Hello friends and welcome to Sleep Tight Stories.
Bernice has gotten ready for bed early, so she might finally be able to stay awake long enough to listen to a story.
When she is chatting with Cookie she says she thinks it might be the bath that's making her so sleepy.
And maybe she should stop taking them.
Bernice finally gets a short story.
I guess you're wondering why I'm getting ready for bed so early, right?
Bernice said to Cookie, as the little cat padded into the bathroom just as Bernice was about to brush her teeth.
I've been so sleepy lately, Cookie.
I thought if I went to bed early I might be able to stay awake long enough to hear at least part of a story from Papa.
That's why I started my routine sooner.
But you know what?
I'm still super tired, and I think I have the odds.
Silly, right?
Cookie replied by rubbing against Bernice's leg and doing a great big stretch.
Maybe she was sleepy too.
After brushing her teeth and laying out her clothes for the morning, Bernice started her bedtime stretches.
She found the new stretch Mama Bear had taught her pretty funny.
Mama called it Cat-Cow, and every time Bernice did the cow part, she really wanted to say moo.
Maybe we should call this stretch Cat-Cookie, Bernice giggled as Cookie stretched beside her.
You're way better at stretching than any cow I've ever seen.
When she finished her stretches, Bernice carefully placed her friends Twigga, Wolfie and Madeline in their usual spots on her bed, crawled under the covers and gave Cookie a few pets as the little cat hopped up to join her.
She let out a great big yawn.
Cookie, I think it must be the hot bath that makes me sleepy, not all the stuff I did today.
Maybe if I just stopped having baths, I could stay up longer at night and hear more stories.
Cookie looked up at Bernice with wide eyes.
Her head slightly tilted as if she didn't quite approve of this plan.
Bernice let out another yawn, even bigger this time.
I guess I better call Papa now.
It's that time, Papa, Bernice called out.
And you might want to hurry.
I have the yawns, and I don't know if I can stay awake.
Papa Bear's heavy footsteps could be heard as he ran up the stairs.
And moments later, he burst into the room, slightly out of breath.
Was that fast enough, Little Bear?
Papa Bear said with a laugh.
Bernice giggled.
You didn't have to run, Papa.
I felt the whole house shaking.
I think you might be too big to run upstairs.
You might be right, Papa Bear said, catching his breath.
I think I scared Mama, too.
Everything okay up there?
Mama Bear called from the kitchen.
Yes, Mama, Bernice called back.
Just a yawning emergency.
Papa Bear chuckled and sat down on the edge of Bernice's bed.
So, how come you're in bed a little earlier tonight?
Are you excited about school tomorrow, or just tired from all the things you did today?
Well, I am excited about school, of course.
I really want to learn more math, and Gertrude said she's bringing some interesting food to share at lunch.
Oh, and we're painting an art class, I think.
And science?
Bobby saw a movie recently about a robot saving animals, so now he wants to learn about animals in winter and see if he could build a robot to help them.
I think that's pretty fun, Bernice said, pulling her covers tighter around her shoulders and letting out another big yawn.
But I'm not really tired, Papa.
I just wanted to hear more stories.
Papa Bear raised an eyebrow, trying not to yawn himself because yawns are super contagious.
Hmm, you don't seem tired at all.
No, Papa, I'm sure I can stay awake.
For a little while, Bernice said, her voice softening with another yawn.
I think it's because of the bath.
Maybe I shouldn't bathe so much.
Papa Bear pinched his nose.
I'm not sure that's a good idea, Little Bear.
Bernice giggled.
Did you do all the things you need to do before bed?
Papa Bear asked.
I did, Papa.
I even used Mama's special soap and her smelly shampoo.
Are you comfy?
Yes, Papa.
How about Twiggle, Wolfie, and Madeline?
Are they ready for a story too?
They said they're ready.
And what about you, Cookie?
Papa Bear asked, looking down at the little cat curled up at the foot of the bed.
Cookie opened her mouth in a great big yawn and stretched her paws forward.
I think that means she's ready too, Papa Bear said with a chuckle.
Okay, give me a hug and a kiss and I'll tell you a short story.
Thank you, Papa Bernice said sleepily, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a great big squeeze.
Once upon a time in a world full of magic and fun, there lived a brave little bear named Boo-Boo.
She lived in a large castle at the edge of a mystical forest.
And in this forest there were unicorns fairies, gnomes and all manner of insects, birds and animals.
It was a wonderful place.
Her best friend was a young dragon called Kaikai, and they liked to play as much as they could.
The kingdom they lived in was full of people who lived in the meadows, those who lived in the hills and those that lived in the forest, and they all lived in harmony.
On this day, Bubu and Kaikai had decided to visit a new treats shop nestled at the base of a mountain in the northern part of the kingdom.
Snow had already started falling there, frosting every tree, branch and leaf with sparkling white powder.
It wasn't far from Boo Boo's castle, but it was still far enough that they had to fly.
While Boo Boo was most excited about seeing the snow, Kai Kai was far more interested in the treats, especially those made from the area's famous chocolate trees.
According to a friendly sugar sprite, These magical trees only bloomed with fresh chocolate after the first snow of the season.
And today was the day.
Boo Boo and Kai Kai were in the castle garden preparing for their trip.
Boo Boo was bundled up in multiple scarves, while Kai Kai sported a tiny red hat perched awkwardly on his head.
With so many scarves around your neck, are you sure you'll even be able to move your head?
Kaikai asked with a chuckle.
My grandmama caught me on the way out the garden door and just kept wrapping them around me.
What could I do?
She's my grandmama, Boo Boo said with a shrug.
And I think I see her watching us from one of the castle windows, probably to make sure you stay extra warm.
Kai Kai teased.
Boo Boo pointed at Kai Kai's little red hat.
And what about that hat on your head?
I think it'll fall off the moment we take off.
Did she catch you too?
Nope, that was the gardener's doing.
If I want to stay on his good side, I need to wear it.
Otherwise, he might chase me away from our favorite meeting spot in the gardens.
I guess he forgets I can breathe fire and warm us both up whenever needed.
Ha ha, that'll be useful when we land, but while we're flying?
Well, let's just say I'd rather not turn into a barbecue.
Are you sure you know where we're going?
Do I ever get lost?
Kai Kai asked confidently.
But when he caught Boo Boo's skeptical look, he cleared his throat.
Okay yes, I asked Bluebell for directions and she got them from a sprite who got their directions from an old gnome?
So, I think we'll be fine.
Boo Boo still didn't look convinced, but she climbed onto Kaikai's back anyway.
With a mighty flap of his wings, Kaikai lifted them into the sky, careful not to disturb any of the flowers or shrubs in the castle garden.
He didn't want to make the gardener angry.
There goes your hat.
Boo Boo laughed as the tiny red hat flew off and fluttered back down to the castle grounds.
It's getting chilly up here, Kai Kai.
I think my grandmama might have been right after all.
Kai Kai flew swiftly through the crisp, frosty air while Boo Boo clung tightly to his back.
The higher they went, the more the air filled with the faint scent of peppermint, cinnamon and, most importantly, chocolate.
I think we're getting close, Kai Kai said, sniffing the air deeply.
I can smell the delicious treat.
I hope so, Boo Boo said, her teeth starting to chatter.
I think I might need some hot chocolate before I play in the snow.
That's a great idea, Boo Boo, and I think that might be the treat shop up ahead.
How can you tell?
My eyes might not be great, but my nose is excellent.
I can smell hot chocolate from miles away.
Good thing we're almost there because all these thoughts about food are making me really hungry.
And you know what happens when I get hungry.
You'd better fly faster then, Boo Boo said with a laugh.
Whenever Kai Kai got really hungry, he started to drool.
Drooling wasn't great, but the real problem came when his stomach started to growl.
It was so loud that villagers sometimes mistook it for thunder and ran indoors, thinking a storm was coming.
When Kaikai was younger.
This made him sad because he thought everyone was running away from him just because he was a dragon.
But Boo Boo had reassured him that wasn't the case at all.
When they finally landed outside the treat shop, Kai Kai was already drooling a lot.
Even Boo Boo's stomach gave a little rumble.
The shop sat nestled in a clearing at the edge of a mountain, surrounded by tall, beautiful trees, their branches heavy with shimmering chocolate leaves and cocoa bean pods hanging like ornaments.
Its roof was dusted with powdered sugar snow and candy pillars supporting the crooked wooden porch.
Strings of magical fairy lights twinkled above the doorway, casting a warm glow on the snow-covered ground.
The windows were fogged up from the heat inside, but Boo Boo could still make out shelves lined with jars of colorful sweets and baskets overflowing with cookies and chocolate truffles.
A sign above the door read, Willow and Whisk Magical Treats, in looping candy-striped letters.
Surrounding the shop were chocolate trees, their branches heavy with glistening chocolate leaves and cocoa bean pods that hung like ornaments waiting to be plucked.
The bark of the trees shimmered with what looked like a sweet glaze, and beneath them clusters of peppermint shrubs sprouted from the snow, their red and white swirls poking through the frost.
Tiny footprints, likely from sugar sprites and frost fairies, dotted the snow around the trees leading toward the shop's entrance.
The air was sweet, carrying the rich scent of melted chocolate, warm vanilla and a hint of toasted marshmallow.
Every breath Boo Boo took felt like sipping on the yummiest cup of hot chocolate.
If someone had baked fresh cookies, stirred vanilla pudding and sprinkled peppermints into steaming mugs of chocolate all at once, it might come close to this magical smell.
Somewhere nearby, a soft jingling sound floated through the air, like tiny silver bells being played by invisible fairy hands.
Boo Boo took a deep breath, her face breaking into a wide grin.
Oh, Kai Kai, this is even better than I imagined.
Kai Kai nodded, eagerly wiping his mouth with one claw as another drop of drool fell close to Boo Boo's scarf.
It's like we've landed in the middle of a dessert kingdom.
If you don't go inside soon and order stuff for us, I might accidentally eat the door.
Boo Boo giggled and patted Kai Kai's neck.
Well then, I shouldn't waste another second.
Refreshing hot chocolate awaits.
With a laugh, They made their way toward the shop, their footprints joining the many tiny tracks already crisscrossing the frosty ground.
Kaikai got them a table reserved for those tall friends who couldn't sit inside.
And as Boo-Boo pushed open the door, a bell above her gave a cheerful ding-ding and a wave of warm, chocolate-scented air wrapped around her like a snug blanket.
Oh my, Boo-Boo said, loudly enough for Kai-Kai to hear.
We certainly are about to start a chocolate-filled adventure.
After hearing Bernice's quiet snorts, Papa Bear stopped the story, kissed Bernice on the forehead, adjusted her blanket, turned off her lamp and quietly whispered I love you, little bear.
And that is the end of our story.
Good night.
Sleep tight.
