A (0:00)

Get Sleepy is a production of Slumber Studios and is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and Premium members. If you'd like to listen ad free and access weekly bonus episodes, extra long stories, and our entire back catalogue, you can try out Premium free for seven days by following the link in the episode notes. Now a quick word from our sponsors. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. The new year has arrived and that doesn't have to mean a totally new you, but perhaps a less burdened, more self caring you is a worthwhile resolution. Therapy can help you more easily identify what weighs you down by offering an understanding ear and an unbiased perspective. And BetterHelp is a great place to start your journey in therapy. For me, speaking to a therapist has often proved so effective for breaking down those negative perspectives of oneself that we all tend to hold. Sometimes we just need a reminder that we are enough just as we are. BetterHelp does the initial matching work for you with a short questionnaire helping to identify your needs and preferences. And if you aren't happy with your match, you can switch to a different therapist at any time. BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. As a Get Sleepy listener, you can sign up and get 10% off@betterhelp.com getsleepy that's betterhelp.com getsleepy. Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy. My name's Thomas and it's my honor to be your host. Thanks so much for choosing Get Sleepy to help you get a good night's rest. And please do make sure you've hit subscribe or follow wherever you listen to the show. Our recent wintry theme continues tonight. Such is the season here in the Northern Hemisphere. If you've heard our story about the Peaceful Autumn Dinner Picnic or its sequel, the Peaceful Autumn Farmhouse Dinner, you've already met the cast of characters we're rejoining tonight. A group of longtime friends will gather once more, but this time they are trading autumnal ambience for a cosy winter wonderland as they meet up for a weekend sledding party. It will be an entirely relaxing getaway filled with camaraderie, fireside chats, and falling snow. Thanks to Alicia Stefan for writing all of the episodes in this series. And just like with the others, I'm pleased to say I'll be reading for you tonight. Before we hear our story, let's spend a little time unwinding and easing into the calm of night. Just make yourself as comfortable as can be spending a moment to adjust anything you need. And find a place of stillness where you can bring your awareness to your body and simply observe. As you lie here, comfortable in your bed, your body continues to do all its necessary work to function and thrive. Your heart continues to beat perhaps a little slower and softer than it did for much of the day. Your lungs continue to draw in oxygen with your in breaths and release carbon dioxide as you breathe out. Just notice the gentle pace of your breathing as your chest and stomach expand and then contract. I'm sure your mind may still be thinking about other things, drawing your attention away from the present moment, but that's all part of our nature too, and you can just softly invite your mind to recenter its focus on your body and on the peace and calm of the space you're in. As you rest here tonight, know that your body is taking care of you without any requirement of thought or intention so you can allow your mind to rest and invite sleep to come whenever you feel its gentle pull. If you're yet to do so, you can close your eyes now and imagine a glorious winter afternoon. You've left work and responsibilities behind, and awaiting you is nothing but beautiful scenery and great friends. This is where our story begins. Melinda leaned over the kitchen sink and pulled aside the starched white cafe curtains, revealing a wintry wonderland on the other side of the glass. She stood like that for a moment, mesmerized by the silent descent of the fluffy white snowflakes. It seemed like there was layer after layer of them outside, flakes that were close, flakes that were a little way further out in the garden, and then teeny, tiny flakes, millions of them, that blanketed the forest beyond. Here, at her aunt and uncle's cosy mountain cabin, she felt like the only person for miles around. But then, with a little thrill, she considered how soon that feeling of isolation would come to a cheerful end. Her childhood friends Jack, Sarah, Anne, Lonnie, and William were coming to stay for a weekend sledding party, and to add to the fun, they'd also invited their mutual friend Elizabeth, who had so kindly hosted them at a fabulous autumn farmhouse dinner. The season before, Bringing Elizabeth into the mix was going to mean more stories and fresh shenanigans, and that was a prospect they all welcomed. As long as her guests arrived soon they would be there before the roads were too slippery. And then, she reflected, it wouldn't matter how much it snowed. They were all going to stay for the long weekend, and they would have everything they needed at the cabin to be well fed and entertained. Returning to her hosting duties, Melinda dropped the curtain and pushed back from the edge of the sink. She surveyed the groceries on the counter. One by one, she unpacked them. First she took care of the items that needed to stay cold. Milk, eggs, butter, fresh ingredients for salad, and a can of whipped cream. Each of these were placed carefully into the sparkling clean fridge for later. Once those items were all safely chilling, she took care of the ones that belonged in the cupboard. Pancake mix and real maple syrup for breakfast. All the ingredients to make a delicious pasta meal. A box of brownie mix and various bags of popcorn and pretzels for bouts of snacking. Melinda smiled to herself at the prospect of a weekend where they ate when they wanted, napped whenever they fancied, and let go of all their usual rules and responsibilities. When the kitchen was tidy, she walked through the cosy family room and switched on the gas fireplace. Immediately it sprang to life, casting a welcoming glow upon the entire room. She paused there and turned herself in a circle, soaking up the warmth. She hadn't realised how chilly she'd been and so turned up the heat a bit more. It was tough being the first person to open the house in this very cold weather, but now everything would be perfect when her friends arrived in a short while. Grabbing her weekend bag by the front door, she proceeded into the hallway where the bedrooms were located. She placed her things in a room with two matching twin beds. She knew she could have taken the main bedroom, but she had a special place in her heart for this one, where she'd spent many lovely visits. With her sister sleeping next to her, she would give the big room to one of her friends. Opening her bag, Melinda took out her soft, fleecy pyjamas and neatly folded them on the bed to await her return in the evening. She then placed her slippers on the floor right at the edge of the bed. Her warm woolly sweaters, jeans, and soft shirts were hung in the wardrobe. Everything was in its place. Just then she heard the front door open, a voice she instantly recognized as Williams called out, I'm sorry to report that we have arrived. Melinda laughed aloud and hurried down the hallway to find her friends piling through the entrance one by one as the uniform snowy whiteness of the outdoors framed them from behind. She rubbed her arms and hopped around a little as the arctic chill blew inside, peppering her face with tiny ice crystals. William quickly shook off his boots and got out of the hall as Ronnie and Sarah pushed their way inside with Anne nearly tripping over them as she came through the door last night. A cacophony ensued, during which Melinda heard dramatic tales of the drive. Hugs and warm greetings were exchanged. Meanwhile, she hung as many coats and scarves in the closet as she could. William looked into the family room and let out a cry of delight, spreading his arms wide as if to embrace the cheerful fire. Collapsing on the couch, he immediately put his feet up and leaned back on the cushions with a peaceful look on his face. Lonnie cracked a joke about the fact that he was taking over Melinda's house. William pulled a face and responded that as the driver he was very tired and deserving of a rest. Melinda motioned down the hallway and invited the new arrivals to choose a room. Even as he lay on the couch relaxing with his eyes closed, William called out that he was claiming one of the top bunks in the bunk room. Lonnie and Sarah responded in mock annoyance that it should really be first come, first served, but they gamely pulled their own bags into the room and took the two bottom bunks anyway. Meanwhile, Anne chose the other bed in Melinda's room. She whispered dramatically that they would share secrets later, and they both laughed. William's roommates commented that they would not be bringing his bag in from the entryway and that he could do that himself. Right on cue, the last two friends arrived. Jack and Elizabeth were swept inside with a little gust of wind, politely and promptly closing the door behind themselves. Their greeting was a bit more genteel since everyone wanted to look a little more well behaved for Elizabeth. Showing her usual flair, she was adorned in the most fabulous vintage faux fur coat and hat. Melinda gladly took them from her as she shed her boots and commented on how cosy they were. Elizabeth beamed and thanked Melinda for including her in the weekend. The kind host hugged her warmly and said she was most welcome. The next half an hour was a leisurely time of settling in. Elizabeth laid claim to a small room with a queen sized bed, leaving Jack with the vast main bedroom. He protested with embarrassment that there was no reason he should have the biggest room, but everyone shouted him down and told him he'd earned it by hosting so many picnics at his house and cleaning up all the dishes. To this he shrugged and acknowledged that perhaps he had earned the king sized bet. The friends had also brought their own snacks and drinks to contribute, and soon enough the kitchen was a mad tangle of people putting things in the refrigerator while others tore open bags of crisps and plopped themselves down on the stools by the counter to chat and catch up. But before everyone could get too entrenched by the fire, Melinda called out that they really must get outside and have some fun before twilight arrived. After all, she pointed out, it did get dark so early at this time of year, and the snow was piling up fast. Everyone agreed that this was absolutely true, and they scattered to their bedrooms to put on comfortable, warm clothing and extra layers of socks. Meanwhile, Melinda pulled on her boots and trudged around the side of the house to the outer storage shed. It wasn't locked, but she did have to kick away some snow from the bottom in order to drag open the door. Once she did, she found what she was looking for. Inside there were a few types of sleds. One was a plastic toboggan, long and flat on the bottom, and two were plastic saucer. She smiled as she pulled those out, thinking of how many great sledding runs she'd had on them, twirling in circles. Lastly, she removed her uncle's classic Flexible Flyer sled with the steering bar on the front. This last one she handled almost reverently. It was vintage, but it had been built to be sturdy, and it was still in full working order. In two trips, she managed to pull all of the assorted sleds to the top of the slope near the house, where she left them waiting for her friends. As she stomped her way through the deepening drifts, heading back to the front door, she stopped briefly and gazed up into the sky, arms outstretched. Without the sound of her feet moving, it was completely silent. Whatever madness was going on inside the house, it was entirely contained within the thick walls of the cabin. Out there, the wilderness was big and quite the world slumbered while it waited for the storm to pass. Melinda felt its nourishing stillness and smiled. She focused on the house once more and picked up the pace, awkwardly jogging to the front stoop. Just then, the door of the cabin burst open and Lonnie came slogging out, apparently engaged in some sort of spirited exchange with William. As the rest of the friends followed behind, it became clear that that they had made do with jeans, warm coats, and boots, whereas William had donned a full outfit that involved snow pants and ski goggles. In response to their teasing, he was reminding them that there was no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. As they muttered their various objections, he ploughed forward with excitement to take the first pick of the sleds Melinda had left at the top of the hill. Diving with abandon, William landed himself stomach first on the long toboggan and immediately started sliding down the hill. Everyone laughed and proceeded to choose their own conveyances. Jack invited Anna to join him on the Flexible Flyer as she exclaimed that she hadn't seen one in years. They sat together, and Melinda gave them a little push. Down they went, sliding noiselessly through the thickly packed snow. But of course, shrieking ensued from Anne when Jack did a bad job of turning the sled and they both ended up stuck in a heap off to the side at the bottom of the hill. With childlike delight and wonder, Elizabeth joined in. She neatly sat herself inside a saucer and scooted it just far enough that it began to slide. Down she went, skilfully leaning so that her saucer began to turn as she descended. Melinda, Sarah, and Lonnie clapped and hooted, impressed with her sledding. Know how. By this time William had dragged his toboggan back to the top of the hill? Motioning to a small pond below, he asked if it was frozen. Melinda responded unhesitatingly in the affirmative. She said it was a shallow pond that froze solid every single winter. It was quite safe, she added with a smirk, because of course she knew what William was up to. Grinning widely, he bowed and asked Sarah if she'd like to ride with him. She accepted, and the two of them turned to the toboggan to face the pond. Then, with a mighty scoot, the two of them were off. They flew down the hill with impressive speed. When they hit the bottom, they slid straight across the pond, shouting with delight. Melinda could see where this was going. The pond was about to experience some heavy traffic. For a time, these fully grown friends relived their childhoods. They went up and down the slopes over and over again, switching up sleds, changing partners, and exchanging techniques for maximum speed and spin. No sooner had a sled reached a stop than it was once again being dragged or carried uphill. Frozen fingertips and wet bottoms didn't seem to matter. They were having such fun that these small discomforts didn't feel like an inconvenience. Eventually, as the host, Melinda knew that a transition was approaching. They would feel tired all of a sudden, and when they did, hot drinks would be wanted. She quietly absented herself and began warming milk in a big pot in the kitchen. As she did, she once again pulled aside the white curtains, peering out into the deepening gloom of the afternoon. The once bright scene had almost imperceptibly faded into a grey and impenetrable wall of woodland and falling snow. Her friends would need to come inside very shortly, but she already had the fire crackling again and a lovely warm treat on the way. She put out seven mismatched mugs and poured mini marshmallows into a bowl. Then she began heating popcorn in the microwave. As the friends started trickling towards the house. Chilly and breathless, Melinda relished the cosy kitchen for just a second. The popcorn bag cheerfully expanded inside the microwave. The milk steamed on the Hobbit. The fire flickered in the darkening family room. What a lovely evening they would have, she thought. And then a happy tumble of people burst in through the front door, drawing her attention back to her friends. They peeled off layers of snow covered jackets and kicked off their boots. She brought them a few towels to wipe up the melting ice. And of course William made a very big deal about the fact that his clothes were still dry and wished them all luck getting out of their wet jeans. His smugness was met with a volley of good natured comebacks. Fifteen minutes later, the friends were gathered on the sofa and amid piles of cushions in the living room. Dressed in cosy sweatpants and soft pyjamas, they each gratefully accepted a cup of hot chocolate. As they took small sips, they debated what the proper number of mini marshmallows was and whether or not whipped cream was actually the superior topping. The bag of popcorn was passed around and it didn't last long, but Melinda urged everyone to remember that they would be making dinner shortly and not to fill up too much on snacks. Sarah, Anne and Jack took that as a cue to offer their services. They insisted that Melinda get off her feet and let them do some work. So while the three of them crammed into the small kitchen filling pots, cleaning lettuce, and getting out plates, the other four spread out in the living room. Melinda sprawled across the half empty couch and fell into a conversation with Elizabeth, who'd recently opened her own vintage clothing boutique. William and Lonnie were soon drawn into the conversation. They all listened with rapt attention as she described all her flea market adventures and lucky discoveries as well as the quirky clientele she was developing. This talk of old things somehow morphed into a walk down memory lane where they all brought up games they used to play. A mention of one game led to another, and before they knew it, William was on his feet starting charades. With the saucepan on to boil and the salad ready, the other three friends came hurrying back into the room to take part. It wasn't long before a ridiculous and spirited game was afoot. With the group split into two Very informal teams, but with nobody keeping score. As her friends proceeded with their antics, Melinda enjoyed a moment of thoughtful detachment. There was Lonnie, gesticulating wildly with the firelight flickering behind. The smell of warm bread wafted from the kitchen where a loaf was toasting in the oven. Elizabeth was fitting right in with the group, and each and every person there was so very happy with all their usual cares far away. For this precious moment, all was right with the world. Melinda wanted to remember it. The spell was temporarily broken by the delicious prospect of dinner. The company piled their plates high, apparently having worked up quite a healthy appetite with their sledding adventures. A few of them sat at the kitchen counter while others perched on the four person dining table. Three conversations were happening at once as everyone found a thousand things to catch up on, and when the meal was over, many hands made light work of the dishes. Before Melinda knew it, the kitchen was all neat and tidy and ready for pancakes that she was planning to make in the morning. She leaned over the sink once more as the last glass went onto the drying rack. Pulling the curtains aside, she gasped. The snow had stopped for the moment and a huge moon glowed over the surrounding yard and the forest, making everything look icy and bright. Feeling mischievous, she looked over her shoulder and asked if anyone thought they might be able to win a snowball fight. Melinda needed to say no more. Sweatpants, pyjamas, and all the friends jumped up from their spots and went straight for their boots and coats. They would meet this challenge while the weather permitted, and William pointed out that he would prove to them that he didn't need to hide behind waterproof snow pants. The front door was pushed open and they all tumbled out with a fair amount of laughter and tripping. Jack was the first to make it into the snow. Bending over, he quickly formed a snowball in his hands and turned, throwing it just in time to land it on William, who was the last to exit the front door. William stood motionless and the other friends clapped their hands over their mouths, waiting to see his reaction. But the pause was only brief. With a yodel, William plunged forwards into the drifts and began tossing fistfuls of snow at everyone, not even taking the time to form the white stuff into proper balls. Elizabeth went under the radar. She stepped away from the commotion and began to neatly and methodically make snowballs, stacking them in a small pyramid. Spotting her labours underway, Anne ran over to her side and started to help. They grinned at each other in the moonlight. They had created an alliance. Meanwhile, Sarah had tackled William from behind, halting his reckless system of snow distribution. Startled, he went face first into a deep mound, causing a raucous cheer from all the other friends. After all, not a single one of them had escaped his snow flinging sp. In the moonlight, the flying snow looked like sugar crystals. The world around their bubble of activity lay silent. More than once one of the friends stopped in the midst of the fun and thought how they must savour and remember this moment. It was so rare to escape the world and swap one's cares for a frosty wonderland. It was a gift that none of them would soon forget. Their game lasted for perhaps half an hour, and at that point it was not just their cold noses, fingers and toes that drove them back inside. They were also exhausted with laughter and tired from dragging their limbs through the thick snow. William took care to hang back and loudly declare himself the winner, but it only elicited a chorus of groans and good natured insults from his opponents. They knew they had all conducted an honourable snowball fight. Lonnie commented wryly that everyone was a winner. It was lucky they all had pyjamas for the next day because they were needed right away. Everyone gladly donned a fresh pair of fleecy trousers and soft socks and then padded happily to the utility room to throw their damp set of clothes in the dryer. Meanwhile, Melinda got the fire going again and put the kettle on for tea. Once she'd done that, she quickly stirred up a batch of brownie mix she had made in advance and retrieved the glass dish in the oven to bake. Within minutes, the heavenly smell of warm chocolate was wafting through the house. Sarah commented that, incredibly, she was actually looking forward to dessert, As one friend after the other returned to the fireside and collapsed on a sofa, a chair, or a cushion. They agreed that it was madness they should be craving dessert after such a dinner. But then Melinda very sensibly pointed out that it was well known that dinner had absolutely no impact on how full a person was come dessert time. Everyone nodded in agreement. For a moment a hush fell over the room as the vigorous activity of the day took its pleasant toll. Stifling a yawn, Lonnie jested that it was such a shame they hadn't thought to tell William to bring his ukulele. At this, William hung his head in apparent disappointment and said that in fact, he had not thought to bring it. The others fell into conversation about a concert Sarah and Anne had recently attended. They didn't even notice William slipping away from the fireside until they were interrupted by the dissonant tones of a recorder. They turned in surprise to see their friend marching through the room playing Hot Cross Buns. Yelling in protest, they threw cushions at him. He managed to dodge all but one, and after it had hit him, he stood with his hands on his hips and said indignantly, excuse me, but these buns won't cross themselves. After that pronouncement he had to rush to exit the room. The outcry was too much for him, but all was forgiven when they were clustering around the pan of warm brownies, digging out their favourite squares. Elizabeth liked the one right in the middle, whereas others preferred the corner or the edge of one side. It worked out so nicely. Everyone got exactly what they wanted, and there was even a container of vanilla ice cream Melinda brought out of the freezer to add to the decadence. With the fire flickering, some quiet music playing, and full stomachs all around, it became rather difficult for everyone to stay awake. They lay around telling funny stories for a while, but when Melinda yawned several times in a row and suggested what with everyone having had such a long day, it was probably time for bed, Not a single person in the happy company disagreed. They all rolled off from their comfy perches one by one. Melinda flipped the switch on the wall that would turn off the fireplace, and in the moonlit family room they each trudged away to their beds. A few minutes later there was hushed laughter from the bunk room where William played a few final notes on his recorder. From the main bedroom, Jack called out Good night to everyone and told them it was awfully nice to have the biggest bed all to himself. From her room with the queen sized bed, Elizabeth called out to Melinda and Anne, offering thanks for including her in the fun. And from their room with the two twin beds where Melinda had slept as a child, she and Anne both chorused back that they were so glad Elizabeth was there. Outside, a rabbit hopped across the white expanses, leaving a trail behind it. But even as it did, the snow began to fall again, thickly, silently, magically, And by the time the seven friends had peacefully drifted off inside the cabin, the rabbit's tracks had been erased. In the morning everything would be new for them once again. Sam. Sa.