Rescue the Night: The Sandman and the Darkest Nights Series

By John Stuhl and Rhonda Harbin

A delightful story of the young girl Thompson Lee and the mysterious Sandman. Thompson, her sister Lily Conner and their best friend Carly Elise follow the Sandman on adventures into the night sky, where they find fun, mysteries and danger. With their special gifts, and help from unexpected sources, the girls seek answers to the most threat

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Stuhl
• Release date: Jan 31, 2018
• ISBN: 9781732106000

Book preview

Chapter 1

Thompson glanced up at the sudden flash of light.

At the window’s edge, white as a sliver of moon, someone peeked into the living room. A smile played on the corners of his lips, and he had wonderful, mischievous eyes.

He held a glowing finger to his lips, and the girl with hair like fire started in surprise. His mysterious eyes blinked, and Thompson nodded a yes with a small bob of her head. With a bright flash of moon-glow, he was gone.

Must be a full one out tonight, Thompson’s father muttered, glancing up from his book. He smiled at his daughter. A good night for dreams, when you get your work finished.

Will you tell me a story, Pops? Please! she begged.

Oh, you won’t need tales for dream travel tonight. Her father offered a lopsided smile. You’ll have adventures of your own, I suspect. Lost in thought, he gazed wistfully out the window as Thompson studied him with a puzzled expression.

~ * ~

Her room was dark and her bed cool when she saw him again. He appeared at the corner of the window, peeking in with those shadowy, silvery eyes.

With a quiet rustle of covers and a creaking of springs, Thompson slipped out of bed to kneel at the sill. She touched the pane, which was cool with his image. He didn’t move—simply stared—until Thompson crooked her finger and beckoned, Come in. Come on in! as if reeling in some night fish.

Gentle as snow, he glided through the window and lit on the foot of her bed, not even dimpling the quilt. Feeling awkward and slow compared to this creature’s marvelous movements, Thompson quickly crawled back into bed and perched on her pillow; she drew her legs up, wrapped her arms around them, and stuck her feet under the covers. Silent, they stared into each other’s eyes.

Hi, she finally whispered, and though she wanted to say more, the words stuck in her throat, thick with anticipation. Thompson held her breath the way she did on Christmas mornings. She wanted to reach out and touch him but feared her hand might pass through and feel nothing more than misty moonlight.

Hi. His voice interrupted Thompson’s thoughts. It echoed lightly around the room and then hid in the shadows.

Who are you? the young girl asked, all in a rush.

Me? I’m the Sandman.

Chapter 2

Thompson started to introduce herself to the stranger with the twinkling, kind eyes, but he quickly interrupted.

I know who you are, Thompson Lee, he told her. I know a great deal about you. Star of your school’s dance team. Top student in your fifth-grade literature class. Lover of books. Girl with the big, booming laugh.

Well . . . she faltered, startled by all that this glimmering visitor knew of her. Well, my friends call me Thompson.

Thompson, then. I like the sound of that. Thompson Lee. Thompson Lee, friend for me. He giggled at his own silliness, both hands clutching a goofy cap. When he moved, flecks of glittering dust shook from him and fell to the quilt, where they shone for a moment before fading.

His silver-white glow made a pool of soft light in her dark room, and his voice spilled out like musical bubbles floating in the air. When they burst, bells rang brightly. As the notes of the Sandman’s giggle faded away, Thompson also giggled.

What a peculiar little man! Chuckles escaped from between her fingers.

I am peculiar, the Sandman offered, as if reading her thoughts. That’s why it is hard for me to get friends. Keeping them? Well, that’s no problem. But getting them is a different story.

I make friends easy!

I know. The Sandman nodded solemnly. That’s one of the reasons I’m here. I need a friend.

Why? Thompson felt the chill of the night creeping in and pulled the covers around her for warmth. "I can’t imagine you having trouble