Milo pulled his quilt up to his nose. The dark shape by the door didn't move.
He burrowed deeper until only his prickly quills showed. 'I don't want the lights off,' he whispered.
Milo peeked out and gasped. A tall shadow by the closet looked like a wobbly giant reaching for his bed.
He grabbed his teddy bear and held it up like a shield. Then he flicked the nightlight switch three times.
Nothing changed. The wobbly giant just wobbled more.
Milo stacked his storybooks on the nightstand and twisted the nightlight brighter. A tiny shadow bunny hopped across his ceiling.
Milo waved at the shadow bunny. It froze mid-hop, then did a silly little dance on its hind legs.
Milo giggled. A whole parade appeared — the wobbly giant bowed with a flourish, and a shadow fox spun a slow twirl beside it.
Milo waved both paws at the dancing shapes. The shadow bunny leaped down from the ceiling and landed with a soft tap on the nightstand.
Milo climbed back into bed. One paw rested near the shadow bunny on the nightstand.
His eyelids drooped. 'Goodnight, friends,' he whispered.
Milo curled into a peaceful sleep. The friendly shadows kept watch through the window.