Cesar sprinted across his bedroom, leaped over a pile of socks, and caught the silver envelope before it slid beneath his bed. The seal showed a tiny cloud wearing a nightcap. When he opened it, cool mist curled around his fingers.
“You’re invited to the Great Pillow Trial,” read the letter. “Winner becomes Junior Keeper for one night. Report at moonrise. Bring one thing that helps you sleep.”
Cesar had not slept well for a week. Each night, the rattling drainpipe went clank-clonk, and every shadow looked like a long-nosed goblin. He stuffed his small brass music box into his pocket. Its tune always ended with three odd notes: plink, plonk, ping.
At moonrise, a staircase of clouds unfolded outside his window. Cesar climbed until he reached Hushhaven, a fluffy castle floating among the stars. Its towers puffed like whipped cream. Its doors were quilted. Even the guards were sleepy sheep in blue slippers.
Inside waited three other contestants: bold Mira with a lavender spray, careful Bo with a bedtime book, and grinning Rollo with a pillow shaped like a giant pickle. “It smells like dill,” Rollo announced proudly.
The castle’s caretaker, Mistress Mallow, wore a robe sparkling with constellations. “Our beds are the softest in the universe,” she said. “Tonight, you must pass three rooms. The first to ring the Dream Bell may wear the Keeper’s cap. But beware: someone has been stealing sleep from Hushhaven.”
A yawn rolled down the corridor like thunder. Several guests—an astronaut, a baby dragon, and two tired giants—tossed miserably in their cloud beds. Beside each pillow glittered a pinch of silver dust.
The first challenge was the Blanket Maze. Walls of quilts shifted and folded.
