Chapter 12: The Weekend Pillow Factory

The days floated by, each one a soft pillow in the timeline of Alex's world. His school days blended into each other, a quiet hum of classes, light naps, and secretive notes in his notebook, "The Perfect Nap Project." But as the weekend arrived, Alex knew this wasn't just any weekend—it was pillow production weekend.

For the past week, Alex had meticulously tested "The Dozer V1". His napping experiments spanned every corner of his home, from the quiet alcove under the stairs to the gentle sway of the backyard hammock. With each test, he whispered softly to himself:

"Perfect ambiance."

His notebook had gained new entries:

"Tested in 7 home environments.""Passed the 10-Second Nap Challenge consistently.""Comfort rating: 9.5/10."

Ten pillows lay perfectly stacked in his room, each a fluffy embodiment of his sleepy genius. But ten wasn't enough. He needed forty to feel ready, to create a stockpile before he embarked on his pillow-selling adventure.

A Change in Strategy

Normally, weekends meant nap expeditions—quiet parks, forgotten nooks in the library, or the abandoned bus that still lingered in his memory. But this time, Alex knew he needed every minute for pillow production.

"I need to save time," he muttered, sketching a quick schedule in his notebook:

Saturday Morning: Make 15 pillows.Saturday Afternoon: Nap in the backyard.Saturday Evening: Make 10 more pillows.Sunday Morning: Finish 5 pillows.Sunday Afternoon: Test nap in the living room.

He glanced at the window, the backyard grass gently swaying in the breeze. His usual urge to explore new nap spots tugged at him, but he shook his head.

"Stay focused."

Instead of packing his nap bag, he set up his nap zone in the backyard. The nap mat, a soft blanket, and "The Dozer V1" transformed a patch of lawn into a private sleep haven.

Neighbors, accustomed to his quiet presence, would sometimes glance over the fence.

"Is he okay?" Mrs. Greene asked her husband.

"Just napping. He's been at it for years."

"Oh, that's nice."

The Pillow Production Line

Inside his room, the pillow factory was in full swing. His desk held stacks of soft fabric, his bed served as the assembly line, and the floor was a cloud of white stuffing.

Alex moved with a blend of sleepy focus and gentle precision. Each pillow received the same careful attention—stuffing, stitching, and a small, hand-sewn tag:

"The Dozer V1 by SnoozeCloud."

His parents, peeking through the door, often found him sitting cross-legged, surrounded by fluffy creations. They assumed it was just another of his sleep experiments—perhaps a quest for the "perfect nap fort".

"Should we ask him about it?" Sarah whispered.

Richard shook his head. "As long as he's not trying to sleep on the roof again, let him be."

His sisters, Lisa and Emily, occasionally tiptoed through his room, avoiding stray tufts of stuffing. Once, Lisa picked up a pillow, gave it a gentle squeeze, and whispered to Emily:

"This is really soft."

Alex, half-awake at his desk, simply nodded. "It's the perfect fluff ratio."

The Business Plan (Sort of)

Between sewing sessions, Alex opened his notebook to a fresh page:

"How to sell pillows?""Selling online requires a license.""Can't ask parents. They'll ask questions.""School project excuse might work."

He considered his options. The internet was out—licenses, taxes, and too much paperwork. His parents couldn't know, and neither could his friends. The thought of standing on a street corner with a sign reading "Pillows for Sale" crossed his mind, but he scribbled it out quickly.

"What if I just… gave people naps first? Then they'd want the pillow?"

His business ideas remained as sleepy as his demeanor. He envisioned setting up a nap station at the park, offering test naps and letting the product speak for itself.

"Nap first, buy later," he whispered, jotting it down.

But for now, his focus was on building inventory. His sewing machine hummed, a soft lullaby of progress.

The First Glimpse of Future Plans

As Saturday rolled into Sunday, Alex's room transformed into a pillow kingdom. Stacks of "The Dozer V1" lined the walls, each one a fluffy soldier in his upcoming nap revolution.

While sewing, his mind wandered.

"If I had employees, I could nap while they work.""A nap business where I only handle the ambiance research.""Maybe… a pillow cafe? With napping pods?"

His dreams of business entrepreneurship were simple and pure—anything that allowed him to maintain his sleep adventures. The thought of hiring people wasn't driven by ambition but by practicality.

"If I had a team, I could nap… everywhere."

But those were future dreams. For now, his focus remained on finishing the pillows and preparing for the first, quiet steps of his business.