The Little Cloud Who Tucked In the Stars

As the evening light faded, Pui-Pui, a small round cloud, saw grown-ups in the village spreading blankets over children, one home at a time. The first star blinked above. Pui-Pui unfolded her own thin misty edge and whispered, “Stars, stars, sleep snug tonight. Little Cloud will tuck you in just right.”

Pui-Pui drifted above the hill and covered three stars with her mist. Then she crossed the river to tuck in another cluster. “Stars, stars, sleep snug tonight...” she sang softly. But when she looked back, the first three stars had slipped beyond the mist and were twinkling just as before.

Pui-Pui hurried back to the hill, then rushed around toward the river. Her mist stretched so far that it grew wispy-thin. Yet the sky was still wide, and there were many more stars. “If I do not cover them all, I cannot rest,” Pui-Pui murmured, stopping wearily in the middle of the sky.

Crescent Moon rose beside her. “Stars do not feel cold, and they do not need to sleep like children,” Moon said. “But your quiet song tells everyone below that evening has come. You can say goodnight to the stars you pass and save your strength for tomorrow.” Pui-Pui let her mist gather until she felt soft and round again.

Pui-Pui chose one simple path home. She drifted slowly over the village, singing, “Stars, stars, sleep snug tonight. Little clouds may rest all right.” Above the hill, she rolled her mist into a little pillow and rested beside Moon. Some stars hid behind her, some kept shining, and for tonight, that was enough.

We do not have to finish everything before we are allowed to rest. Some tasks can wait until tomorrow, and resting is an important part of caring for ourselves.