Pippa climbed into bed and reached for Teddy. But the spot was empty. 'Teddy?' she whispered.
She pulled the covers back and searched. Her fingers closed on cool, empty sheets.
She lifted the blanket and poked behind the toy box. Only a red truck and a stuffed frog waited there.
Pippa tugged the rug with one scuffed toe and stood up. Then she tiptoed to the closet.
She cracked the closet door and checked under the desk. A pile of crayons rolled out.
A soft snore answered from somewhere near the lamp. Pippa pressed her ear to the pillow.
She heard it again — a tiny, fuzzy snore. She lifted the pillow and found Teddy curled up right there.
Pippa buried her face in his fur and giggled. Then she flopped back against him.
She wrapped her arm around Teddy and closed her eyes. His ear rested against her cheek.
The lamp glowed gold across the room. Together they drifted into a quiet, peaceful sleep.