⏱ ~4 min reading
Little Ira had a pillow. At first glance, it looked ordinary. White, with light lace around the edges, stuffed with soft down. Grandma had sewn it herself when Ira was still a tiny baby.
But this pillow had a small, quiet magic. Grandma said this about it:
"This pillow can listen. Whatever you think before you go to sleep, it will remember. So, my dear, always go to bed with a good thought.".
Ira didn't really believe it at first. A pillow is just a pillow. Soft, cool on one side, warm on the other. How can it "remember" something?
But Ira was a gentle and obedient girl. So every night, going to bed, she thought about something good. About her mother's cherry pies. About the neighbor's fluffy cat Murlyka, who loves to purr on the stool. About how she and her dad used to go to the park on Sundays to feed the ducks.
And the strange thing is, she had beautiful dreams every night. One better than the other. Ira saw herself flying in a hot air balloon. Sailing in a paper boat down a large river. Stroking a foal with a white star on its forehead.
In the morning she woke up smiling. Mom said:
— You slept so sweetly again, my little swallow.
And Ira nodded and looked at her pillow with quiet gratitude. The pillow lay calmly. As if nothing had happened. As if it really was just a pillow.
But one evening Ira came home sad. In kindergarten, she had a fight with her friend Tarasyk. Over a small matter - over who should give the cat's pencil first. Tarasyk was offended. Ira was offended too. And they went home on different paths, looking in different directions.
Ira didn't say a word the whole dinner. She just picked at her potato with her fork.
“What’s wrong with you, honey?” Mom asked gently.
"Nothing," Ira grumbled. "I'm just tired.".
I lay down in bed. I turned my back to the wall. I thought about Tarasyk — and I thought badly. «He’s bad. He’s greedy. I won’t be friends with him anymore.»
And then — Ira felt it. The pillow under her cheek swayed softly, softly. Not much. Just barely. As if from a light sigh.
Ira froze. She listened. The pillow didn't move anymore. But it seemed to Ira that it was waiting. As if it was asking: "Think again. Think differently."«
Ira closed her eyes. And honestly thought: «But I’ll see him tomorrow. In kindergarten. He’ll come in his blue sweater with a teddy bear. And he’ll be sad. And I’ll be sad. And we’re friends. I can go up and say: „Tarasyk, forgive me.“»
As soon as she thought that, her heart felt warm and warm. Like a mug of hot milk with honey. And the pillow under her cheek—Ira swears—smiled softly.
That night Ira fell asleep quickly. And she had a dream. A beautiful dream. She and Tarasik were riding bicycles together. Along the river. The sun was shining. The breeze was blowing in her face. Tarasik was laughing and showing her a white swan on the water. And Ira was laughing back.
When Ira woke up in the morning, she already knew exactly what to do. She quickly got dressed, drank some cocoa, and waited for her mother to take her to kindergarten.
In kindergarten she saw Tarasik. He was sitting alone by the window and drawing a bear. Ira came up. She didn't know how to start, so she just said:
"Forgive me, Tarasik. I didn't mean to quarrel.".
Tarasik raised his head. His eyes were so sad that Ira wanted to hug him.
“And you forgive me,” he said quietly. “Me too.”.
And handed her a cat pencil:
— Na. Draw first.
Everything was reconciled. They drew together all day. And in the evening, when Ira came home and went to bed, she hugged her pillow tightly and whispered:
"Thank you. Now I know.".
The pillow didn't say anything. It was just soft, soft, as always.
That's why it's worth thinking about something good before going to bed. The pillow hears. Dreams know. If you fall asleep with love in your heart, it will sprout in you night after night, like a small seed sprouts in warm soil.
Close your eyes with a good thought.
What is your dream today? Maybe about your mother? Maybe about a friend? Maybe about a little kitten sleeping in a basket?
A good thought is already in your pillow. It protects it.
Good night.
✨ If you fall asleep with a good thought, it grows in you night after night ✨