Fifi sat in her classroom, swinging her legs gently beneath her chair.
Mr. Adler smiled at the class.
“Tomorrow is Show and Tell,” he said.
“Bring something special you want to share with the class. I can’t wait to see what you choose.”
Fifi opened her little notebook. Inside were her favorite drawings.
She turned the pages slowly, wondering which one to share.
She imagined standing in front of the class.
What if I forget what to say?
What if I feel too shy?
What if tomorrow feels too big?
Fifi closed her notebook and tucked it into her bag.
The rest of the day passed quickly.
But every now and then, Fifi’s thoughts wandered back to tomorrow.
When bedtime came, they were still there.
Fifi climbed into bed.
Her sheets smelled of lavender, but her thoughts buzzed around like tiny fireflies.
What if I can’t speak?
What if I forget what I want to say?
What if everyone watches me too closely?
Fifi hugged her pillow. Her chest felt full of little what-ifs.
Suddenly, a soft magical glow spread across the room.
As Fifi watched, a gentle figure stepped out of the light. His cloak drifted like blue clouds, and his voice was warm and calm.
“Who are you?” Fifi asked.
The gentle figure bowed his head.
“Children call me the Keeper of Tomorrow,” he said.
He lifted a small crystal box. As the lid slowly opened, warm golden light spilled into the room.
As Fifi watched, a small glowing bubble appeared above her head. Inside, shimmering in golden letters, were the words:
What if I forget what I want to say?
The bubble floated gently toward the open box and slipped inside. The golden light inside the box grew a little brighter.
At that very moment, Fifi felt something change. Her chest felt lighter, and she could breathe a little easier.
Then a second glowing bubble appeared. Inside were the words:
What if I feel too shy?
It floated gently toward the box and slipped inside. The golden glow grew brighter again.
Fifi’s eyes grew wide.
“Those are my thoughts,” she whispered.
“The ones that keep racing to tomorrow.”
The Keeper nodded.
“Your thoughts won’t disappear,” he said.
“They’re simply resting here for the night.”
Then a third glowing bubble appeared. Inside were the words:
What if tomorrow feels too big?
It floated toward the box...
paused...
and bounced back out with a soft boop!
Fifi giggled.
“It bounced back!”
The Keeper smiled.
“Some tomorrow thoughts aren’t quite ready for bed,” he said.
Fifi cupped her hands and blew gently toward the bubble. It gave a tiny wiggle, drifted back to the box, and slipped inside beside the others.
Fifi smiled.
“Now it’s resting too,” she said.
Suddenly, a few more glowing bubbles appeared above Fifi’s head and drifted toward the open box.
“They just keep coming!” she said.
The Keeper nodded.
“That’s what tomorrow thoughts do,” he said.
“You don’t have to make them stop. You only have to let them rest until morning.”
The last bubble floated into the box, and the Keeper gently closed the lid.
The golden glow softened, as if the box itself were getting ready for bed.
“Your thoughts are safe while you sleep,” he said.
“They’ll be waiting for you in the morning.”
Fifi settled deeper into her bed.
“Tonight is for resting,” the Keeper said.
“Tomorrow is for doing.”
The golden glow faded, and Fifi drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Fifi woke up feeling calm and steady.
When it was her turn for Show and Tell, she stood up holding her notebook.
For a moment, she forgot what she wanted to say. Then she looked down at her drawing.
The first words came. Then the next.
When Fifi sat down, she couldn’t stop smiling.
Show and Tell was over.
And it hadn’t been nearly as hard as it had seemed the night before.
The End
This story is part of the Silverbrook Valley collection
For younger children, explore the Feathernest Woods collection
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