Bernice is one of our favorite characters, and this sweet story originally aired on Sleep Tight Premium last year.
We thought you might enjoy a listen here on Sleep Tight Stories.
If you'd like more cozy ad -free stories, plus over ten chapter adventures told just right for bedtime, subscribe to Sleep Tight Premium on Apple Podcasts or Supercast. Bernice came home and said she could smell Papa Bear's cookies all the way from school.
After she takes her boots off, she realizes that Cookie didn't come to greet her.
Bernice asks Papa Bear where Cookie is, and Papa Bear says he doesn't know.
Maybe they should both go and look for her together.
Bernice wonders where Cookie is.
Hi Papa and Cookie, I'm home.
Bernice said as she came in through the front door of their small house.
Sitting down to take off her stubborn snow boots, she said, Papa, did you know you can smell your cookies all the way from school?
Bobby said he could smell them and then I could too.
It made my belly start to make gurgling noises and now I am so super hungry that I think I could eat a dozen.
Hahaha. When you have taken off your outside clothes, come into the kitchen and we can have a snack.
I baked some delicious ones today," Papa Bear said in his really deep voice.
Cookie, where are you?
Bernice said as she walked slowly to the kitchen.
Cookie, her cat, always greeted her at the front door when she came home from school.
Looking left and right under the table, Bernice asked, Where is Cookie?
She always comes to the front door when I come home from school.
Is she OK, Papa? That's something that I want to talk to you about.
I think she is hiding somewhere.
I went looking for her just before you came home and I couldn't find her.
Maybe she is extra tired from playing all night last night and had a nap in a strange place.
Why don't we go and have a look for her together?
You are better at finding things than I am, Papa Bear said.
We can have our treat after we find her.
Okay Papa, she is my bestest friend so I hope she is okay.
Don't worry, Papa Bear said, trying to assure Bernice that all was okay.
Let's try looking in your bedroom first. Maybe she is hiding under your bed and I missed her." Berenice and papa bear went upstairs to Berenice's bedroom.
"'Cookie, cookie, where are you?' Berenice said as she looked under her bed.
"'She isn't under my bed, Papa.' "'And she isn't in your closet, little bear.
"'But there certainly are a lot of dirty stinky socks.
P .U. Oh yeah, I forgot to put them in the laundry, Bernice said with a grin.
Maybe the smell of your socks scared Cookie out of your room and she is napping somewhere as far away from your closet as possible, Papa Bear said laughing.
Papa, my socks aren't that stinky, but I'd better go look under your bed just in case, she might be sleeping there.
Bernice said as she ran out of her room.
Bernice looked all over Papa and Mama Bear's bedroom, the bathroom, and all the closets.
Papa even looked up into the attic, but Cookie was nowhere to be found.
It was a mystery. I'm getting a little bit worried, Papa.
She didn't go outside, did she?
It's very cold and it's very slippery.
She might slip and hurt herself or something." I'm pretty sure she didn't go outside, and I am sure if she wanted to, she would quickly change her mind when she felt how cold it was.
I don't think cats like snow very much and she loves the warmth of our house.
Bernice and Papa Bear walked downstairs and back into the kitchen.
and who did they see?
Cookie. She was sitting right beside Bernice's backpack purring loudly.
Cookie, are you okay?
We were worried about you.
Where did you go? You weren't hiding from me, were you?
Bernice asked as she got down on the floor and pet Cookie.
Cookie loved being pet.
She especially loved getting chin rubs." Cookie replied by purring even louder.
Well, this is a bit of a mystery.
I looked everywhere down here for her but didn't see her anywhere.
Maybe she was playing hide and seek?
Appabear said with a puzzled look on his face.
She is very smart. I'm just happy that she is okay, Bernice said as she continued to pet Cookie.
Then Bernice's stomach made loud gurgling noises again.
I could hear that, papa bear said with a laugh.
Why don't you wash your hands and have a seat.
I'll get you a treat and a glass of milk.
Okay. That's the sound my tummy makes when it wants cookies.
Bernice said as she washed her hands.
I think after I finish my treat, I am going to look around and see if Cookie has a secret hiding place.
Papa bear put a large plate of chocolate chip cookies at the center of the table.
A glass of milk for Bernice and a cup of tea for himself.
Super yummy cookies as always, Bernice said just before taking a big drink of milk.
Glad you like them little bear.
Cats often liked to sleep during the day, so I bet Cookie found a new place to sleep and didn't hear you come home.
After taking a drink of tea, Papa Bear asked, So, tell me all about your day.
How was your math test?
Mama said you were a little nervous.
My day was okay, I guess.
Bobby told the class about his latest experiment.
It was kind of funny, but the teacher thought his knowledge about dinosaurs was good.
So, it was okay that he made everyone laugh.
I heard about his science experiment and the mess he made.
I'm glad he wasn't hurt, Papa Bear said.
Yeah, Bobby is a bit crazy sometimes, especially when it comes to science experiments.
and poop emojis, and painting, and stuff like that.
His room has all kinds of experiments, though I think some of them were broken when his time machine went out of control.
Did you know that Yummy Yummy Yummy I have cookies in my tummy?
is my favorite song, Papa?
Bernie sang after she finished another cookie.
Oh, yeah. My math test went super well, Papa.
I was nervous. I sometimes get nervous before a test, but I remember that you told me to have confidence in myself and take a great big breath.
So it went okay. I thought it was too easy, but I didn't say anything because some of the kids found it difficult and that wouldn't be polite.
The teacher said that she will review the material again and that we can work together to help each other understand.
she said that having to teach someone helps you understand the topic better, which is true i guess i think it's just fun to help each other i'm glad you did well on your test little bear it's important to help your classmates everyone has things they are good at Yeah, I think so.
Oh and Papa, you wouldn't believe what Gertrude brought for lunch today and she shared.
She brought these teeny -tiny hamburgers and a salad.
It was super cute. She offered to share some of her salad but no one wanted that, especially Bobby, because there were carrots in it.
And he always says that carrots cause him to make stinky stinks.
And that would not be good during class.
I did get to have one of her burgers, though, and she had one of my sandwich quarters.
It was yummy, yummy, Bernice said, just before she finished her last cookie.
Oh, and Papa? Bobby asked me to ask you something.
Papa Bear pretended to be surprised.
And what did he want you to ask me?" Well, his sort of super secret cookie jar that he has in his room is empty, and he was wondering if you could give him some more.
He says your cookies are the tastiest and help him come up with good ideas for inventions and stuff.
He called your cookies fuel for his creativity.
Heh, huh, huh. Well, we better send him more cookies then, Papa Bear said, laughing.
I think his mother said it was okay the last time we talked, so I will send some more his way.
I haven't told him yet, but I don't think his cookie jar is really a secret.
I'm pretty sure his mom knows about it, Bernice said with a whisper.
I think she does, Papa Bear said with a smile.
I'm going to start making dinner.
Do you have any homework today?
No homework, Papa. Our teacher said that since we have been working so hard lately, they would give us a break.
I think I will read later.
Right after I try and find Cookie's new sleeping place, Bernice said as she took her plate and glass to the sink.
It's cozy and sleepy time again said Bernice and I think Cookie seems super sleepy too.
She keeps stretching.
I'll tell you a secret little bear, Papa Bear said with a great big yawn.
I think Cookie loves you so much that she comes to bed when you do to make sure you go to sleep.
Then later she goes and plays downstairs for a while.
Really, Papa? We are the bestest friends, so that's what we do for each other, right?
Cats like to play at night, but I have noticed that she comes back in here to check on you every once in a while.
She also likes to have naps in your bed, too," Papa Bear said with yet another yawn.
Papa, I think you are tired, Bernice said with a smile.
Your yawns are contagious, and you are making me super sleepy!
Did you do all the things you need to do before bed?
I think so. I had a soapy bath, put on my favorite pajamas, brushed my teeth with my new toothbrush, and did deep breathing exercises and stretches.
I read a bit too," Bernice said with another great big yawn.
Bernice's yawn then made Papa Bear let out a great big one too.
""Yawns really are contagious," he laughed.
""I think we better both go to sleep, Papa.
But can you give me a great big hug first and tell me another boo -boo and kai -kai story the next time?" Sure thing, little bear.
And Papa Bear gave Bernice a great big squeeze of a hug.
I love you, Papa. I love you too, little bear.
And that is the end of our story.
Good night, sleep tight.
You You Thank you.
