Betty, a baby in polka-dot pajamas, clutches her teddy bear tight with one hand and a pacifier with the other. Her droopy eyes fight to stay open as she gazes up at the ceiling, wondering why sleep escapes her tonight. Outside her door, her parents peek in, hoping to see their little one finally drift off.
"Why can't I sleep?" Betty murmurs softly, her voice barely a whisper in the quiet room.
Momma stands in the doorway, a gentle smile on her face as she watches her daughter.
"Aren't you tired, sweet pea?" Momma asks softly.
Betty shakes her head, blinking slowly at the pages. Momma enters the room, offering to rock her in the chair by the window. As Momma's eyes grow heavy, Betty giggles, lifting her mother's eyelids playfully.
Daddy lies beside her, eyes closed, as Betty reads aloud, her tiny voice filling the room.
"And they all lived happily ever after," she concludes, glancing over to see Daddy asleep, a soft snore escaping his lips.
The family dog and cat lie nearby, bellies full and content. Milk spills onto the floor, and Betty giggles as she rests her head on the puppy's soft side.
"Why can't you sleep, Betty?" Momma asks, bemused.
"I don't know," Betty replies with a shrug, her eyes wide with innocence.
Momma enters, chuckling softly.
"Why do you have one eye open, Betty?" she asks, amused.
"I think my eye is getting tired, Momma," Betty replies, her voice a sleepy murmur.
Her parents watch from the doorway, holding their breath as her other eye slowly droops shut.
"Finally," Momma whispers to Daddy.
"Anybody hungry?" she asks, grinning as the dog and cat rouse themselves to follow her.
Momma and Daddy exchange a look of wonder, hands on hips, as their little night owl leads the way to another midnight snack.
