Sleepy Village was a quiet, cozy place. The houses were small with red roofs, and every garden had colorful flowers. In Sleepy Village, everyone yawned—a lot. Mrs. Thompson, the baker, would yawn while making bread. Mr. Green, the postman, yawned when he delivered letters. Even the dogs and cats would yawn, lying under the warm sun. No one knew why everyone was so sleepy all the time.

One evening, Anna and Jack sat by the village fountain. Anna was a clever girl with curly brown hair, always curious about everything. Jack, her best friend, was tall and liked to make up funny stories. They spent most of their afternoons together, exploring the village and making up games.

“Look, Anna,” Jack said, pointing at Mr. Green, who was yawning loudly. “Everyone yawns all the time. It’s like a yawning contest!”

Anna giggled but then looked around thoughtfully. “It’s strange, don’t you think? No one ever finishes a sentence without yawning. My mom yawned even when she was reading my favorite story last night.”

Jack nodded, then yawned. “Oops,” he said, covering his mouth. “See? It’s spreading! I wonder why.”

As the sun set, a soft glow filled the sky, and the village seemed to slow down even more. The lamp posts flickered on, casting warm light on the cobblestone streets. Anna and Jack decided to take a walk before going home.

They wandered past Mrs. Thompson’s bakery, where the smell of fresh bread filled the air. Mrs. Thompson waved at them, but—yawn—she couldn’t stop yawning. Jack and Anna waved back and continued down the road.

“Hey, what’s that?” Jack asked, stopping suddenly. He pointed at the old clock tower. There was a faint blue light coming from one of the windows, but the tower had been empty for years.

“Let’s check it out,” Anna whispered, her eyes wide with excitement. They tiptoed closer, hiding behind bushes. The blue light shimmered softly, like a glow stick in the dark.

Suddenly, they heard a faint sound—“Whoooo.” It wasn’t scary, just soft and sleepy, like someone whispering.

“Is it a ghost?” Jack whispered, eyes wide. Anna’s heart beat fast, but she shook her head.

“Only one way to find out,” Anna said, her voice trembling just a little. They sneaked closer and peeked through a crack in the wooden door. Inside, they saw a small, gentle-looking ghost floating near the window. It had big, sleepy eyes and a tiny smile. The ghost yawned, making a soft, “Whoooo.”

Jack gasped but stayed quiet. Anna’s fear melted away when she saw the ghost rubbing its eyes like a sleepy toddler.

“It looks… friendly,” Anna whispered.

The ghost looked up and saw them. “Oh, hello there,” it said softly, floating closer. “I’m the Sleepy Ghost. I’m not here to scare anyone, promise. I just love sleep.”

Anna and Jack stepped inside carefully. “Why are you making everyone yawn?” Anna asked, curious.

The Sleepy Ghost sighed. “I never meant to. I’m just so sleepy, and it spreads to everyone around me. I’ve been here for so long, trying to find a place to rest, but I just can’t sleep well in this old tower.”

Jack scratched his head. “Maybe you need a better bed? A cozy one with soft blankets?”

The Sleepy Ghost’s eyes sparkled. “You think so? I never thought of that.”

Anna nodded. “We can help! Let’s make you a nice bed so you can sleep well, and then maybe everyone else will stop yawning too.”

The ghost smiled brightly. “Oh, that would be lovely.”

The next day, Anna and Jack gathered pillows, soft blankets, and even some flowers from Mrs. Thompson’s garden. They set up a cozy little bed right in the corner of the tower.

“There you go,” said Anna. “Try it out.”

The Sleepy Ghost floated over and snuggled into the blankets. “Oh, this is perfect!” it said, letting out a content sigh. “Thank you, Anna and Jack.”

The ghost yawned one last time, but this time, it was a peaceful yawn. It closed its eyes and fell asleep. As the Sleepy Ghost rested, the blue glow slowly faded, and the air in the village felt lighter.

From that day on, the people of Sleepy Village stopped yawning so much. Mrs. Thompson baked without yawning, and Mr. Green delivered letters with a cheerful smile. Even the dogs and cats seemed more awake.

Anna and Jack knew they had solved the mystery of the sleepy village. And every now and then, they’d check on the Sleepy Ghost, who always greeted them with a big, grateful smile.

Anna looked up at the night sky. “Goodnight, Sleepy Village,” she whispered.

Jack grinned. “Goodnight, Anna. Goodnight, Sleepy Ghost.”

And as the village drifted into a quiet, peaceful night, not a single yawn was heard.

The End.