Sleepy Town

Ever since I was a young child, I have always loved writing stories.  In the third grade, I won a writing contest at my school with my story "Hollow Hill Mansion," about a group of kids who go to a "haunted" mansion and run into Dracula.  I had a poem about the seasons published in the newspaper as a child, and I worked feverishly on my old typewriter for months to write a "book" about a boy detective named Art Perspective and his friendly ghost-assistant, Mr. Voodoo.  In high school, I started a story not-so-loosely based on my group of friends about some girls playing with a Ouija board who got themselves into some scary trouble.  (I'm sure you have all noticed a trend here...too much Scooby Doo as a youngster, I think!)

As an adult, I started to focus more on children's stories, although to be honest, I have a terrible time finishing them.  However, a few years ago, I did manage to come up with a story that I felt pretty darned proud of.  It's called Sleepy Town.  When I was young, my mom used to tell us that it was time to go to Sleepy Town when she was ready for us to go to bed.  So I wondered...what was Sleepy Town actually like?  I scribbled this down in probably 30 minutes, in the DFW Airport waiting for a flight to New Orleans for work.  It's been through many drafts since then, but I have to say, I'm happy with this one.  I am really looking forward to reading it to Makenna as she grows older. 

Makenna visiting Sleepy Town. :-)

Sleepy Town by Amanda Morrissey

Little Laney Lou was an angel by day,

The sweetest young lady was she.

But at night, when it came time for bed and not play,

An unhappy child she could be.

“But Mommy!” she cried, her eyes tearful and red,

“I’m really not sleepy, it’s true!”

And Mommy would nod her wise Mommy head

And say, “I have a story for you.”

Mommy told her the story of old Sleepy Town,

Far beyond all the stars in the sky.

Where the blankets are all made of soft, fluffy down

And the Man in the Moon sings a lullaby.

With pillows of clouds, and swings hung from the stars,

It is surely a beautiful sight.

And nightlights of lightning bugs, snug in glass jars,

Will brighten up anyone’s night.

On beds made just for jumping, kids have all kinds of fun,

They laugh and they giggle ‘til dawn.

And before night is over, a contest is won,

For Sleepy Town’s most wonderful yawn.

There are flannel pajamas for the townsfolk to wear,

In all colors, like blue, pink and plaid.

Soft, fuzzy bunny slippers, each child has a pair,

To soften their steps just a tad.

And as a companion, each person will find,

Chosen with the most tenderness and care,

A furry friend, with a face so gentle and kind,

Their own personal snuggly teddy bear.

To drink every night, the hot chocolate flows,

With or without marshmallows, as you choose.

And in the wee hours, long before the rooster crows,

Is a beautiful moonlit cruise.

“Mommy,” Laney said, eyes now shining and bright,

“Tell me how I can get to Sleepy Town!”

Mommy answered, “It’s easy, you can go every night.

But you first must be still and lie down.”

“Now just close your eyes,” Mommy said with a smile,

“And breathe slowly and deeply, my dear.

Then think sleepy thoughts, and after a while,

The town will begin to draw near.”

Laney did as Mommy said, with no fuss and no frown,

And saw the stars in the far-off sky.

She felt the down blankets of old Sleepy Town,

and heard the Man in the Moon’s lullaby.