Why, hello there. I, the goddess of writing, have graced you all with another story! *dodges shoe you threw at me*
Sorry, sorry! It was a joke! Honestly!
Luke was lonely.
Not lonely because Professor Layton had neglected him, or because he missed his family, but because he missed his favourite teddy bear Growl and he was in an unfamiliar place lying awake in the middle of the night. You might think that it was silly for a boy of his age to still have a teddy bear, but this bear was very important to him. His mother had given it to him for his seventh birthday, you see.
He considered telling the professor about it, but he didn't want to wake him up, and frankly, what could he do about it? Nothing. Luke sighed. He'd been trying to get to sleep, but it was impossible without Growl beside him. Suddenly the door creaked open. Luke jumped as Professor Layton walked in. He was wearing blue striped pajamas and bunny slippers! Luke wouldn't have thought it possible that Layton could ever wear such things. He tactfully turned his chuckle into a cough.
"My goodness, Luke," exclaimed the professor, "What are you still doing up?" Luke struggled to think of an answer. Layton would think him a baby if he told him! "I, uh, I c-couldn't sleep," stuttered Luke. The professor sat down on the edge of the bed. "What's troubling you? You can tell me, you know."
Luke gulped. "You'll call me a baby." Layton smiled kindly, "I promise I won't call you a baby."
"Professor, is there... something really important to you, that you can't sleep without?" Luke asked. Layton thought about it.
"My hat, perhaps. I keep it on my bedside table every night," he said. "Um, maybe something more like... an animal?" suggested Luke. He took a deep breath.
"Well, I... I left my old teddy bear in Misthallery, and I can't sleep with- I mean, I - um!" he blurted out. He closed his eyes and waited for the mocking laughter to begin. None came. He felt a gentle hand patting his head and opened his eyes.
"There, there," comforted Layton,"Nothing to be embarrassed about. I have a teddy bear too, you know." Luke's eyes widened in amazement. He couldn't picture it.
"It's very special to me, but if it makes you feel better, then you can have Mr. Bumble for a while," the professor smiled. He went to fetch the bear, and soon returned with 'Mr. Bumble'. It wasn't the same as Growl, but Luke felt a lot better. "I'm sorry about all the trouble, Professor," he apologized.
"Think nothing of it," said Layton,"After all, is it not a true gentleman's duty to help a friend in need?"
Luke grinned. "Thanks, Professor!"
And he slept soundly all night.
Well, thank you for reading! Was that not the most stupendous of sublime stories? The peak of perfection? The- *dodges boot you threw at me*
I was only joking! Some people just can't take a jo- *dodges... etc, etc.*