Bedtime Stories and Lullabies

Chapter Three: You are My Sunshine

Bundled up in her pink comfort blanket, a brown-haired baby girl enjoyed her mother's warm embrace. Cooing, little Cat Valentine gazed into her mother's loving eyes, and began to fall asleep. Outside, the sun was setting over the hills, painting the sky a yellow color with a thick red hue. Gently rocking her baby back and forth, Mrs. Valentine held the girl's soft head, kissing her gently. "I love you, my little Catarina," she whispered, looking at her daughter, then out the window. Cat yawned, her little eyes slowly closing.

"You are my sunshine," the woman lightly sang. "My only sunshine..."

As a teenager, Cat lay her red-colored head on her mother's shoulder, letting her stroke her long locks. "I love you, Mommy," the young woman said, feeling her mother gently hold her.

"You make me happy when skies are gray."

As the lightning struck, Cat ran into her mother's arms, accepting her warm embrace. "It's okay," Mrs. Valentine said. Closing her eyes, the little girl took comfort in her mother's words.

"You'll never know, dear," the woman sang as she rocked baby Cat's crib back and forth. "How much I love you."

Running down the street with Tori, Trina, and Jade, Cat lept into the air, letting out an excited "woo!". From the porch, Mrs. Valentine smiled at her daughter and her friends, even though they weren't looking.

"Please don't take my sunshine away."

Cat and her mother sat side by side on the couch. "I'm never leaving you, Mom," the redheaded girl promised, her voice light and caring. Mrs. Valentine let her heart warm over, taking comfort in her daughter's words.

Laying in her bed, slowly letting her eyes close, Cat listened to Tori sing her to sleep. Jade and Trina sat beside the young woman, listening to Tori's sweet voice and telling their friend, 'sweet dreams.'

"The other night dear," Victoria sang, watching her friend slowly drift into slumber. "As I lay sleeping..."

"I dreamed I held you in my arms. When I awoke dear

I was mistaken

And I held...My head and cried"

Her eyes closing, the redheaded girl smiled, hugging Snuggly tightly to her neck. Tori lowered her voice to a whisper, and smiled at the little girl sleeping soundly.

You are my sunshine...

My only sunshine.

You make me happy when skies are gray...