The Dream Train to Christmas

It was Christmas Eve, and Luna could not get to sleep.

She’d tried lying on her back. On her side. On her tummy. She’d tried counting sheep, but the sheep kept turning into presents.

Her bunny ears stuck out from under the blanket. Her eyes were wide open. Her toes would not stop wiggling.

“What if I fall asleep and miss Christmas?” she whispered to the ceiling. “And what if I stay awake and it never comes at all?”

The ceiling didn’t know.

Outside, snow was coming down in big, slow flakes.

And then she heard it.

Jingle, jingle.

Choo… choo…

A silvery light spilled across her bedroom floor.

Luna sat up so fast her ears flopped over.

The Dream Train was outside her window.

But it wasn’t quite the Dream Train she knew. Tonight its carriages were tied up with red ribbons, there were little bells on every window, and the smoke from its chimney was puffing out in the shape of snowflakes.

Mr. Puffs leaned out of the engine and tipped his fluffy conductor’s hat.

“All aboard the Christmas Line,” he said. “Tonight we’re visiting the sleepiest stations of the year.”

Luna climbed on in her slippers.

Snory the bear was already inside, wrapped in a scarf, nibbling a honey cookie. “Honey cookies are extra sleepy on Christmas Eve,” he said, and yawned so wide she could see all his teeth.

Whispa the dream fox had curled up on the seat by the window, her silver tail glowing.

And at the back, Nimbus the star cat was stretched out across three whole seats, his fur twinkling like a winter sky. He opened one eye at Luna, then closed it again.

The train began to roll.

Chuff, chuff, chuff…

Up over the rooftops.

Past the chimneys.

Into the soft, sparkly dark.

The first stop was Snowglobe Station.

Luna pressed her nose against the glass. Down below was a whole tiny village inside a giant snow globe, with little houses and lit-up windows and snow drifting around and around.

“Everybody in there is fast asleep,” said Whispa. “That’s why the snow falls so slowly.”

The second stop was the Peppermint Hills, striped red and white all the way up. The air smelled cool and sweet.

Snory sniffed it. “Mmm,” he said. Then he sniffed again, just to be sure.

The third stop was the Lantern Lights. Ribbons of green and gold rippled across the sky, and stars hung from the clouds like shiny decorations.

“It’s like the whole sky is a Christmas tree,” Luna breathed.

But as the train floated on, her tummy started to flutter again.

“Mr. Puffs?” she said. “What if I miss Christmas morning?”

Mr. Puffs smiled his fluffy smile.

“I’ll tell you a dream secret,” he said. “Christmas morning always comes fastest to children who are sound asleep.”

“It’s true,” said Whispa. “Every sleepy breath brings it a tiny bit closer.”

Then Nimbus got up from his three seats, padded over, quiet as a snowflake, and sat down next to Luna.

He didn’t say anything. Nimbus hardly ever did.

He just flicked his starry tail toward the window.

Outside, snowflakes were drifting past. One at a time.

So Luna started to count them.

One snowflake.

Two snowflakes.

Three…

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Four.

Five…

Her toes stopped wiggling.

Her tummy stopped fluttering.

Without anybody saying so, the Dream Train turned around and headed for home.

Chuff… chuff… chuff…

It stopped outside Luna’s window so gently that not one bell jingled.

Snory pressed a honey cookie into her pocket. “For the morning,” he whispered.

Whispa wrapped her silver tail around Luna for a moment, warm as a blanket.

Mr. Puffs tipped his hat. “Merry Christmas, Luna.”

Nimbus was already asleep again.

Luna climbed back into bed. The snow was still falling. Somewhere far off she heard one last jingle, jingle, as the Dream Train floated away.

Her eyes felt heavy.

Six snowflakes.

Seven…

She never got to eight.

And when she opened her eyes again, there was a honey cookie in her pajama pocket.

And it was Christmas morning.