His mom, tired and patient, tried everything. “Leo, just close your eyes.” But Leo’s eyes had other plans. They stayed wide open like two shiny buttons.
Nana Jo tucked him into his bed. “Close your eyes. Imagine the Nappi Noodle starting at the top of your head. Let it slide down.” nappi noodle
“The noodle is reaching your belly,” Nana Jo whispered. “Let it be soft.” His mom, tired and patient, tried everything
From that day on, Leo never fought nap time again. Whenever he felt squirmy, he whispered to himself: Time to find the Nappi Noodle. And within minutes, the sleepy noodle did its work. Nana Jo tucked him into his bed
Leo closed his eyes. He imagined a soft, warm noodle—like spaghetti, but friendlier. It slid down his forehead. He relaxed his eyebrows. It slid down his cheeks. He unclenched his jaw. It curled around his shoulders, and his arms went heavy.
Nana Jo sat down beside him. “Ah. You haven’t met the yet, have you?”