A child lies in bed after the grandmother has kissed her goodnight, given her a candle, and told her the three kisses are three dreams. Once alone, she feels uneasy because the dreams stay silent. She wonders if she accidentally gave them back when she returned the kisses. The familiar bedroom turns strange and threatening: the furniture grows enormous, the jug’s smile seems unfriendly, and the covered window hides an unknown world. The scariest thing is not knowing what is outside the blind. When she finally peeks, she sees no trees or path—only stars, which feel like hundreds of friendly candles watching over frightened children. Reassured, she returns to bed, and the dreams begin to sing. The mood is a convincing mix of childhood dread and wonder, where ordinary things loom large and small comforts bring safety.
The Candle — Summary
By my bed, on a little round table The Grandmother placed a candle. She gave me three kisses telling me they were three dreams And tucked me in just where I loved being tucked. Then she went out of the room and the door was shut. I lay still, waiting for my three dreams to talk; But they were silent. Suddenly I remembered giving her three kisses back. Perhaps, by mistake, I had given my three little dreams. I sat up in bed. The room grew big, oh, bigger far than a church. The wardrobe, quite by itself, as big as a house. And the jug on the washstand smiled at me: It was not a friendly smile. I looked at the basket-chair where my clothes lay folded: The chair gave a creak as though it were listening for something. Perhaps it was coming alive and going to dress in my clothes. But the awful thing was the window: I could not think what was outside. No tree to be seen, I was sure, No nice little plant or friendly pebbly path. Why did she pull the blind down every night? It was better to know. I crunched my teeth and crept out of bed, I peeped through a slit of the blind. There was nothing at all to be seen. But hundreds of friendly candles all over the sky In remembrance of frightened children. I went back to bed ... The three dreams started singing a little song.