Part One — Over the Rainbow Bridge

Every night, after the pillow was fluffed, after the blanket was tucked under her chin, and after the room became quiet and blue, a little girl closed her eyes.

And every night, just before sleep came tiptoeing in, someone she loved whispered:

The little girl smiled.

Because she knew the way.

First, she had to listen for the tiny silver bell that rang only in dreams.

Ting.tiny bell

Then she had to wiggle her toes exactly three times.

One.

Two.

Three.

And then she had to imagine a sky so blue, so big, and so full of floating candy clouds, that her whole bed began to feel light as a feather.