Emma had always been known as the girl who loved to sleep. While her classmates were out riding bikes or playing games, Emma could often be found curled up in her bed, dreaming away. She insisted her love for sleeping wasn’t about being lazy. “Dreaming is where all the fun happens,” she’d say. “You can go anywhere, do anything, and be anyone you want.”

Her teacher, Mrs. Hayes, shook her head with a smile every time Emma dozed off during quiet reading time. “Emma, one of these days, you’ll sleep through something important,” she warned.

That “important” day arrived when Emma’s class was preparing for the school play, The Garden Parade. Everyone was buzzing with excitement as Mrs. Hayes announced the roles. The star of the show was the sunflower, the centerpiece of the garden. To everyone’s surprise, Mrs. Hayes gave the role to Emma.

“Me? The sunflower?” Emma asked, blinking sleepily.

“Yes, you,” Mrs. Hayes said with a wink. “You’re always so calm and peaceful. You’ll bring the sunflower to life.”

Emma nodded, yawning. “Okay, as long as I can still nap between rehearsals.”

The class burst into laughter, but Emma was serious. She practiced her lines and even tried to stay awake during rehearsals. But whenever there was a break, Emma would find a cozy corner and drift off to sleep.

On the day of the big performance, the school gym buzzed with parents and teachers. Backstage, students were putting on costumes and adjusting props. Everyone was excited—except Emma, who was nowhere to be found.

“Where’s Emma?” Mrs. Hayes asked, looking around frantically.

“I saw her sitting near the art supplies earlier,” said Jonah, the boy playing the gardener.

The search began. Behind the curtains? No Emma. By the costume rack? No sign of her. Finally, Mia, the class butterfly, spotted a pair of sunflower petals peeking out from behind a stack of paint cans.

“Found her!” Mia called.

Sure enough, there was Emma, curled up on a pile of old blankets, fast asleep in her sunflower costume. Mrs. Hayes sighed but couldn’t help smiling. “Emma!” she said, gently shaking her shoulder.

Emma sat up, yawning and rubbing her eyes. “Is it time?”

“Time? Emma, we’ve been looking everywhere for you! The play is about to start!” Mrs. Hayes said, trying to hide her exasperation.

Emma blinked a few times, then jumped to her feet. “Oh no! I didn’t mean to fall asleep! I was dreaming about being the perfect sunflower.”

“Well, now’s your chance to make that dream a reality,” Mrs. Hayes said, handing her the sunflower headpiece.

Emma hurried to her spot on stage just as the curtain rose. At first, she felt nervous under the bright lights, but then she remembered her dream. She stood tall, smiled brightly, and delivered her lines perfectly. The audience clapped and cheered, and for the first time, Emma realized she didn’t need to dream to feel proud—she could make it happen while awake.

After the play, Mrs. Hayes patted Emma on the shoulder. “You were wonderful, Emma. Maybe now you’ll spend a little more time awake?”

Emma grinned. “Maybe. But don’t count on it. Dreaming is still my favorite thing.”

Mrs. Hayes laughed. “Just promise me you won’t fall asleep on stage again.”

“Deal,” Emma said with a wink. And as the rest of the class celebrated, Emma yawned, already planning her next nap.