The Story Spirit of Lullabies
- There was once a child who had just lost its parents in a terrible accident. This child was being haunted with dreams of the accident night after night until it became afraid of sleeping, because sleeping meant having to re-experiencing everything.
One day, there was an old lady visiting the orphanage where the child was now living. After lunchtime, when all other children went to take their nap, the child sat down in the corner of the room, refusing to close its eyes.
The lady noticed this and asked one of the care workers what was wrong with it. The care worker explained the situation whereupon the lady put on a knowing smile and walped up to the child. She sat down beside it and asked it 'What's wrong?', eventhough she knew the answer already. 'I don't wanna sleep.', was the answer she got, so she continued asking. 'Why do you not want to sleep?'
The child looked at the lady and only answered after a long pause. 'When I sleep I get nightmares.'
The lady smiled encouragingly. 'Why don't you ask the Story Spirit of Lullabies for help?' The child looked up at her suspiciously. 'What is that? The 'Story Spirit of Lullabies'?' it asked. The lady started explaining:
'There are magical creatures in all kinds of stories there are. They guard their stories and those who read them. And sometimes they do even more than that. The Story Spirit of Lullabies is one of the spirits who does not only guard his stories, the lullabies, but also your dreams. If you ask this spirit for help with your nightmares, I'm sure it won't refuse you.'
The child looked up at the lady with new hope shimmering in its eyes. 'How can I ask it for help?'- 'You simply have to sing a little prayer before you go sleeping.' the lady said. 'Do you want me to teach you?' - 'Yes, please.' - 'Okay, now listen:
- Letters make a word
and words make sentences.
Sentences make stories
and stories make the world.
You, of those who guard and guide,
hear the request I have tonight.
Help me find a peaceful sleep
and fight the demon in my dreams...'
- The following night, the child was able to sleep again. When it was asked what happened to make the nightmares go away, the child only smiled, said 'I met Myra.' and went on drawing a picture of a purple-colored dragon-like creature with stars and the moon on it's fur.