STRANGE NOISES IN THE NIGHT By Barbara Sheppard

Timmy who was 5 years old, had been playing with his friends all day and was so tired. After a nice warm bath and a drink of milk, his mummy tucked him snugly into his bed and he soon fell into a deep sleep. It was a very wild night with the wind blowing fiercely through the trees and around the house making loud eerie noises.

He hadn't been sleeping for very long when he was awakened by a big SNORE. It made Timmy jump and he opened his eyes and wondered, "What was that funny noise?" He slowly sat up in his bed. There - the SNORE again! But he was too scared to cry out and call for his mummy and he looked all around the bedroom trying to find out where the sound was coming from.

The moon was shining brightly through the drawn curtains and the room was full of strange shadows and the wind was still blowing hard. Then - yet again, SNORE, SNORE> "Oh dear, what shall I do?" he thought.

Then he saw something ... the moon picked out two bright eyes looking towards him. He pulled the duvet over his head so that he didn't have to look at those staring eyes. "Perhaps if I stay like this the funny thing will disappear," he mumbled to himself.

SNORE, SNORE - there it was again! He slowly lifted the corner of the duvet, trying hard to be brave, and saw those staring eyes and they seemed to be much bigger and brighter now. Then - the thing started to move. By now Timmy was terrified and with one big SCREAM he shouted, "Mymmy, Daddy, come here quickly," and at once his mum and dad raced up the stairs and rushed into his bedroom.

"What is it Timmy, what on earth is the matter?" his mummy cried out, with daddy close behind her. "Look - look in the corner, there is something there and it keeps making funny noises," he sobbed.

Daddy put on the light and looked to see where Timmy was pointing and there sat a big, black cat, with a very puzzled look on his face.

"Oh Timmy," his mother smiled. "It's only Mrs Potter's cat Bindy, he must have crept into your room when no-one was looking and he's been fast asleep." Timmy held mummy's hand tightly. "But what are those big staring eyes and that snoring noise?" he asked tearfully. But they're not Bindy's eyes Sweetie, take a look, its your big teddy bear, Bindy was sleeping next to him for comfort and the snores must have been because Bindy was dreaming and purring and the wind was blowing the branches against your window making that strange noise," explained mummy. Timmy peered into the corner with his hands around his eyes and squinting through his fingers and could see his favourite teddy - he seemed to have a smile on his face.

"Everything is fine now," said Daddy. "Look, I'll take Bindy downstairs and he will find his way back home." So daddy picked up the cat and carried him down the stairs to the front door and let him out. The cat seemed pleased to escape all the bother.

Mummy gave Timmy a big hug and a kiss and tucked him up safely in his bed once more. Daddy came over and kissed him goodnight and said, "You are quite safe now Timmy, have a good sleep and tomorrow we will go to the park and have lots of fun," he promised. Timmy gave him a big smile.

So Timmy said goodnight to mum and dad and snuggled down into his cosy bed as they tiptoed out of his room. When they looked back at Timmy, they saw that he was already fast asleep and none the worse for his rather frightening experience.