Leo loved visiting the city zoo. He knew all the animals – Zara the zebra, Horace the hippo, Penelope the penguin, and even Reginald the rhinoceros! But tonight was extra special. Tonight, Leo wasn’t just visiting; he was the honorary Night Watchman! Mr. Abernathy, the real Night Watchman, had given Leo a special flashlight and a very important job: making sure all the animals were cozy and comfortable for the night.
“Remember, Leo,” Mr. Abernathy had said with a wink, “animals dream too! We want to make sure their dreams are happy ones.” Leo took his job very seriously. He walked along the paths, his flashlight beam dancing across the enclosures. First, he checked on Zara the zebra. Zara was shivering a little. Leo remembered Mr. Abernathy saying zebras get cold easily. He quickly fetched an extra-fluffy blanket from the supply shed and gently draped it over Zara’s back.
“There you go, Zara,” Leo whispered. “Sweet dreams!” Zara blinked her big, gentle eyes and seemed to smile. Next, Leo visited Horace the hippo. Horace was splashing happily in his pool, even though it was nighttime! But Leo noticed Horace’s favorite rubber ducky was floating sadly on the other side of the pool, just out of reach. Leo carefully used a long net to scoop up the ducky and bring it back to Horace. Horace trumpeted with delight!
Penelope the penguin was feeling a little lonely. All her penguin friends were snuggled together, but Penelope was all by herself. Leo knew penguins loved to sing! He started to hum a quiet, gentle tune, and Penelope waddled closer, tilting her head. Soon, she was happily chirping along with Leo’s humming. It wasn’t a perfect song, but it made Penelope feel much better.
Finally, Leo came to Reginald the rhinoceros. Reginald was trying to reach a juicy apple hanging from a branch, but he just couldn’t quite get it. Leo carefully climbed onto a small stool and plucked the apple, handing it to Reginald. Reginald munched happily, his eyes twinkling. Leo felt a warm glow inside. He hadn’t just watched over the animals; he’d helped them!
Mr. Abernathy found Leo yawning near the lion enclosure. “Looks like you’ve had a busy night, Night Watchman!” he chuckled. “You did a wonderful job, Leo. You showed kindness and took great responsibility for our animal friends.” Leo smiled sleepily. Being the Night Watchman wasn’t just about having a flashlight; it was about caring for others. As he walked home with his mom, Leo knew he’d have the sweetest dreams, filled with happy animals and the warm feeling of a job well done. He closed his eyes, imagining Zara, Horace, Penelope, and Reginald all dreaming happy dreams too.