Nell was a small brown duck with one white feather on her wing.
When the sun went low, the whole pond turned pink. It was time for bed.
But Nell had things to do first.
She swam to the tall green reeds. "Goodnight, reeds," said Nell. The reeds leaned over her head and said, shhh, shhh, shhh.
She swam to the flat grey stone. "Goodnight, stone," said Nell. The stone was still warm from the day. It did not say anything at all, but it said it kindly.
She swam to the frog on the lily pad. "Goodnight, frog," said Nell. "Goodnight, Nell," said the frog, and he tucked his long feet under him.
She swam to the round white moon lying flat on the water. "Goodnight, moon," said Nell. The moon wobbled a little. Then it lay still again.
Then Nell swam back to the nest in the grass. Her brothers were there already, three warm bumps in a row.
"Goodnight, brothers," said Nell.
Her brothers were asleep. They did not say anything back. That was all right.
Mother Duck lifted her wing. It opened like a small door. Nell walked in.
"Did you say goodnight to everything?" asked Mother Duck.
Nell had a think. The reeds. The stone. The frog. The moon.
"Yes," said Nell. "Everything."
"Then goodnight, little duck," said Mother Duck, and she put her wing down like a soft warm roof.
Outside, the reeds went shhh, shhh, shhh.
And Nell slept.