One More Story

When all else was sleeping, two little girls remained awake.  They would keep talking, laughing, and running all over their little world.  They cannot sleep yet.

The older, a 5-year-old, and the younger, a 3-year-old, had their own happy places to go; their day was not over when everyone else’s was.  There’s one more giggle, one more run around the house, one more game, and one more story to tell.  Bedtime story was their absolute favorite part of the day.

With her beautiful, wide eyes and cute little curious voice, the little sister, Mona, would ask “and then, what happened??”

“They lived happily ever after!” Basma would reply.

“Ok .. but what happens after that?”

“Nothing … I don’t know .. they were just … happy”

“But did the evil witch get out of prison?”

“No!”

“Did she stay there forever!”

“Yes!”

A few moments of silence would pass.  Then the little angel would start, “tell me one more story!”

“Let’s sleep now!”

“But I don’t wanna sleep!  I can’t sleep.  Just one more story!”

“You see that little lamp over there?”

“Yes!”

“Just look at it and you’ll fall asleep right away.”

With wide-open eyes, little Mona would look at the lamp.  Her vivid imagination would make her see a hundred different things.  She could see the dancing fire.  She could hear the creepy sounds from far far away.  She could feel the shadows drawing closer and closer, coming to get her.  That evil wolf from the story is coming to get her too.

“Basma, wake up!  Wake up!  I’m scared!”

“What are you scared of?”

“That lamp!”

“Don’t be scared, Mona.  It’s just a lamp!”

“Tell me one more story!”

“But I wanna sleep…”

“Don’t sleep .. I’m scared!”

“Okay … Once upon a time, there were two little sparrows…”

The little angel would fall asleep halfway through, leaving one more adventure for tomorrow, one more world to see, and one more story!

P.S.:  The above is a true story; my little sister’s story ♥

   

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(Basma Addeq)