When the Sun Goes Down

Polly wanted to sleep, but the forest had other plans. When the light left, the forest did not go quiet. It woke up. The night forest opened its eyes. Polly stayed awake and kept her green body still in the dark.

First came the sound. Frogs called from every leaf and pool. Then thousands of insects joined. The air was one wall of noise. At night the forest is louder than in the day. Animals that hide in the sun come out in the dark.

Then came the eyes. Small lights moved in the dark. They were animal eyes. Polly stayed very still. Below her, two big eyes passed slowly. This was their time, not hers. So Polly just watched.

Late at night the warm rain came. It fell through the leaves. Polly sat under a big leaf. She listened to the rain and the frogs, and she fell asleep.