Hello, friends, and welcome to Sleep Tight Stories.
Each week, we share a few shout outs and birthday wishes for listeners who help support the show.
It's a small way we say thank you, and it always makes us smile.
Happy double digit birthday, Leonardo Volpe.
You light up the room with your sense of humor and curiosity.
We are so proud to be a part of your family.
Love, Lucky the dog, Sienna, Mom, and Dad.
Happy birthday, Felix.
We love you so much.
You always make us laugh.
We love your silly dance moves and big smile.
We are lucky to have you in our lives.
Love, Mom, Dad, Leo, Max, and Bentley.
Happy 5th birthday to Fia in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Mama, Dada and Owen love you so much and we are so proud of the amazing girl you are.
Hope you have the best birthday ever.
Happy 4th birthday to Malcolm on February 25th.
Mommy and Daddy love you and are so proud of you.
To Maya, who turned eight on February 2nd.
A belated happy, healthy birthday to our little groundhog.
I treasure our snuggle time and heart-to-heart chats.
You're growing into such a curious clever, imaginative and kind person and you bring magic to our family every day.
All my love, Mama, with hugs.
From Avery Dog and Bubby.
Happy 7th birthday to Tennyson in Richardson, Texas.
You are so special to us.
Mom and Dad and Landon love you so much.
Happy 7th birthday to Astoria in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Dad, Mom, Cody, Carl, Luna, and Leo love you so much.
Happy 8th birthday to our amazing creative talented brilliant funny, incredible daughter Ari from Beaverton Oregon.
We are so proud of you every day.
Love you to the moon and back, Mom and Dad.
Happy 8th birthday, Anae.
Mommy, Daddy, Aaron, and Harper love you so much.
Happy 5th birthday to Azella from Anchorage, Alaska.
Your mama, dada, and baby brother Whitaker love you so much.
And to our 8-year-old Itai with a killer left foot, big sisters who adore you, a healthy appetite for stranger things, flags of countries and is a true master Lego builder.
We adore you as much as you adore Benisse.
Love, Ema, Abba, Maddie, Tall, and Smokey.
Happy birthday to you all, and thank you for supporting the show.
Now, on to our story.
In this story, Bernice has English homework, a cat who has opinions about notebooks And a phone call from Bobby.
That may or may not involve robots.
And when it's finally time for a story, Papa Bear tells one about Boo Boo and Kai Kai.
And what happens when you're absolutely sure you don't need any help.
Bernice and the Wobbly Words Papa.
These cookies are as yummy, delicious as usual, but how come they're so small?
I might have to eat ten of these just to settle the gurgling in my tummy.
I mean, it's okay, they're small, but you know, after gym class swimming and using my brain all day, I need some yummy treats.
Papa Bear chuckled.
These are called scotch cookies.
My mother used to make them all the time when I was your age, and I think it's okay if we have a few more than usual today.
Bernice picked one up carefully.
The icing was soft and sweet-smelling, and the little cherry on top wobbled just enough to make her smile.
I like the little cherry on top, Papa, and the icing.
Very pretty, I think.
I bet Bobby would like them, and Gertrude, and maybe Ethan too.
Do you think I can take some to school tomorrow to share?
Maybe they haven't had these kind of cookies before.
Just like I hadn't had the spicy chicken one of my friends shared today at lunch.
I think my tongue tried to run away for a minute.
It was so hot, Bobby wanted to get the fire extinguisher, because he tried some too.
Papa Bear laughed.
Well, that sounds pretty spicy.
It was.
It had pieces of chicken, peanuts, and these red peppers.
Bobby and I thought they were sweet peppers like the ones we usually have.
But nope, definitely not sweet at all.
Well, Papa Bear said, next time you might want to ask what's in something before trying it.
Yeah, but sometimes we're just excited to try new food.
I mean, we don't always bring interesting things.
Sometimes we all bring sandwiches at the same time, and one sandwich is almost the same as another.
Except yours, Papa.
Yours are special because you sometimes put that sweet sauce in them and stuff.
I'm glad you like them, Little Bear, Papa Bear said warmly.
So, other than your spicy lunch adventure, what else happened today?
Well, I have English homework, Papa, and you know how I feel about English.
It's a good class and everything, and I love reading lots of books.
But first it was that super strict teacher making us write all the time, and now it's essay writing.
Why can't everything be like math and science?
Math and science can be hard, but usually they're pretty easy, except for the after-school group.
But expressing myself in writing just feels frustrating sometimes.
I can say what I mean, usually, you know.
I just keep talking until everyone understands, and they usually do.
But I can't write like that.
Papa Bear nodded thoughtfully.
Writing helps you get your point, or your story, across in a very exact way.
Eventually, you learn to choose words that have lots of different meanings.
It's a very important skill, Little Bear. and it's good to learn all kinds of skills.
I guess I'll just keep practicing.
Maybe I should go work on it now in case I need more time to get it right.
Okay, little bear.
Finish your milk and put your glass in the sink, Papa Bear said.
Oh, Papa, Bobby said he might call on the pad.
I'm not sure why.
Maybe to talk about English?
He does better than me so far, and honestly, I still feel a bit wobbly about writing sometimes.
Just for a little while, Papa Bear replied, homework comes first.
Okay, Papa, thank you for the treats.
Bernice finished her milk, put her glass carefully in the sink and headed upstairs with Cookie following closely behind.
She sat at her desk, opened her English notebook, and stared at the blank page for a moment.
Just then, the pad chimed.
Hi, Bob.
Hi, Bern.
What's up?
Nothing.
What's up with you?
Well, something must be up.
You called me, and I only get so much pad time, so this must be important.
Also, did you finish your homework?
Yeah, easy.
Honestly.
Honestly.
If they don't give me harder work soon, I may have to invent my own school, possibly with robots.
Bernice laughed.
I don't think I'm genius level yet, but I don't mind harder stuff sometimes.
I finish my homework too, but I still have an English paragraph to write.
And Cookie keeps demanding pets.
Normally she helps me think, but today she's the great disruptor.
Maybe she needs treats.
Works for me.
If I ask my mom enough questions in a row, she eventually makes me a sandwich.
It's basically applied science.
Does she answer the questions?
Sometimes.
Usually I already know the answers.
My mom and dad are pretty smart, but I'm planning to be smarter eventually.
First, I need a new invention.
A new one?
What happened to your super secret robot?
Did it explode?
Escape?
Start roaming the neighborhood looking for peanut butter sandwiches and better leadership?
It did not explode, Bobby said calmly.
It accepted my leadership style.
I'm just bored.
Time for version two.
That sounds serious.
It is.
I'm thinking a robot that follows us around making cookies and sandwiches.
We'd say, Robot, snack, please.
And it would reply, Since you asked politely, I shall comply.
That actually sounds amazing.
Maybe Papa could teach it cookies.
Although I think he guards those recipes like state secrets.
Bernice, your time on the pad is almost up, little bear.
Papa Bear called from downstairs.
Your papa has a very deep voice.
Yep, useful for announcements.
Well, I should go.
Mostly I just wanted to say hi.
I'm glad you did.
See you tomorrow.
See you, Bern.
Bye.
Bernice set the pad down and looked at her notebook again.
The blank page didn't feel quite as scary as it had a few minutes ago, but it still wasn't exactly friendly.
Well, she said softly, I guess I should get started.
Cookie jumped up onto the desk without asking permission, as usual, and promptly sat right on the edge of Bernice's English notebook.
Excuse me, Bernice said, trying not to laugh.
That is not helpful positioning.
I need that space.
Cookie blinked slowly, then turned in a circle and plopped down in the middle of the page.
You know, I don't think this is the best time for pets.
Didn't I give you a whole bunch when I came home?
I even told you all about my day, including the spicy pepper, so you wouldn't feel left out.
Cookie flicked her tail, which brushed against Bernice's hand.
Bernice sighed and rested her fingers gently on Cookie's back.
Okay, here's the deal.
I'll write one sentence, then you get a pet.
Then I'll write another sentence, and you get another pet.
That seems fair?
Cookie did not object.
Bernice took a breath and wrote her first sentence.
It wasn't perfect, but it wasn't terrible either.
There, she said, sentence number one.
See, we're basically a team.
She wrote another sentence, then another.
The paragraph slowly grew line by line.
Every few sentences, Cookie purred louder, as if powering the words forward.
After a while, Bernice leaned back in her chair and read the whole paragraph out loud.
It wasn't math, it wasn't science, but it sounded like her.
I think, I think this might actually be okay, she said surprised.
Cookie stretched and hopped down, satisfied with her supervisory role.
Thank you, great disruptor, Bernice said.
You were actually the great helper.
After finishing her English homework and having a huge dinner after all that homework, she was hungry.
Bernice began her bedtime routine.
She took a soapy bubble bath with the fancy bubbles Mama had bought her, brushed her teeth and all that important stuff, did some stretches and laid out her favorite clothes for the morning.
One time she had gone to school wearing two different socks by mistake, but now she considered that part of her style.
Finally she hopped into bed, arranged Twiggo, Wolfie and Madeline just right, pulled the blanket up to her chin and called out It's that time, Papa.
And what time is that, Little Bear?
Papa Bear asked as he tiptoed up the stairs so he wouldn't shake the whole house.
I think it's time for a story, Bernice said with a big yawn.
Are you sure it isn't time for the Winter Yawning Olympics?
Papa Bear asked.
I might win that, Bernice said, yawning again.
But we did watch some of the Olympics at school today, Papa, and it was super cool.
It was the Olympic bobsleigh, and I can't believe how fast and strong they are.
They go way faster than we do when we slide down the hill at the park.
They sure do, Papa Bear said.
They are very impressive athletes.
I still plan on going to the Olympics, Bernice continued sleepily.
But I think it will be for running, or maybe swimming.
I haven't decided yet, and my coaches say I still have lots of time.
I'm not as interested in winter sports like hockey, even though a lot of my classmates love it.
Some kids like swimming and running like I do.
I guess we all have different tastes.
Your coach is right.
You have lots of time, Papa Bear said gently.
And you can do or be whatever you want.
Your mama and I will love you no matter what.
So, what kind of short story would you like tonight?
Hmm...
You tell a lot of boo-boo and kai-kai stories and I like them.
Or whatever you can think of, Papa.
I love all your stories.
Just then, as Papa reached to turn down the lamp, Cookie padded into the room and curled up at the foot of Bernice's bed, letting out a quiet little meow.
Well, since everyone is here, Papa Bear said softly, I guess we can have a story.
Is everyone comfy?
He asked.
I think so, Papa.
And how about Twiggle, Wolfie, and Madeline?
I think they are.
Papa Bear smiled.
All right, then.
Give me a hug and a kiss, and I'll tell you a story.
I love you, Papa.
I love you, too, Little Bear.
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 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 together as much as they could.
On this day, Boo Boo had been given an important assignment from Bixie.
A family of frost sprites had lost their home in a storm and someone needed to build them a new one before nightfall.
Boo Boo had her tools, her measuring rope, and a plan.
She was pretty sure she didn't need any help.
I'll come, said Kaikai, who had not been asked.
I have it handled, Bubu said.
I know, said Kaikai.
I'll just watch.
He followed her anyway.
To be fair, the frost sprites lived very close to the snowberry bushes and the snowberries were excellent this time of the year.
The frost sprite's old home had been tucked between two mossy rocks at the edge of the forest.
So Boo Boo had found a spot just like it, sheltered, quiet, out of the wind.
She had good timber beams, good flat stones for the floor, and a very good plan.
The first beam was the problem.
It needed to go across the top, and it was heavier than it looked.
Boo Boo got it halfway up, and then it slid.
She tried again, bracing her feet differently.
It went up, tilted, and came down the other side.
Interesting approach, Kaikai said, from somewhere behind a snowberry bush.
I'm adjusting.
Boo Boo said.
She tried propping one end against a rock first.
That worked actually until she moved to lift the other end and the first end slipped off the rock and landed in the mud with a soft thud.
Kai Kai said nothing.
The sound of snowberries being eaten, however, was quite loud.
Boo Boo stood back and looked at the beam.
The beam looked back at her.
You can stop watching, she said.
I'm not watching, Kaikai said.
I'm eating.
It's completely different.
Boo Boo tried the beam one more time.
It went up, stayed for a moment she actually held her breath and then slowly, almost politely, leaned sideways and slid into the mud again.
She stood there for a moment.
Fine, she said.
Kaikai was at her side before she finished the word.
He didn't make a big deal of it.
He just wrapped one claw carefully around the middle of the beam and held it steady completely.
Still the way.
Only something very large and very strong can be still.
Okay, Boo-Boo said, don't move.
I am not moving, Kaikai said with great dignity.
And so they worked.
Kaikai held.
Boo-Boo measured, fitted and secured.
Tapping each joint into place, checking the angles, making sure the roof would actually keep the rain out.
She was good at the careful parts.
He was good at the heavy parts.
It turned out those were different things.
The shelter was finished just as the sun began to dip behind the trees.
It was small and sturdy, with a proper roof, a flat stone floor and a little arched doorway that Boo Boo had added at the end because it seemed like the kind of thing frost sprites would appreciate.
It was also, if you looked carefully, just slightly lopsided on the left side.
Boo Boo had decided not to mention that.
The frost sprite family came out from behind the mossy rocks where they'd been waiting.
Four of them, very small, with silver hair and bright curious eyes.
The eldest looked the shelter over carefully, walked around it, ducked inside, and came back out.
Finest home in the forest, she announced.
Kaikai stood up a little straighter.
I built most of it, he said.
You held one beam, Boo Boo said.
A very important beam?
It was, Boo Boo admitted.
The sprites brought out two tiny cups of snowberry tea, which they presented with great ceremony.
Kaikai accepted his politely looked at it for a moment and then asked if they happened to have anything with a little more chocolate.
The eldest sprite blinked.
He's always like this, Boo Boo said.
Thank you for the tea.
It's lovely.
They sat together in the last of the afternoon light Boo Boo with her tea, Kai Kai still hopeful about the chocolate, while the Frost Sprite family moved their things inside, piece by tiny piece.
On the flight home, Boo Boo watched the forest pass below them, the trees going dark at the edges as evening settled in.
I could have figured it out, she said, eventually.
Of course, said Kaikai.
It just would have taken longer.
Probably, Kaikai agreed.
They flew the rest of the way in comfortable silence.
And with the gentle sounds of Bernice's snorts, Papa Bear turned down her light, gave her a kiss on the forehead and said I love you, Little Bear.
And that is the end of our story.
Goodnight.
Sleep tight.
