“Ok,” said the Imaginary blandly, and walked on.
The children breathed a huge sigh of relief. The excuse had worked!
They went to brush their teeth and while they were in the bathroom, they heard the accustomed rumbling noise which meant that the school's unseen, benevolent power was converting the classroom into a dormitory for the most important part of the day – sleeping. The room was transformed when they went back – no more desks, only beds. The four friends tucked themselves fully-clothed each into their own bed, but lay awake until the other pupils had fallen asleep.
