Thunder crashed outside and lightning flashed at the window. Cam woke up scared in the dark.
He pulled his blanket over his head, but the thunder was very loud.
Cam heard his dad's footsteps in the hall. The bedroom door opened.
Dad sat on the edge of the bed. Storms are a little scary, huh? he said.
Can you stay? Cam asked. Dad nodded and sat beside him.
He explained that thunder is just sound. Lightning is light. They cannot come inside.
They counted together — one, two, three — between the lightning and the thunder. The gap grew longer.
The storm is moving away, Dad said. By then, Cam's eyes were closing again. He felt safe.