Kidy
You wake in the dark with your heart going thump-thump-thump, little one. A dream turned scary, and now the shape of it is still hanging in the room, a growly shadow with too many edges. Then a small warm weight settles by your pillow. Grow is here, blinking sleepily. 'Ah,' Grow says gently. 'A dream got loud.'
'Mine do that too, you know,' Grow whispers. 'Once I dreamed I forgot how to hop, and I woke up cross about it. Dreams go sideways for everybody sometimes. They are not real, but the scared feeling IS real, so we will take care of that part first.' Grow puts a paw on your thumping chest until it slows.
'Now, here is the secret,' says Grow. 'A dream is not stuck. You can pick it up like a snow globe.' You reach out and, somehow, you can. The growly shadow fits right in your hands, swirling. 'Turn it over,' Grow says. 'Give it a shake.' So you do. You shake it hard, and the growly shape tumbles and spins and lands as a big round cow, mid-sneeze, ah-ah-ACHOO.
You laugh out loud in the dark, and the last of the thumping melts away. 'A dream is not the boss of you,' Grow says. 'You are the one holding it.' You give the snow globe one more gentle turn and the sneezing cow drifts into soft falling stars, and you set it back down, calm now.
You settle into your pillow, and the room is just your room again, safe and quiet. Grow curls into the warm spot by your shoulder. 'So, little one,' Grow asks, already drifting, 'did we grow a little today?' You did. 'Here is your little grow for tomorrow,' says Grow. 'If a dream turns scary tonight, give it one shake and see what silly thing falls out.' See you tomorrow, little one.