Can't Sleep Won't Sleep

Mabel:  Mom-mee?

Me:  Yes,  Mabes.

Mabel:  Um, I can't sleep.

Me:  What do you mean?

Mabel:  (sighing) I just feel...I'm trying to close my eyes but I don't go to sleep. I can't sleep.

Me:   Well to be fair, you're not really trying too hard. You're squeezing your eyes really tight and that's going to make you see stars, but it probably won't make you sleep.

Mabel:  Stars?

Me:  Yeah, those bright lights you see when you squeeze your eyes.

Mabel:  But I like the stars, they keep me company when I'm scared.

Me:  What are you scared of, Mabes?

Mabel:  Monsters. Ghosts. Vampires. Shadows. Scary things. Bats. Monkeys with powers.

Me:  Okay, that's a big list.

Mabel:  Yeah. Things get pretty scary.

Me:  Alright, well lets talk about all those things. Have you ever seen any of them?

Mabel:  Yuh. I saw a bat.

Me:   In your room at night?

Mabel:  No. In that cave at that zoo.

Me:  Well because that's where the bat lives.  And where does everybody want to be when it's nighttime? Home. Just like you at night, all snug and cosy in your bed at home.

Mabel:  Bats don't sleep in beds.

Me:  That is true.

Mabel:  But I get what you mean.

Me:  Oh good Mabes.

Mabel:  Yuh. But I still can't sleep.

Mabel: Well, it's 5. We'll try again at 8, 'kay?