One warm evening, when the sky was turning the colour of blackberry jam, Ava sat on her bedroom windowsill with her cat Mochi curled beside her. She was watching for the first star. She always watched for the first star.
"There," Ava whispered, pointing. Mochi purred a soft, agreeing purr.
But this star was doing something odd. It was waving. Not twinkling. Waving. Like a tiny hand made of light. Ava rubbed her eyes. Mochi rubbed her eyes too, in the way cats do when they're pretending not to be surprised.
The waving star grew brighter and brighter, until it was as big as a pumpkin, and then it floated right up to Ava's window. Inside the star was a small, silvery cat with eyes like two full moons.
"Hello, Ava," said the moon-cat, in a voice like a wind chime. "I've come to ask for your help. The moon is having trouble sleeping tonight, and the whole sky is worried about her."
Ava thought about this very carefully. "What helps me sleep," she said, "is when Mum sings the sleepy song, and when Mochi purrs, and when I hold my rabbit tight."
"That's just what we need," said the moon-cat.
Ava tucked Mochi under her arm and stepped onto the star. It felt like standing on a marshmallow left in the sun. Warm, and soft, and just a little bouncy. The star lifted them gently, gently, up past the roof, up past the tallest gum tree, up until the whole neighbourhood looked like a scattering of tiny yellow buttons. Then higher still, until they arrived at the moon.
The moon was very large up close, and she was rolling from side to side, unable to settle.
"I know just what to do," said Ava. She began to hum the sleepy song her mum sang. Mochi purred her deepest, roundest purr. And Ava reached out a small hand and patted the moon — just once, just gently — the way she liked to be patted when she was tired.
The moon let out a long, silvery sigh. Her rolling slowed. Her light softened. And then, very slowly, her big round eyes began to close.
"Thank you, Ava," whispered the moon-cat. "You are exactly the friend the sky needed tonight."
The star carried Ava and Mochi back down through the cool night air, past the tall gum tree, past the roof, and right back to the windowsill. Ava climbed under her covers. Mochi climbed under them too.
Above them, the moon was fast asleep, and all the stars were twinkling their quietest twinkles so as not to wake her.
"Goodnight, moon," Ava whispered. And she closed her eyes, and slept the softest sleep of all.
