Pippa climbed into her canopy bed and patted the spot beside her. It was empty. She sat up with a soft groan. O Fer was gone.
She threw back the blankets and dug underneath. Just crumpled sheets and a loose button. She checked behind the curtains and lifted her teddy bear from the shelf. Nothing.
She dropped to her knees and peered under her little wooden desk. A dust bunny scuttled away. She lifted her quilt and looked beneath it. Nothing.
She huffed and stomped her foot. The candle wicks popped and sputter.
She lifted her pillow — and there, curled right beneath it, was O Fer, all white fur and big black eyes blinking up at her.
Pippa gasped, then giggled, and scooped him up so fast her pillow tumbled to the floor.
She climbed back into bed and pulled O Fer close, burying her nose in his soft white fur. The candle guttled once and went still.
She yawned, snuggled under the quilt, and whispered, "There you were."