The Train That Rides Above the Clouds
One quiet night, Nour finished brushing her teeth and put on her purple pyjamas. They had little yellow stars on them, and she loved them very much.
She placed her toy bunny next to her pillow, kissed her mother, and snuggled under her pink blanket. Outside, the moon was big and round, like a golden loaf of bread in the sky.
“Good night, Mama,” said Nour.
“Good night, my darling,” her mother answered. “Sweet dreams.”
Nour had almost closed her eyes when she heard a strange sound coming from the window.
“Toooot... Toooot... Chug chug chug!”
Nour sat up in bed. Maybe the sound was coming from the street, she thought. But she lived on a quiet street, and there were no train tracks anywhere near her house.
She opened the curtain a little and gasped in surprise. A small silver train was riding above the clouds! Behind it were seven carriages: pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and gold.
The train didn’t have ordinary wheels. Beneath them ran a long thread of starlight. And its windows sparkled like sweets.
“Am I dreaming?” Nour whispered.
Suddenly, a little grey cat jumped onto the windowsill. He wore a yellow scarf and carried a blue hat that was bigger than his head.
“Good evening!” he said politely. “Are you Nour?”
Nour opened her eyes even wider. “Yes... but how do you know my name? And are you a cat who talks?”
The cat bowed. “I am Mishmish, assistant driver of the Train of Seven Dreams. We need someone who loves helping others. And the Moon Star told us that Nour is just the right person!”
Mishmish pointed to a tiny star hiding in the pocket of his scarf. It was twinkling, but its light was weak, like a candle that is about to go out.
“My name is Luma,” said the star in a soft voice. “The light of the seven dreams has been lost, and the carriages no longer know how to reach the sleeping children.”
Nour felt sad for her. “What can I do?” she asked.
“We can collect seven little sparkles along the way,” Mishmish answered. “We find each sparkle when we do something kind. Will you come with us in tonight’s dream?”
Nour smiled. “Yes! But I have to be back before morning.”
Mishmish laughed. “Of course. In the land of dreams, a long journey can pass in the blink of an eye!”
A soft bridge of cloud stretched out from the window, like a cotton carpet. When Nour stepped onto it, she wasn’t afraid at all; it was warm and light.
As soon as she reached the train door, a golden bell rang: “Ding ding!”
The door opened, and an adventure began that Nour would never forget.
