The Moon in the Round Window

Chapter 1: The Moon Is Missing

The backyard is dark and quiet. ⟨Character 1⟩, a small puppy with floppy ears, stands on the grass and looks up.

⟨Character 1⟩: Where is the moon? I always see it up there. It’s big and round and white. Tonight there’s nothing. Just dark sky and little stars. Did the moon go away? I need it to sleep. It helps me feel sleepy.

⟨Character 1⟩: Oh, I’m so sleepy. But I can’t sleep without the moon. I’ll look for it. Maybe it fell down. Maybe it’s hiding under the bench. I’ll check.

⟨Character 1⟩ pads over to the wooden bench and sniffs around. He finds his red ball, but no moon.

⟨Character 1⟩: Just my ball. It’s red and round, but it’s not the moon. The moon is bigger and shinier. Where could it be? I’ll sit and wait. Maybe it will come back.

⟨Character 1⟩: I’m so sleepy. My eyes keep closing. But I have to stay awake to find the moon. Last night it was right there, shining on my pillow. I could see it from my window. Now it’s gone. I’ll wait a little longer.

⟨Character 1⟩ sits on the grass and yawns again. His head nods. Then he hears a clock ticking inside the house.

⟨Character 1⟩: Tick tock, tick tock. That’s the kitchen clock. Maybe the moon is in the kitchen. I’ll go look. The kitchen is warm and has my food bowl. Maybe the moon wants a snack too.

⟨Character 1⟩ walks to the kitchen door and pushes it open with his nose. The kitchen is dark except for a small night light. He sniffs around.

⟨Character 1⟩: I smell my kibble. And the clock is ticking loud. Tick tock, tick tock. But no moon here. Just my bowl and the table. I’ll have a little biscuit. Then I’ll check the window.

⟨Character 1⟩: Mmm, pillow biscuit. Crunchy and good. Now let me look out the window. The sky is still dark. No moon. Maybe it’s in the garden. The garden has lots of places to hide. I’ll go see.

⟨Character 1⟩ finishes his biscuit and pads to the garden door. He looks back at the ticking clock and yawns.

⟨Character 1⟩: I’ll find the moon. It has to be somewhere. Maybe behind the bushes or under the flowers. I’ll look everywhere. But first, I need to rest my eyes for just a moment.

Chapter 2: Clues and Cuddles

⟨Character 1⟩ pads into the garden and blinks at a soft yellow flicker in the air.

⟨Character 1⟩: Oh! Little lights! They blink and blink, like tiny stars that came down to the flowers. Whiskers, is that you sitting on the fence? Your tail is swishing. I didn’t know you liked fireflies.

Whiskers: I do like them. They are quiet and bright. Better than the big light I can’t find tonight. You look sleepy, ⟨Character 1⟩. Your ears are droopy. Are you looking for something?

⟨Character 1⟩: The moon. It’s gone. I looked in the backyard and the kitchen and all I found was my red ball and a biscuit. Do you know where the moon went? I need it to sleep.

Whiskers: The moon often hides behind clouds. It does that. It peeks out later, like a cat behind a curtain. Last week I waited and it came back. Try the big tree side. That’s where the sky is emptiest.

⟨Character 1⟩: Behind clouds. Okay. I can wait behind clouds. But my eyes are heavy now. Maybe if I just sit here a moment. The fireflies are so pretty. And warm. And sleepy.

Ollie: Who sleeps in a garden? A puppy, that’s who. Hello, small friend. I heard you ask about the moon. I flew over the big tree just now. It’s right behind those leaves. Go look.

⟨Character 1⟩: Behind the tree? I’ll look! I’ll look right now. Leaves, leaves, move over. I can’t see anything but green and dark. No moon here. Hmm. Are you sure?

Ollie: Blink your eyes, little one. You are swaying. The moon likes to play peekaboo. Sit a minute. I’ll keep watch. You rest your ears.

⟨Character 1⟩’s head dips down, then pops back up with a little snort.

⟨Character 1⟩: Oops! I fell asleep standing up! My paws are all tingly. Wait. Look over there. A puddle is shining. It’s round and white and bright. Is that the moon? It fell in the garden! I have to catch it!

⟨Character 1⟩: Got it! I jumped right in! But the moon broke into a hundred little shivers. It’s just water. Just a reflection. I’m wet and silly and very, very sleepy.

Whiskers: A puddle can hold the moon for a moment. Then it lets go. Dry your paws on the grass. Go home, ⟨Character 1⟩. Your bed is near. The moon is patient.

⟨Character 1⟩: Okay. Okay. I’ll go home. Maybe the moon is there, waiting. My paws know the way. Nice fireflies. Nice puddle. Nice night. Goodnight.

Chapter 3: Moonlight and Dreams

⟨Character 1⟩ pads back through the kitchen, past the ticking clock, and climbs the stairs one slow paw at a time.

⟨Character 1⟩: Tick tock. Tick tock. The clock is still ticking. My paws are heavy. My ears are heavy. Even my tail is heavy. Just a few more steps. The bedroom door is open. I can see my bed.

He hops onto the bed and turns to the round window. A circle of silver light lies on his pillow.

⟨Character 1⟩: Oh. There it is. The moon. It’s right there in my window, big and round and white. It made a little circle of light on my pillow. It was here all along, waiting for me. I just walked under it.

⟨Character 1⟩: Hello, moon. I looked in the garden and the kitchen and under the bench. I jumped in a puddle for you. And you were here the whole time. That’s okay. I’m glad you’re here now.

⟨Character 1⟩ curls up on the pillow. The moonlight is soft and warm on his fur.

⟨Character 1⟩: The circle of light feels like a blanket. A moon blanket. My eyes are closing. The clock is ticking downstairs. Tick tock. Tick tock. It’s a nice sound now. Like a lullaby.

⟨Character 1⟩: Whiskers said the moon hides behind clouds. Ollie said behind the trees. But it was behind my round window. Right there. I’ll remember that tomorrow. Goodnight, moon. Goodnight, fireflies.

His eyes close. His breathing slows. The red ball sits under the bench outside, and the puddle grows still.

⟨Character 1⟩: Mmm. Sleepy. So sleepy. The moon is here. I can sleep now. Goodnight.

⟨Character 1⟩ falls asleep with a sigh, curled in the circle of moonlight.