High in the Bluegum Mountains lived a brave little kid named Bowie. Their home was a cosy wooden cabin, nestled amongst tall, gum-scented trees. Every evening, Bowie would watch the sun dip below the jagged peaks, painting the sky with brilliant oranges, pinks, and purples. It was a spectacular sight, but it also meant bedtime was near.

One particular evening, as the last sliver of sun vanished, Bowie snuggled under their doona. The room slowly filled with shadows. Familiar objects began to look different. The coat rack in the corner seemed to stretch, twisting into a tall, shadowy beast. The pile of toys on the floor became a sleeping monster with bumpy knees. Bowie’s heart did a little thump-thump.

Bowie pulled the doona up tight. "It's just the dark," they whispered, trying to be brave. But the shadows danced and swayed, making the beast look even bigger. Then Bowie remembered what their Dad always said: "You're a brave little tacker, Bowie!" Taking a deep breath, Bowie reached for the trusty torch on their bedside table. *Click!* The bright beam cut through the gloom.

The light swept across the room. The tall, shadowy beast was just the coat rack, with Dad's jacket hanging on it. And the sleeping monster? Just Bowie's favourite building blocks and a soft toy kangaroo. Bowie giggled! The shadows weren't scary monsters at all; they were just places where the light hadn't reached. Bowie shone the torch around, making the 'monsters' disappear and reappear, understanding that darkness was just an absence of light, nothing more.

Feeling proud and very clever, Bowie turned off the torch. The room was dark again, but it didn't feel scary anymore. It felt safe and quiet. Bowie snuggled back down, listening to the gentle hoot of an owl outside. Being brave meant understanding things, even the dark. And with that happy thought, Bowie drifted off to sleep, dreaming of sunny Bluegum adventures.