The Long Way to the Window

Lila floated down the round hallway. Wisp drifted just ahead of her. She held one soft yellow blanket. She wanted the big window before bed. "This way is quicker," said Lila. Somewhere a little pipe said tick. Hear that? Tick, tick, said the pipe.

The quick way was not quick. It bent. It turned. It went up. They floated past the sleeping green plants. They floated past the round white doors. A spoon drifted by, very slow. Wisp glowed a little brighter. Lila laughed and floated on.

The hallway turned one more time. Then Lila saw the big window. Earth turned slowly down below. Blue and white and quiet. Wisp stopped beside her and glowed. Lila held her blanket close. Hear that? Tick, tick, said the pipe.

Lila tucked in by the warm pipe. There was room for one. Wisp drifted near her toes. Wisp wanted the warm place too. The pipe ticked under her ear. Lila looked at the blanket. Then she looked at Wisp.

Lila opened the blanket wide. She made a little cloud pocket. Wisp floated in, slow and soft. The blanket puffed up like bread. Now there was room for two. Wisp glowed brighter and brighter. Lila giggled in the warm yellow folds.

Now Lila had a glowing blanket. Now Wisp had a warm one. They watched Earth turn below the window. A light moved slowly over the sea. Lila's blinks went slow. Wisp went slow too. The pipe ticked, small and kind.

Lila yawned her biggest yawn. Wisp's glow went soft, then softer. The window went dark and quiet. Hear that? Tick, tick, said the pipe. Lila closed her eyes. The blanket held them both. Then the last little light went out.