Pearl Boucher rarely feels in control of her life. It’s one thing to be forced into the role of the bright, scholarly daughter of your school’s principal. It’s another thing else entirely when said mother/principal demands that you spend all your free time practicing the piano so that you’ll be accepted into a prestigious music conservatory after graduation. And Pearl is expected to balance both roles without complaint.
But the true feeling of powerlessness comes after sundown. On those occasional nights in which Pearl’s body decides to act independently from her conscious mind. But when you’ve been dealing with somnambulism (AKA sleepwalking) as long as Pearl has, you learn a few ways to cope with the affliction.
The real potential for trouble comes during the rare instances in which Pearl is allowed to travel away from home for a few days. Namely, her upcoming annual boat trip around the Small Islands with Maya, Erica, and Lystra.
If everything goes well and the girls’ trip plays out smoothly, Pearl has nothing to worry about. But let’s be honest, how often has “everything gone well” for these girls lately?
So, just in case, Pearl has some guidance for herself and any other fellow sleepwalkers out there who could benefit from a few practical and actionable tips.
Disclaimer: Pearl is a high schooler, not a medical professional. The following should not be interpreted as legitimate counsel.
1. Be Open with Your Friends/Roommates
“But don’t worry them too much! To be honest, I only sleepwalk about four or five times a year.
“Sure, this year it’s happened more than usual. We think the stress of the music conservatory auditions brought it on. Now that those are over, my sleepwalking episodes should stop. Definitely.
“In short, nothing that Maya, Erica, and Lystra need to be (too) concerned about!”
2. Take the Proper Precautions
“Unless your friends think it’s too annoying! But it’s not like I have a choice. Mummy wouldn’t let me go on our annual boat trip unless I wore my “special bracelet” to sleep every night. The one with literal bells on.
“So, if I do get up at some point in the night, the bells will make a sound to let my roommate know that I’m sleepwalking. Of course, this means that no one wants to be the one to share a room with me at Aunty Inez’s villa.
“But comfort must always come second to safety when dealing with a condition like this. And as much as they might hate the sound of the bells in the middle of the night, my friends can rest easy knowing that I hate their ceaseless jokes about it even more.”
3. Don’t Be Too Embarrassed . . .
“About the sleepwalking, I mean. The sleep talking is another story.
“Surprise! If you suffer from one sleep disorder, you may want to check and see if you have any others, such as chronic insomnia. And then look into options for treatment.
“Unless you also want your roommate to ask why you were mumbling things like, Banana under the chair, and She’s peeling off the skin and feeding him lies. They’re hiding in her teeth in your sleep. Purely hypothetical examples, of course. Totally random.”
“As for a cure . . . I’m not sure what the most effective solution is. But in my experience, lying awake all night wondering if your friends think you’re completely insane is at least one way to avoid further instances of sleep talking.”
4. But Take it Seriously
“Now, this is important if you have a sleepwalker in your life: never wake them up yourself. Always allow them to awake on their own.
“If you wake a sleepwalker up yourself, they may end up disoriented and panicked. And then they might panic and lash out. Then, they might injure themselves or the people around them. Instead, you should gently lead them back to bed. Or to their sleeping bag if you’re out camping.
“Then again, if someone starts sleepwalking on a camping trip, I would imagine that they would wake themselves up quickly. You know, because they might accidentally walk into the ocean . . . or into the forest . . . into pit of snakes or scorpions . . .
“Hm. I hate to say it, but maybe Mummy had a point and was right to be concerned about the trip this year . . .”
5. Don’t Let the Fear Consume You
“But as I said, my friends shouldn’t be worried. As much as they don’t like it, if I have the bracelet on, I’ll be fine. Maya is so responsible. And more importantly, an extremely light sleeper. She wouldn’t let anything happen to me.
“But I would still feel guilty if anything did happen. I can only imagine how stressful it can be to have a friend who occasionally sleepwalks. Because on those rare nights when I do get a full night’s sleep, I feel a sense of peace that can’t compare to anything in my waking life.
“Maybe it’s the dreams of my grandmother and the endless green forest. The verdant labyrinth that I could wander through forever. Almost like my unconscious mind is inviting me to keep walking down that path . . . away from all the stresses that make my daily life so difficult.”
“Of course, I’m not trying to suggest that sleepwalking is a blessing in disguise, but I have been wondering lately if our subconscious knows us better than we do.
“Or is at least more honest about communicating the things we really want out of life. . .”
For more insights on Pearl’s sleepwalking, pick up Rick Riordan Presents: It Lurks in the Night by Sarah Dass, on sale now.