Omar's Journal

Sleepy-Time Secrets

It was no secret that our team was growing rapidly. So we all decided that it would be a fun idea to have a team bonding night.

We agree the easiest thing to do would be having a sleepover. Crystal convinced Dareth to let us sleep in the dojo. (As long as the lights were out by 9:30.)

It took a while to but we even managed to convince Sensei to let Lloyd come along for the night. (We just had to promise to keep an eye on him at all times and that he'd be in bed by 8 o'clock)

Once we got to the dojo and set up our sleeping bags we played bored-games till it was time for Lloyd to go to bed.

After the kid was asleep the rest of us got ready to watch a scary movie. "Hey Jay, where'd you put the snacks?" Kai asked as Nya set up the projector.

"They're in my bag." Jay called. "I'll get 'em." I volunteered. I unzipped Jay's duffle bag and saw the snacks on top.

Then out of the corner of my eye I saw something blue and plush looking sticking out from under a bag of chips. "What's this?" I asked as I pulled a stuffed toy from the bag.

"One of you brought your teddy bear?" Crystal joked. The rest of laughed a bit as we let out a few, 'nos', 'no ways' and 'yeah rights'.

"Some fan probably stuck it in your bag hoping for an autograph. Just throw it away and they'll never know." Cole said as he clapped his hand in Jay's back.

Although he seemed a bit reluctant Jay took the toy and tossed it into the trash.

By 9:30 we'd finished our movie and fallen asleep. A while later I was awoken by the sound of creaking floor boards.

I grabbed my flashlight and shone it in the detection of the noise. Once my eye had adjusted I saw Jay frozen in the light.

"What's going on?" Zane asked as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. I looked around and saw that the sound had woken everyone but Lloyd.

"Jay? What are you doing?" Kai asked sleepily. "Just getting a glass of water." He answered without looking any of us in the eye.

I saw him fidgeting with something blue and plush looking. "I thought you threw that toy away." I yawned.

"I did. But I figured whoever put it in my bag might, need it, cause they've never slept without it a day in their life. So I was just doing the right thing. Right?" Jay explained quickly.

"Is anyone else buying this?" Cole asked. There was another round of 'nos', 'no ways', 'nopes' and 'not a chances'.

"Jay, is it yours?" Nya asked gently. "No. Of course not. I'm not a baby." He scoffed. "Then throw it away." Crystal told him.

"I can't. I need it. It's mine! Ok?" Jay moaned and slumped down on his sleeping bag. "There's no shame in having a comfort toy Jay." Zane comforted.

"Yes there is. So go ahead. Laugh, tease, make fun of me. You know you want to." Jay mumbled as braced himself for the worst.

"No ones going to tease you." Crystal assured him. We all gawked at her. We hadn't known Crystal for too long but it wasn't hard to tell this was unlike her.

"Did you hit your head?" Kai asked her. "No but I'll hit yours." She threatened then turned it back to Jay.

"We are not going to tease you but we are going to help you get rid of that thing." Crystal said getting down next to him.

I couldn't help but stare. I think I like this side of Crystal. "I've tried. It's impossible." Jay sulked hugging his toy a little tighter.

"Hey we've tamed wild dragons!" Cole reminded him. "We've taken on hordes of skeletons." Kai added. "Fought a band of pirates." Zane put in.

"And blew up a giant snake." Nya smiled sitting on the other side of Jay. "After all that there is noting we can't manage." I finished.

It took us a few minutes but we came up with a few ways to help Jay sleep without Mr. Cuddleywump. (Yes that's it's name.)

First we tried hiding it in every nook and cranny. Total fail. It's like Jay has a stuffed toy seeking magnate!

Next we tried keeping it far away from him by taking turns using it as a pillow. But some how Jay always managed to get get it back without any of us noticing!

It wasn't long before we all ran out of ideas. What's worse it was almost midnight.

"What do we do now?" Nya yawned. "I'm out of ideas." Cole muttered, trying to keep his eyes open.

"If we don't go to sleep soon there will be no possible way to stay awake during training tomorrow." Zane deducted.

"Well if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." Crystal sighed. "What dose that even mean?" Kai groaned.

Crystal told us to wait and dashed up stairs. (She and Dareth lived right above the dojo.) When she came back she was hinding something behind her back.

"Whatever you're planing do it fast." I pleaded. She took a deep breath and showed us what she was hiding.

A doll. But not just any doll. A little cloth doll with pink bows on the ends of is pigtails, wearing a pink dress and a sewn on smile. It kinda reminded me of the doll I'd given Stephanie when she was born.

"Dareth gave her to me when I turned ten." She said softly. "Zane was right. There's no shame in having a comfort toy."

"Gotta say I never would have pegged you as the 'still sleeps with her dolly' type." Kai said a bit teasingly.

"I don't sleep with her." Crystal said defensively. "Josie just likes to hang out on my bed."

"Sure Crystal. Can we go to sleep now?" I yawned. She nodded as we got back in our sleeping bags.

Just as I was falling asleep some one whispered, "This is why I shouldn't have to go to bed early. I miss all the fun." I whipped around to see Lloyd sitting up next to me!

"What are you doing up?" I whisper shrieked. "I couldn't sleep." He shrugged.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't take you home right now and tell your uncle what you did." I growled.

"Cause if you do I'll tell Jay and Crystal that you told me about there bedtime toys." He smirked. "I did not!" I said through my teeth.

"They don't know that." Lloyd said slyly. "Just go to sleep ya little runt." I muttered.

The next morning Crystal made sure to swear us to secrecy on the events of last night.

I gotta say, she really is full of surprises and only time will reveal who she really is.