“Goodnight, Timmy! Sweet dreams, sweetheart!”

“Goodnight, Mom.” Timmy’s mom tucked him into his bed, and gave him a small kiss on his cheek. Timmy smiled as he snuggled himself deeper into the covers, warm with his mother’s love, and content. His mom opened his windows, allowing a faint, soft wind to stir within the room, comforting Timmy even more. As Timmy’s mom walked out of his room, shutting the door ever so slightly, he shut his eyes, fully hoping to reach a land of dreams. 

Timmy’s eyes opened. His eyes shut. Open, shut, open, shut, no matter how hard Timmy tried, he couldn’t go to sleep. He sighed, worried about his big day tomorrow.

“I can’t have a good day if I don’t have a good rest,” Timmy anxiously warned. “Let’s try again.” He closed his eyes once more, but his mind didn’t flood with the dreams he had hoped, but instead ringing thoughts, of ringing questions. “Why do I even have to go to school, anyway?”

Suddenly, a roaring noise rang in Timmy’s ears. His open window stirred with dust and wind, as if something magical was happening. Just as quick as the mystical roar occurred, it left. Timmy looked around, curious and confused. 

“Was that my tummy? Maybe I should’ve eaten those veggies.” That’s another question, Timmy thought, why do I have to eat? Why does my tummy rumble if I don’t? Once again, the magical dust rose from his window, stirring through the room; and once again, the twinkle of dust disappeared. “What’s going on?” Timmy became more confused, nearly jumping out of bed from his curiosity. The rumble came back, but instead of disappearing, the magic dust formed into a large animal. The animal’s neck grew larger and larger, as it stuck its head through Timmy’s open window. “What the?”

“Hey, hey, don’t worry, Timmy. My name is Detective Joe, and I’m here to answer your questions!” Joe smiled, and looked at Timmy wrapped in his blanket.

“Are you a giraffe?” Timmy looked at Joe up and down, and began to laugh loudly! “You’re silly, Joe! I like your hat and sunglasses!”

“Ha, thank you! I heard about your questions. You see, Timmy, that’s why you can’t sleep! These questions are keeping you up. That’s why I’m here, so you can have a good night’s sleep for your big day tomorrow!”

“Oh!” Timmy smiled in happiness, knowing that Joe will help him in his quest to rest.  

“So, the first question you asked is why you have to go to school. Well, Timmy, here’s your answer. I know you’re sort of nervous tomorrow. You’re not alone, every other classmate and friend of yours have to do it, too! Kids your age have to go to school so that you can have a good education.”

“What is an education?” Timmy questioned.

“An education is what allows you to have a good future. You know mommy and daddy, right? They have jobs, you see, jobs they go to for them to be happy. Staying in school makes you learn many things. You can learn enough to get a job when you’re big and strong like your parents with an education!”

“Oh, okay! Well, what about my other question, why do I have to eat? My belly rumbled earlier because I didn’t eat my veggies. Why does Mom make me eat vegetables?”