Tilly’s room was small and cozy, with soft blankets, a fluffy rug, and twinkling star lights on the ceiling. Every night, Tilly would tuck in her favorite stuffed bear and climb into bed with her dog, Max, snuggled at her feet. Max was a small, fluffy dog with a wagging tail and a nose that sniffed everything. He loved to sleep close to Tilly and keep her company.

One evening, after Tilly brushed her teeth and put on her pajamas, she noticed Max sniffing under the bed. He barked softly, wagging his tail.

“What is it, Max?” Tilly asked, kneeling beside him.

Max kept sniffing, and Tilly peeked under the bed. She expected to see some old toys or socks, but instead, she saw something small and green. It had tiny eyes, big ears, and was holding a little lantern.

“Hello?” Tilly whispered.

The tiny creature jumped, dropping the lantern. “Oh no!” it squeaked, trying to hide behind a dust bunny.

“Wait, don’t be scared,” Tilly said softly. “I won’t hurt you.”

The little troll peeked out, looking nervous. “You… you can see me?”

“Yes,” Tilly said, sitting down cross-legged. “Who are you?”

“I’m a tiny troll,” said the creature, stepping forward shyly. “I live under your bed. I’ve been here for a long time.”

Tilly smiled. “I’m Tilly. And this is Max. Why are you under my bed?”

The tiny troll sighed. “I like the quiet. I watch over you when you sleep. But I never come out because I don’t want to scare you.”

Tilly was curious. “Do you have a name?”

The troll thought for a moment. “My name is Pip.”

Tilly liked the name. “Hi, Pip. Do you get lonely under there?”

Pip nodded slowly. “A little. But it’s okay. I listen to your bedtime stories and watch Max chase his tail. It’s fun.”

Tilly thought for a moment. “Would you like to come out and play sometimes? We can be friends.”

Pip’s eyes lit up. “Really? You’re not afraid of me?”

“Not at all,” Tilly said. “You’re small and friendly. I think you’re great.”

Pip smiled, his little teeth showing. “Thank you, Tilly. I’ve never had a friend before.”

They spent some time talking. Pip told Tilly about his tiny lantern that glowed softly at night. “I use it to keep away the dark,” Pip explained. “Sometimes, it gets too quiet under the bed.”

Max sniffed Pip and wagged his tail, happy to meet a new friend. Tilly laughed as Pip tried to pet Max’s fur, his tiny hands barely reaching.

“You know,” Tilly said, “you don’t have to stay under the bed all the time. You can come out and join us.”

Pip hesitated. “But what if other people see me? I’m supposed to stay hidden.”

Tilly thought about it. “Maybe you can come out when it’s just us. And when you want to hide, you can go back under the bed.”

Pip nodded. “That sounds nice.”

From that night on, Pip would peek out whenever Tilly was alone. He helped her find lost toys, and Tilly shared her bedtime snacks with him. Pip even played gentle games with Max, who loved chasing Pip’s lantern light.

One night, as Tilly was about to sleep, she noticed Pip looked a little sad. “What’s wrong, Pip?”

Pip sighed. “Sometimes, I wish I could see more of the world. Not just under the bed.”

Tilly had an idea. “Pip, would you like to come outside with me tomorrow? We can go to the garden. I promise I’ll keep you safe.”

Pip’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Really? I’d love that!”

The next morning, Tilly carefully hid Pip in her pocket, and they went outside to the garden. Pip was amazed by the flowers, the sunshine, and the sound of birds chirping.

“It’s so beautiful,” Pip whispered. “Thank you, Tilly.”

“You’re welcome, Pip,” Tilly said. “You deserve to see all of this.”

They spent the afternoon exploring the garden. Pip picked tiny flowers and watched Max chase butterflies. For the first time, Pip felt free and happy outside his little space under the bed.

When they returned, Pip was smiling brighter than ever. “This was the best day,” he said. “I never knew the world could be so big.”

Tilly smiled back. “There’s so much to see, Pip. We’ll explore more together.”

From then on, Pip knew he didn’t have to stay hidden all the time. He had friends who cared about him and would help him see the world. Tilly, Max, and Pip spent many more days discovering new places and sharing stories. Every night, Pip’s little lantern glowed softly, a reminder of their special friendship.

And whenever Tilly went to bed, she knew her tiny troll friend was always near, ready for the next adventure.

The end.

This story focuses on friendship, kindness, and exploring new things, making it a comforting bedtime tale for young readers.