirds tucked into their nests high up in the branches, closing their eyes to the very same music. She imagined the tiny fireflies resting under the bark, waiting for tomorrow night to glow again.

Nora climbed back into the center of her bed. The tapping sound didn't feel scary anymore. Now, it felt like a friendly bedtime beat. It was keeping time for her dreams.

She flopped back down onto her pillow, right next to Luna. Luna curled into a tight, warm circle, tucking her nose under her fluffy tail. Nora snuggled her head into the soft space right beside her kitty.

The room felt so peaceful. The shadow on the wall was just Barnaby Bear. The tapping on the window was just the friendly tree. The dark was not empty; it was just full of quiet, sleepy songs.

Nora’s eyelids felt very, very heavy, like they had tiny, warm weights on them. She yawned a giant, stretchy yawn. But as she drifted closer to sleep, she remembered something important. She had one last cozy secret to share with her best cat friend.

Nora leaned in close to Luna's twitching ear and began to whisper.