Biscuit's Sleepy Evening
Noor's puppy Biscuit had floppy ears and a tail that never stopped wagging. All day long, Biscuit wagged at the mailman, wagged at the squirrels, wagged at the kitchen floor when Noor dropped a crumb. But now the sky was turning purple, and Biscuit's tail was slowing down.
"Dinner time, Biscuit," Noor said. She filled the blue bowl with kibble. Biscuit crunched three bites, then sat down and yawned. Noor yawned too. She didn't mean to—it just happened.
After dinner, Noor's dad said it was time to brush teeth. Noor brushed hers at the sink. Biscuit sat on the bathmat and licked his paws, one at a time, very slowly. "You're getting ready for bed too," Noor whispered. Biscuit licked his paw again and didn't look up.
Noor put on her pajamas—the ones with moons on them. Biscuit walked three circles on his blanket by her bed, then flopped down with a sigh. Noor flopped onto her bed the same way. Her pillow was cool and soft. Biscuit's blanket was old and smelled like him.
"One story," said Noor's dad. He sat on the edge of the bed and opened a book. Noor listened to his voice. It was quiet and steady, like rain on the window. Biscuit's ears twitched once, then went still. His breathing got slower.
When the story ended, Dad kissed Noor's forehead and turned off the lamp. The room went soft and blue. Noor could hear Biscuit breathing. In, out. In, out. She matched her breathing to his. In, out.
Biscuit's paws twitched—he was dreaming about running. Noor smiled in the dark. Tomorrow they would run together. But tonight, they were both exactly where they wanted to be.
Noor's breathing slowed to match the puppy's. The house was quiet. The night was long and kind. And Biscuit, with his floppy ears and his full belly, slept all the way until morning.
Sweet dreams, Noor. Sweet dreams, Biscuit.