← Koala Moon: Kids Bedtime Stories & Sleep Stories for Kids Podcast
Koala Moon: Kids Bedtime Stories & Sleep Stories for Kids Podcast
Hector & Sunny at the Pampered Pet Hotel 🐾 🏩 Cozy Bedtime Story For Kids | Rewind
00:34:38
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- [00:11]
Narrator
Hello and welcome back to Koala Moon, a podcast of original bedtime stories and sleep meditations for kids designed to make bedtime a dream. Hector and Sunny are going on a cheeky little vacay and they're spending some doggy downtime in a wonderful, magical place called the Pampered Pony Pet Hotel. Ah, there's loads of friends to make there and so much fun to be had. Before we begin, a quick message for the grown ups. If you'd like to support our podcast, enjoy ad free listening, unlock four bonus stories per month and much, much more. You can join Koko Club. Subscribe in just two taps via the link in the show notes, but now here's a quick word from our sponsors. I think we're just going to get started. This is Hector and Sunny at the Pampered Pet hotel by Susannah McLoughlin. One bright shining morning in a lovely town, in a lovely part of the world, there was magic in the air. It was a special day. Sunny's birthday. She had spent it doing all her favorite things with her favorite pal, Hector. First, the friends were taken on the most wonderful walk through winding woods where red toadstools sprung out of spongy moss and curly ferns carpeted the ground. Then they curled up by the fire all afternoon, playing with Sunny's new toy and playing pink bouncy shape filled with treats. The day ended perfectly, too, when Sunny's owner asked Hector's owner if Hector might want to stay for a sleepover. One look at Hector's excited grin and his owner said, yes, of course, you couldn't separate the two puppy pals on one of their birthdays. He now the sun had set and a glistening moon was starting to rise. Hector and Sunny were curled like croissants by the warm, flickering fire. When there was a tap, tap, tap on the window, Hector lazily raised an ear, then dropped it back again, closing his eyes and drifting back towards his snooze when again, there it was, a tap, tap, tap against the window pane. He lifted his snout off the rug and looked over to the glass, where a silvery shape was pressed up, peering through the curtains. Hey, Sunny, hector said, nudging his pal with his paw.
- [03:10]
Character Voices
I think you have a visitor.
- [03:15]
Narrator
Sunny sat up, wagged her tail, stretched her paws and trotted over to the window, flicking the clasp and pushing it open. Through the gap wriggled a silver squirrel with a big grin, hiding something square and flat behind his back. Hey, Sydney. Sunny welcomed their magical friend, and Hector waggled his paw in greeting. Hello friends, the little squirrel replied. You didn't think I'd forgot your birthday, did you, Sunny? The little squirrel launched into a very long, looping rendition of the Happy Birthday Song, and Sunny swayed along, smiling bashfully and clapping politely when he'd finished. I bought you a gift, sydney said, revealing what was hidden behind his bushy tail. It was a big piece of paper covered in typed words that the dogs didn't bother trying to decipher in big looping letters. On the top was written Booking Confirmation. Sydney puffed his chest and announced, for Sunny's birthday, I've arranged for you two to spend a night in a pet hotel. A really nice one, with a pool and everything. I'm talking luxury. Sunny wrapped the little squirrel in one of her famous hugs and thanked him again and again and again. That's wonderful. Thank you, Sydney, hector said.
- [05:06]
Character Voices
When do we go?
- [05:08]
Narrator
Sydney consulted the paper. Er, right now, actually, he said. Then he whizzed his paws around in a circle and a revolving door appeared between the TV and the sofa, which was certainly not there before the two dogs trotted over to the revolving door. Standing on their hind legs, they put their paws on the golden bar and pushed, waving over their shoulder as they squeezed through the revolving door, spinning out on the other side into somewhere brand new, the lobby of a pet hotel. It looked much like a normal hotel, except there were comfy dog beds and cat trees dotted around the room and on the walls were old painted portraits of pets. A poofy white ball of a poodle perched on the lap of a queen, for one, an old spotted spaniel with floppy ears flopped at the feet of a farmer in another. At the large desk, a pony sat filing her hooves and checking for split ends in her mane as she chewed on a carrot. Seeing the two pups, she slid the nail file into her drawer and smiled a bright smile that made her horsey nostrils flare and showed off her gleaming teeth.
- [06:41]
Character Voices
Welcome, sir and madam, to the Pampered Pony Pet Hotel. We hope you enjoy your stay.
- [06:51]
Narrator
May we take your luggage? Hector and Sunny looked at each other and chuckled. They'd never been called sir and madam before. Then Hector frowned.
- [07:05]
Character Voices
Oh, I forgot to pack a bag, he said. Did you?
- [07:12]
Narrator
Sunny nodded, but as she went to speak there was a little pop and two overnight bags appeared before them. Another of Sydney's magic tricks, they assumed. A Pomeranian in a smart red bellhops outfit with a little red hat and gold shiny buttons appeared from the door behind the desk, pushing a golden luggage carrier, kicking the door as you rode on the wheeled trolley like a skateboard. He lugged each bag onto the carrier and promised he'd take them right to their rooms. Thank you, Pommy, sunny said, peering at his name tag. Pommy gave a friendly salute and whizzed off with their bags in tow. The friendly pony handed them each an ornate gold key with a leather tag that showed a shining gold number. Room 14 for Hector, 15 for Sunny. You can find your rooms down the
- [08:22]
Character Voices
corridor on the left when it's time
- [08:25]
Narrator
to sleep, the pony explained. But until then, here's a map of our facilities. Hector and Sunny looked at the map and grinned. It looked like there'd be plenty to entertain them until bedtime. As they began discussing which restaurant to pick for dinner, two cats came walking through the lobby, paw in paw. The bigger one, a boy, had fur in splotches of black, brown and white and the prettiest green eyes. The other was white and grey with friendly blue eyes which fixed on Hector and Sunny. Oh, hey, she said. I'm Bindi. This is my brother Bodie. Have you just arrived? Hector and Sunny introduced themselves and nodded the yes they had. Well, you're in for a treat, bodie said. The rooms are awesome. Bindi pointed to the swimming goggles on her head. We're just going to the pool now, she said. Do you want to join us? Hector and Sunny nodded and the pups followed the cats through a doorway, along a corridor and around to where two wooden doors read Changing Rooms. Hector and Bode went into one room and Sunny and Bindi went into another. There they found rows of lockers and showers, all gleaming clean with sleek wooden doors. Soft flute music played over the speakers. Next to the sinks were piles of rose scented soap and on a row of hooks along one wall hung about 20 different robes, each with slippers underneath. Sunny and Bindi each picked a cubicle and had a lovely warm shower before coming out and picking their robes. Sunny scratched her head. Er, theyre all different, she said. Which one are you going to pick, Bindi? The cat twirled her whiskers as she mulled it over. That one, she said, pointing at a white robe with silvery stars which was accompanied by gold sequined slippers. That looks like the robe a movie star would pick. I want that one. Bindi slipped on the fluffy robe and slid into the slippers. A perfect fit. She squealed, clapping her paws together. Sunny was choosing between a pink robe with bunny face slippers or a brown robe the colour of chocolate with fluff lined suede boot. Finally she settled on the brown and got all wrapped up. She and Bindi met Hector and Bodie at the poolside, where Hector was in a green spaceship covered robe and Bodie wore a towel poncho in red with a little green stem on the hood so that he looked like a strawberry. The pool was ginormous and the most perfect blue colour. Hector dipped in a paw and informed everyone that it was just perfect, as warm as could be. A little pup was doing doggy paddle in the deep end and he came splashing over to the new pals, spraying water everywhere and panting loudly.
- [12:29]
Character Voices
Hello, friends, he said.
- [12:32]
Narrator
I'm Willie B.
- [12:34]
Character Voices
Won't you come swim?
- [12:36]
Narrator
It's lovely in here. Giggling at how they were already soaked from Willie B's doggy paddle, the two cats and two dogs slipped off their robes, leaving them on the comfy sun loungers, and dove into the pool. They splashed around for a while, doing swimming races and headstands and roly poly competitions. Bindi lent Sunny her goggles and the two swam along the bottom of the pool, paw in paw, their bellies brushing the tiles. Then they all floated like starfish on their backs, looking up at the domed ceiling, which had been painted with swimming cats and dogs, each with a snorkel in their mouth and inflatable swimming bands on their arms.
- [13:29]
Character Voices
Ah, I'm glad you guys came to play.
- [13:34]
Narrator
Willoughby sighed as he floated. I've been the only one in the kiddie pool all evening. Hector pulled his ears out of the water so he could hear better and asked Willoughby, what do you mean, the kiddie pole? Willie grinned.
- [13:56]
Character Voices
Oh, you didn't know? This is the kiddie pool, silly. The actual pool's much bigger and there are slides.
- [14:10]
Narrator
Bindi and Bodi looked at each other. Slides? Bindi said, mouth quivering with excitement. Yeah, willoughby said.
- [14:22]
Character Voices
Do you want me to show you?
- [14:25]
Narrator
Sunny said, yes, please, and the animals climbed out of the pool, shimmied into their robes, and shuffled into their slippers before following the excited little pup along the poolside and through a door towards a larger pool area. It was amazing. Around several ginormous pools there were sandy banks that had been designed to look like beaches, with sun loungers and a juice bar and a limbo competition in full swing. There was a tall towering chair with a guinea pig lifeguard perched on top, watching the wave pool, and over the water there were twisting turns of navy blue waterslides painted with silver stars.
- [15:21]
Character Voices
Are you guys going to go on that one?
- [15:24]
Narrator
Willoughby asked, pointing at a particularly curly, steep slide.
- [15:30]
Character Voices
I think you should. I'll just watch from here though, if that's okay.
- [15:38]
Narrator
He plunked down on a bean bag surrounded by warm soft sand where he had a perfect view of the whole place.
- [15:48]
Character Voices
We will, Hector said.
- [15:52]
Narrator
Sunny looked at him nervously.
- [15:54]
Character Voices
Don't worry, Sunny. We can go down together.
- [15:59]
Narrator
As he pointed, two dogs came rocketing out of the slide on an inflatable in the shape of a number eight. They climbed out, high fiving and laughing, and Hector waved them over.
- [16:14]
Character Voices
Is it scary?
- [16:17]
Narrator
He asked.
- [16:18]
Character Voices
The slide, I mean.
- [16:20]
Narrator
The pups grinned and said no, not at all. Actually, it was quite relaxing. Sunny didn't believe that one bit, but the dog certainly looked happy. I'm Gertie, by the way, one pooch said. This is Luna. Hector took Sunny by the paw and they padded around the poolside and up to the big curly slide, grabbing an inflatable and tugging it along behind them as they climbed the stairs. At the top, a big, strong Bernese mountain dog named Duke held the ring in position as Hector and Sunny climbed in. He gave them a big friendly grin, checked they were comfy, and with a pant pushed them off down the slide. Sunny waved her paw at Duke as she descended back into the tunnel and Duke waved back. Sunny turned and looked at the tunnel ahead of her and gasped. It was beautiful. The deep blue slide was covered in glow in the dark stars and so it felt like they were sailing through the night sky. The air whipped back her ears as they flew round bends as if a magic carpet was taking them on a tour of the constellations, round and round and round until they came back out into the world with a whoosh. Bindi and Bodie were clapping from the poolside and with one glance at Hector and Sunny's happy faces, they went off themselves to grab a donut and head off to the slides as Hector and Sunny relaxed with Willy, Bee, Luna, and Gertie. The two cats went on every single slide at least twice. Whilst they watched, Hector felt a tap on his shoulder. It was a retriever like him, except this one had brown curly fur. Hiya, I'm Brownie, the pooch said with a goofy grin. We need a couple more contestants for our limbo competition. Would you two and your friends like to join? Hector and Sunny both hopped to their feet and followed the curly haired dog to the spot on the sand where a small crowd of pets had been practicing their limboing and dancing to chilled tropical music. Brownie held the limbo stick and everyone boogied into a line. One by one, the pups and kitties shimmied under the stick as it got lower and lower until there were only two left. Hector and Sunny. Sunny was smaller and she could shimmy under the stick so gracefully she made it look easy, whilst Hector would have to pant and wheeze and contort himself into funny shapes to fit under the stick without collapsing to his tummy. But then, when Sunny was shimmying through a gap so small only a hamster could pass through without crouching, she sneezed and toppled onto her butt. Just like that. Hector was the winner. Brownie gave him a high five and draped a flower chain around his neck to mark him as the days limbo champion. As he stood in the sand, being cheered by everyone around him, Hector's tummy made a big loud grumble.
- [20:19]
Character Voices
Oops.
- [20:21]
Narrator
He chuckled.
- [20:23]
Character Voices
I think I'm a little peckish.
- [20:27]
Narrator
Sunny patted her tum and agreed. It felt like time for dinner. Brownie told them they were in for a treat. The restaurant was fantastic, but he warned them there was a very strict dress code PJs. Only Hector and Sunny smiled. That suited them just fine, waving see ya later to all their new friends. Hector and Sunny headed back to the showers and then back through the corridor, past the kiddie pool, past the lobby to their rooms. The rooms were in a long row of pods, each with their own cat flap or doggie door, and Hector and Sunny located theirs 14 and 15. Sunny's was decorated in orange with a bedspread decorated in a pattern of autumn leaves. She felt like she had walked right into her favourite time of the year. On the bed was a stuffed toy in the shape of a golden retriever. Glowing fairy lights were attached to the walls and her belongings had been unpacked onto a shelf in the corner. Sunny slipped into her favourite pyjamas, the purple ones decorated with little ducks, and returned outside where Hector was waiting in his red velvet onesie.
- [22:06]
Character Voices
My pods. Daffodil themed.
- [22:09]
Narrator
He cheered excitedly.
- [22:11]
Character Voices
Everything's yellow and the teddy on the bed looks just like you, Sunny.
- [22:19]
Narrator
Sunny linked her arm through Hector's, thrilled that he loved his room too. And the friends headed back through the hotel towards the restaurant. They were greeted at the restaurant by a cavapoo named Ziggy, who informed them that he was to be their server tonight. The friendly fluffy dog was was wearing silky silver pyjamas with an apron tied neatly around his waist. He led them into the restaurant, which was lowly lit with golden jewelled lamps. There were soft pillowy booths and cosy armchairs surrounding little tables, some filled with cats tucking into Fish cake starters and some with dogs munching on biscuity desserts. Ziggy put Hector and Sunny in a comfy booth where you couldn't see the bench for the mountains of cushions and brought them each a warm cup of gravy, which he called their aperitif. Hector didn't know what that meant, but he thought he should have an aperitif with every meal from then on. Every good meal began with a cup of gravy. Then Ziggy explained that there was no menu. Instead he would bring them their perfect meals, using his special powers to guess exactly what they wanted. First he looked into Sunny's eyes, humming and ahhing, then nodding as if he knew exactly what she wanted. Then he did the same to Hector. Coming right up, he bowed, whizzing off into the kitchen. In the corner of the restaurant, a super cool looking dog was on the DJ decks playing all kinds of relaxing music from smooth jazz to panpipes. Her tag said Lainey, and she mixed the songs perfectly, bobbing along to the beat as she did. Hector whispered to Sunny that he thought Lainey was very talented. Before long Ziggy reappeared and as soon as they saw what he held in his hands, Hector and Sunny gasped with joy. Teetering and tottering on top of a silver platter was a five tiered birthday cake. Ziggy put the cake in the centre of the table and placed a plate in front of Sunny and a plate in front of Hector. There were candles flickering on the top and Ziggy and Hector had to lift Sunny onto their shoulders just so she could be tall enough to blow them out. Happy a birthday, Sunny, Ziggy said, and bon appetit to you both. Hector and Sunny each had a slice of cake and then a slice more. It was absolutely delicious, sweet and salty and decorated with bone shaped treats. Soon both dogs were holding their full bellies and sighing with contentment. But there was still half the cake left over towering in front of them. Ziggy, Lainey, would you like some? Sunny asked, calling to the DJ dog and their friendly waiter. Both Ziggy and Lainey clapped their paws and said yes please. And soon the booth was full. The dogs tucked into the cake and inspired Hector and Sunny each had a little nibble.
- [26:35]
Character Voices
More.
- [26:37]
Narrator
The pups complimented Lainey on her DJ skills and Lainey said thank you and told them all about her love for music. She said she'd always loved hearing fun tunes and watching her owners dancing. She said that in fact she loved it so much that when her owners were asleep. She'd come here and DJ all night long. That's why she slept so much during the day. Hector grinned and admitted that he slept in the day a lot too, although he slept at night so he had no excuse. He just loved sleeping. Sunny agreed that she did too, and the dogs all clinked their glasses, saying cheers and toasting to the joy of napping. On the next table were a cat named Middy and a cat named Tilly, who, overhearing, raised their cups of gravy too. Tilly the cat, noticing the cake in front of Sunny, began a sing song of Happy Birthday and soon the whole restaurant joined in. Sunny was so touched by the voices of so many pets singing together that she wiped a tear away from her eye as she said thank you. She wrapped the two last slices of cake in napkins and gave them to Middy and Tilly for later advising them that cake made a delicious breakfast. After some more chatting and laughing, Hector began to yawn, and since yawns are contagious, Sunny started yawning too. This has been the best birthday ever. Sunny sighed. And now I think it's time for bed. She and Hector untucked the napkins from their collars and wished goodnight to Ziggy, Lainey, Middy, Tilly, and everyone else in the restaurant before padding through the corridor back towards their rooms where they hugged and wished one another good night. As Sunny slipped the golden key into the lock, a sweet little voice sounded behind her. Would you like a turndown service? The voice asked. That means, do you want me to tuck you in, then read you a story? Sunny turned around to see a fluffy cat in a smart housekeeper's uniform smiling back at her. Her tag read Molly Sweet Pea. That sounds really nice, actually, sunny said. I would like that. Yes, please, Molly Sweet Pea. The cat followed Sunny into her pod and whilst Sunny brushed her teeth, began floofing the pillows and warming the covers with a hairdryer. When Sunny slipped into the bed, Molly Sweet Pea tucked her in like a burrito, making sure she had the toy golden retriever within reach and that her toes were tucked in and wouldn't get cold. Then she read Sunny the most beautiful story about a princess and a pea, and Sunny fell asleep before she got to the end, so she never found out what happened, but she was pretty sure the princess was going to live happily ever after. When Sunny drifted off and began to snore softly, Molly Sweet Pea patted her head and said, good night, sweet dreams, and happy birthday. Then she slipped out of the room, yawning herself and ready to be read her own bedtime story and tucked into her own bed. Sunny slept deeper than she'd ever slept before, snuffling and snoring and dreaming of the friends who were sleeping soundly themselves just down the hall. It really had been the best birthday ever, Sam.