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Bernice wakes up, but she isn't really sure if she is awake or still asleep.
She has had some silly, wild, crazy dreams and now she is going to talk to Papa Bear about them.
Bernice has silly dreams. Bernice opened her left eye, then her right The morning sun was shining through her bedroom window landing right on her pillow But that wasn't what woke her The sound of Cookie purring loudly as she cuddled up under Bernice's chin didn't wake her either She was used to Cookie being her summer snuggle buddy her let's go have some fun alarm clock.
Except, Cookie mostly had to stay home because traveling in her special carrier wasn't much fun and Bernice always worried she might get lost if she wandered free.
What did wake Bernice up just as the sun was rising was her dream.
Her very silly, very wild, very confusing dream.
It was so strange that she wasn't sure if she was awake or still dreaming How could she know for sure?
Good morning, Cookie, Bernice whispered It is morning, right?
She looked out the window again, eyes squinting in the bright light I mean, the sun is shining in and I think I heard Mama go for her run just now now, and maybe Papa's in the kitchen making honey cakes.
I can smell something yummy and my tummy's gurgling.
Do you smell it, too?
Cookie responded by pressing in even closer, her purring now a steady hum.
I don't know if you understand my language yet, Bernice said, or if you just like listening to me talk, but Cookie, how do you know if you're awake or dreaming?
Is that a silly question?
She paused, then continued more to herself than to Cookie.
Last night I had so many dreams. Usually I just remember little bits, like one about cookies or walking across the stage to get a race medal.
Oh, or that time I got an award for being the world's best scientist. And I think Bobby and I once climbed the world's tallest mountain and he did something super silly, but I forget what it was.
Cookie didn't reply, of course, but she did roll onto her back, paws in the air, belly exposed.
exposed. Bernice grinned.
Okay, okay, belly rubs coming up.
One dream I remember was just like this, Bernice said, still whispering to Cookie.
I woke up, and it was super sunny out, and I was really excited to go outside and ride bikes with Mama and Papa.
She blinked up at the ceiling.
So I got up, went downstairs to have breakfast because Because you need a good breakfast for riding bikes, and Papa was there.
But he said maybe it was too hot and I should go swimming instead.
Bernice paused. Then I finished breakfast, came back upstairs, and fell asleep again.
So now I'm confused.
What do you think, Cookie?
What if this is the same dream?
What if I'm stuck in a dream loop?
loop. Cookie gave a little flick of her tail.
I also had a dream about Bobby, Bernice continued, and one where I was flying.
But I know that one was a dream because I can't fly yet.
At least not until Bobby gets his flying robot working properly.
At that moment, Bernice's tummy made a loud gurgle.
Cookie rolled over and gave her a slightly judgy look Yeah, I know, Cookie, Bernice said with a grin I need to get up and have breakfast It does smell super yummy down there We'll talk more later, okay?
I mean, if this isn't still a dream and stuff Then I don't know what's going to happen She got up, stretched like a sleepy cat and started getting ready for the day.
A few minutes later, Bernice slowly tiptoed down the stairs to the kitchen where Papa Bear was making honey cakes while sipping from a big mug of coffee.
Good morning, little bear.
You're up early today, Papa Bear said in his super deep voice.
Did you sleep well?
I'm making honey cakes this morning, but they're not quite ready yet.
Papa, Bernice said quietly, am I awake or is this a dream?
Papa bear chuckled, walked over and gently poked her in the belly.
Hmm. I think you might be awake.
What do you think? Bernice giggled.
Papa, that's my ticklish spot.
You're not supposed to tickle me first thing in the morning.
That was our rule from years ago, remember?
remember? Back when I was just a little kid.
You're right, Papa Bear said with a grin.
So I guess that answers your question then.
Why don't you pour yourself a glass of milk while I finish up the honey cakes?
Bernice got herself a glass of milk and took a big sip, which gave her a perfectly foamy milk stash, of course.
Papa, she said, licking her upper lip How do I really know I'm awake and not still dreaming?
Whoa, that's quite a question for first thing in the morning Papa Bear said, raising an eyebrow Especially before I've had my coffee Didn't we just test that with a tickle?
Yeah, Bernice said, but sometimes dreams are so powerful It's hard to tell, right?
Last night I had so many dreams, and I remember most of them, which is weird. I mean, I have a really good memory for almost everything, especially science and stuff, but dreams are trickier.
One dream had Cookie as a lion, and we lived on the savannas of Africa, and the trees grew cookies.
cookies. I don't remember exactly what happened, but I really wish cookie trees were a real thing.
Ha ha, that sounds like one of the bedtime stories I tell you, like the chocolate trees Kai Kai loves so much, Papa Bear said as he placed a plate of honey cakes in front of her and sat down at the table.
Why don't you tell me more about your dreams while you eat your breakfast, he added, And then we'll make some plans for the day.
Is today one of those bike ride days, Papa?
Bernice asked eyes wide because that was in one of my dreams too.
And I'm still not sure if that was the dream or this was.
Well, Bobby's at camp and your other friends are busy this week, Papa Bear said.
So I thought since the weather's nice, maybe you, Mama, and I could go for a bike ride.
We could stop at the ice cream shop at the park and have a treat.
Then just see what happens after that.
Maybe even ride the trail way out into the country and see something interesting.
Okay, this sounds a lot like my dream, Papa, Bernice said between bites of honey cake.
So I'm still not totally sure I'm awake.
How do I know? Papa Bear took a big sip of coffee and smiled.
Well, you know what?
Some of the smartest people in the world have wondered the exact same thing.
He paused and took another thoughtful sip.
But here's what I think makes being awake a little different from dreaming.
In your dreams, things can change in impossible ways like when you're suddenly flying or cookie starts talking in perfect sentences or our kitchen turns into a spaceship or when cookies a lion and cookie trees grow out of the ground Bernice giggled dreams are magical Papa Bear continued but they don't follow the same rules as real life.
When you're awake, things are more steady.
Cookie still meows instead of giving book reports.
Gravity works. You can't float to the ceiling just by thinking about it.
And the people who love you, they're right here hugging you for real.
Your bedtime friends, Twiggo, Wolfie, and Madeline, they're still in the same spot you left them.
Your room looks just like it did last night, and Mama and I are here, just like always, ready with hugs and cookies and tickles if you want them.
He leaned in a little closer.
But you know what's really special?
Even if we couldn't tell the difference between a dream and being awake, the most important things would still be true.
true. Love is real in both.
Kindness matters in both.
And the person you are, brave, curious, and full of heart, Bernice, that's real no matter where you are.
Bernice grinned and held up her fork.
Don't forget smart, Papa.
In my dreams, I'm super smart.
art. And these honey cakes are super yummy delicious.
Can I have a couple more?
I think I need extra if we're going on a super long bike ride.
I think I can cook a few more, Papa Bear said, rising from his chair.
Maybe I'll join you for another.
While I'm flipping the next batch, why don't you tell me about your other dreams?
Or did you forget them already?
ready. Oh, I didn't forget, Papa, Bernice said, eyes lighting up.
And at least a couple of them had Bobby in them.
She took another bite of honey cake, then launched into her story.
In the first one, Bobby invented a new robot called the Homework Helper 3000.
But instead of doing homework, it started turning everything into homework.
She giggled. First, it zapped our lunch. Gertrude's sandwich had math problems written in mustard, and my apple had chemical formulas carved into it.
Bobby tried to eat his dinosaur -shaped pasta, but each piece had a different science question he had to answer before he could take a bite.
Papa Bear chuckled as he poured more batter into the pan.
Then the robot went completely crazy and started shooting homework lasers everywhere.
It turned all the hallway posters into giant worksheets.
Even the water fountain started asking trivia questions before it would give you a drink.
Bernice burst into giggles.
And Bobby, being Bobby, thought it was hilarious instead of terrible.
He ran around yelling, I'm a homework genius, and tried to high five everyone.
But every time he touched something, it turned into more homework.
He even turned Gertrude's backpack into a giant calculator that kept beeping out the wrong answers.
She took a breath, still smiling.
The funniest part was when Bobby finally tried to turn off his robot, but the off button had turned into a word problem about fractions.
He kept pressing it and yelling, I just want it to stop, not solve for x.
She leaned back in her chair, dreamy and satisfied.
I don't remember how it ended, but it was super silly and stuff.
stuff. Papa Bear placed a fresh plate of warm honey cakes on the table and sat down with a satisfied sigh.
Well, Little Bear, he said, that might be the silliest robot I've ever heard of.
I'm not sure whether to laugh or not because maybe Bobby will make it one day.
Bernice giggled We can't give Bobby any ideas He might try So I think I will keep that dream a secret Papa Bear chuckled and passed her another honey cake So what was your silliest dream of the night or is there more?
Bernice's eyes lit up again Oh there's one more I remember member and Papa, it was strange.
She took a dramatic pause and leaned in.
I dreamed I was at school, except it wasn't really school.
It was shaped like a giant banana and everyone had to slide in through the peel to get to class.
Sounds slippery, Papa Bear said as he took a bite of honey cake which slipped off his fork.
Oh, it was, Bernice said, but that wasn't even the strangest part.
When I got to my classroom, all the desks were made of jelly, wobbly jelly, and every time someone sat down, their desk jiggled and flung pencils across the room.
And instead of a teacher, she went on we had a gnome wearing glasses who only spoke in riddles he said to find your lesson you must follow the jelly trail so we all had to crawl on our hands and knees after the sticky line of jelly blobs that led to the gym except the gym had turned into a trampoline park filled with spaghetti noodles.
She looked at Papa Bear eyes wide.
I think we were supposed to do math on the noodles, but I mostly bounced into a giant bowl of meatballs.
Papa Bear laughed. Now that little bear is a silly dream.
See, I told you my dreams were silly.
They're the best kind, Papa Bear said, reaching for another honey cake And they make for the best breakfast stories I did no more, Bernice said, finishing another bite of honey cake But they're starting to fade already That happens, Little Bear, Papa Bear said kindly Dreams can be slippery like that Let's finish breakfast quickly so that we can be ready when Mama gets home from her run She will have her breakfast and then we can leave straight away I know she is going to want to have a great big ice cream cone Yeah, Bernice grinned, me too After a long day of riding bikes, Bernice was tired But the good
kind of tired She'd had ice cream not once but twice.
And they'd even gone out to a restaurant for dinner that served delicious pizza.
Bernice tried the kind with pineapple on top and decided it was super yummy delicious.
When they got home and put their bikes away, Bernice had a bubble bath with extra bubbles, brushed her teeth, tried doing some stretching in belly breasts, but she was too sleepy, and picked out her clothes for the morning.
Then, after arranging her bedtime friends just the way she liked, she crawled under her covers and called out softly, It's that time, Papa.
I'm coming, little bear, Papa Bear replied, as he slowly climbed the stairs.
You didn't shake the house this time, Bernice teased.
I think I must be tired, Papa Bear said, settling onto the edge of her bed All that biking and fresh air, it makes me feel the good kind of tired Is there a bad kind of tired?
Bernice asked through a yawn Already half into sleep, already losing the yawning Olympics Papa Bear thought for a moment, maybe, but I'm too tired to remember member.
You need more bike practice, Papa, Bernice mumbled, so you can keep up with me.
I'm not tired at all.
But before she could finish, she was fast asleep.
Papa Bear tucked her in gently, kissed her forehead, and whispered, I love you, little bear.
there. And that is the end of our story.
Good night, sleep tight.
Thank you.
