Narrator (0:00)

Foreign S and welcome to sleept. Stories, Shoutouts and birthday messages are such a special part of our show. They're our way of celebrating the families who make bedtime extra magical, whether by supporting the show or simply by being part of our listening community. We'd like to say hello to Erin, age 8, in Derry City, Ireland. Happy belated 5th birthday to Olivia from Melbourne, Australia on March 8th. Mom, dad, Eloisa and Isabella. Hope you had a wonderful day. Happy 6th birthday Colton. We love you to the moon and back. Love Mimi and Mom. Happy 8th birthday to Kaitlyn on April 9th. Mom and dad love you always, forever, no matter what. Happy 7th birthday to Casey in Attleboro, Maryland. We are so proud of the amazing person you are becoming and we love you, Mama, Mommy, Cam and Gilligan. Happy 6th birthday to Maddie from Columbus, Ohio. You are such a brave, adventurous and creative kid and we are amazed at everything you've learned in kindergarten. Dad, Mom, Bruce and Violet love you so much. Happy Birthday to stella, Athena on April 7th. We are so proud of how bright our little star shines. Love, Mama, Papa, Penelope and Lana. Happy 6th birthday Malcolm. Mommy and Daddy are so proud of your kindness and smarts. Sleep tight my love. Happy 9th birthday Elizabeth from Sydney, Australia. We're so proud of the amazing girl you're becoming and watching you grow brings us endless joy. We love you more than the universe and can't wait to celebrate your special day. Love, Mommy, Dad, Pixie, Sunny, Ivy, Holly, Wally and mistletoe. Happy 10th birthday to Malcolm on April 8th. Mom, dad, Dylan, Elliot and all our animals love you so very much. We are so proud of you. Happy 10th birthday to Xavier from Bribie island in Queensland, Australia. We are so proud of you and how far you have come. Love mom and dad and happy 7th birthday to Blaze from Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. Your mommy and Daddy are so proud of the person you are becoming and love you bigger than a sky full of stars. Have a very happy day, sweet girl. Happy Birthday to you all and thank you for supporting the show. If you'd like to support our podcast and enjoy ad free episodes, unlock bonus stories and so much more, you can join SleepType Premium subscribe in just two taps via the link in our show notes. Now on to our story. Bernice has a big science test coming up and she is nervous. She and Ethan talk about Easter treats on the bus and Bernice tells him if he needs any help studying to call and she will try to help Bernice and Cookie study. Do you want to sit beside me on the bus Bernice? Ethan asked as they walked toward the middle of the bus. Yeah, of course. Don't we usually? Except for those times when there are lots of seats and we get to stretch out and relax and stuff, bernice said with a smile. Yesterday when we took the bus home, Ryan sat beside me and said some not so very nice things about Bobby. Even though I told him it wasn't nice and that what he was saying wasn't even true, he kept going. So I don't really want to talk to him today. Really? Bernice said as she sat down beside Ethan and the bus lurched forward. I don't see him on the bus today, so I guess you're safe either way. Ryan seemed nice enough when he first came to our school. I remember he and Bobby were friends. If he's saying really mean stuff now, maybe you should mention it to our teacher. It's not okay to say unkind things. I think it was mostly silly stuff, not super serious, ethan said. And he did say sorry at lunch today, so maybe things will be better. I don't think he and Bobby hang out anymore. I guess I just kind of felt stuck not knowing what to say without making it worse. That can be hard, bernice said. But I think you did the right thing by telling him it wasn't okay. That's what friends do. Thanks, Ethan said, smiling a little. It made me feel better when he said, sorry. I hope we can all just get along again. Anyway, did you get any chocolate Easter eggs yet? My grandmother makes all kinds of treats this time of year and she keeps giving them to me and makes me eat them. Bernice laughed. Are you sure she makes you eat those treats? Well, Ethan laughed too. One year I ate way too many Easter eggs because we shared them at lunch. I didn't feel so great after that, so now I don't eat as many. Unless they're chocolate egg cookies. Then maybe I would. Those would be fun. If your papa makes some, don't forget to share them at lunch, Ethan said. Yeah, maybe he'll have some today. Unless it's vegetable day. I like vegetables, but not as much as cookies. Hey, we're already at our stop, Ethan said. Is the bus driver going super fast today or something? Yeah, it feels like we just left school. She might be, Bernice said, laughing. Or maybe we just lost track of time talking about chocolate Easter eggs and cookies. After getting off the bus, Bernice and Ethan walked the short distance to the front of Bernice's house. I think I smell something coming from your house, ethan said. Yeah, and I don't think it's vegetables either, bernice said as she started running up the walkway. Good luck studying for the science test tomorrow. I might call you for help, ethan called back as he headed toward his grandmother's house. Bernice rushed inside, gently closing the door, and sat down to take off her sneakers. She didn't have to. She was an expert at kicking them off when she was in a rush. But today she wanted to sit and spend a bit of time with Cookie, her best friend in the whole world. Hi, Papa. Hi, Cookie. I'm home and I think everyone in the whole neighborhood can smell something super yummy and delicious coming from the kitchen. And I'm a thousand percent sure it isn't parsnips. My cookies must be really smelly, papa Bear said in his deep voice. Not smelly, Papa. That makes it sound stinky like Bobby's socks. It's a yummy smell. Papa Bear laughed from the kitchen. Then, as Bernice took off her sneakers, Cookie came prancing around the corner, head held high and purring like a tiny engine. Hi, Cookie. How are you today? Did you miss me? I missed you, bernice said, pushing her sneakers out of the way. Sometimes I wish I could take you to school because you helped me study. I bet you didn't know that, did you? But when I pet you while I'm reading a tricky science book, it's like everything gets easier to understand. Isn't that funny? I guess that's what good friends do. Cookie responded by flopping onto her back in front of Bernice, ready for a belly rub? Tomorrow we have a super hard science test. I'm in the advanced class and so are Bobby and Ethan. Ethan finds this stuff challenging, so he's been working really hard. I told him he can call me if he needs help and we can figure it out together. Bobby always gets the answers super fast, which isn't fair. But not in math. That's more my thing. Bernice paused, stroking Cookie's fluffy belly. You know, maybe I could lend you to Ethan. You could sit with him while he studies. You're kind of like a magic study cat. Cookie gave her a look that said absolutely not. Okay, okay, I'll take that as a no. Bernice laughed. Anyway, the house smells super yummy, so I think I better get a snack before I start drooling. And I wouldn't want to drool on you, Cookie. I hope you don't mind studying science with me later. She stood up and headed to the kitchen. Hi, Papa. What delicious treats did you make Today something smells amazing. So good I think my nose might float off my face. Papa Bear chuckled. These are my triple chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Crunch Delights, based on an old recipe from my mama. She used to bake a little something special when spring came around. They look super fancy, Papa. Are you going to make Easter treats soon, too? Or treats for spring? Or maybe summer? I think your mama has something planned. Maybe some decorated eggs or something fun. She said she wanted to surprise you. As Bernice walked to the sink to wash her hands, she nodded. Mama's treats are always fun. She sure is good at it. Papa Bear said, grab a glass of milk while I get us some cookies. You can tell me all about your day. Bernice sat down with a tall glass of cold milk and took a big bite of her cookie. Mmm, yummy. Delicious, Papa. I'm glad you like it. So how was your day, little Bear? Well, it was okay. This morning we had science, and the teacher keeps giving us harder and harder challenges. Bobby says it's getting so difficult that NASA might start calling us for help. I think he's exaggerating just a little. Other classes are fine, but art doesn't feel as fun right now. I think the teachers are focusing on finishing everything for the year. I don't really understand, but that's what I heard them say. It's getting close to the end of the year, so teachers like to make sure they've covered all the important lessons. Papa Bear said, and your art teacher might be giving everyone a little break before the final push. Don't forget, you'll probably have another art exhibition before school ends. Yeah, I think I'll paint another masterpiece of cookie. I don't think I'll ever get tired of painting her. And I still have room on one of my walls for another painting. Papa Bear smiled. Oh, and at lunch today, someone new joined our table. Her name's Sarah. She's not new to the school, but it's the first time she sat with us. She shared some of her lunch, something called kimbap. She said it's sort of like sushi rolls. Bobby was too scared to try it because he thought it'd be super spicy, but it wasn't spicy at all. It was very delicious, I thought. Bobby shared his sandwich and Gertrude gave Sarah some of her pudding. Kimbap is delicious, said Papa Bear. I'm glad you gave it a try. Yeah, I liked it a lot. But, Papa, I have serious news. We have a science test tomorrow, and the teacher says it's going to be really hard everyone's nervous. Like, super nervous. She's even scarier than the English teacher who taught us cursive writing. And she was the strictest teacher we had ever heard of. So, Cookie and I need to study tonight. And if Ethan calls, I said I'd help him too, so I can't stay to chat long. Okay, Little Bear, you go ahead and study and I'll get dinner started. If you need help. Mama's really good at science. And I can help with a few things too. Thanks, Papa. And thank you for the delicious treatment. You're the best cookie maker I've ever known. You are welcome, Little Bear. After studying and helping Ethan, dinner, more studying, and her bedtime routine, Bernice took Twigga, Wolfie, and Madeline and put them in their usual spots in bed. I don't know about you guys, but I feel sleepy. Studying is hard work. Bernice said with a yawn. Papa, it's time for the Yawning Olympics. And I might just get a gold medal. Bernice called out as she got into bed. Papa Bear walked up the stairs, which, because he was so big, caused the house to shake just a little. Walking into her bedroom, Papa Bear said, it's that time already. Is it, Little Bear? Yeah, and I feel tired. Bernice said with a yawn. See, I am starting already. Papa Bear couldn't help it. He yawned too. Ha ha. And it's infectious. So should I turn off your lights right away and let you go to sleep? Do you think you could tell me a super short story? Maybe a different one? Bernice asked with a big yawn. Papa Bear yawned again. I have the perfect little story. Little Bear, are you comfy? Yes, Papa. How about Twigga, Wolfy and Madeline? They're super comfy too. And Cookie looks comfy too. She's been yawning all evening because she helped me study. You both studied very hard this evening and tomorrow. You are going to do great. Give me a hug and a kiss and I'll tell you a short short story. Thank you, Papa. Bernice said with another yawn as Papa Bear tucked her in and sat back down to tell her a story. Once upon a time, in a place not very far from here and just down the road from over there, there lived a family of tiny beings. Some called them fairies, some called them angels, but they simply called themselves us. In this family, the most curious of all was a young girl named Phoebe. Every morning, Phoebe got up early to make herself breakfast. Usually a couple of toasted O's and a strawberry or two or three Then she'd do all kinds of exercises. Bouncing, spinning, and seeing how high she could jump. Sometimes she jumped so high she could just glimpse the giant People's house far, far away. Before starting her chores, she would sit cross legged on a smooth pebble and read teeny tiny books all about the world beyond her leafy home. She loved to learn new things. Her favorite part of the day came just after lunch, when she would climb way up, way up to the top of the tallest flower. From there, she could see everything, from the soft edges of the forest to the rolling meadow to the faraway home of the giant people. But today she was going to do something different. In the place where Phoebe lived, there were only three seasons and it was always warm. Each spring, the US Celebrated the season's arrival with the Petal Parade, a joyful event where everyone wore flower hats and floats were made from seed pods, snail shells, and fresh blossoms. This year, Phoebe had been asked to lead the parade, a great honor. So she spent her afternoons gathering the brightest petals and carefully decorating her float. She lined it with soft moss, wove vines into little curls, and even found a daisy with sparkly dew still on it. Her float was going to be the most beautiful float in Petal Parade history. But the day before the big event, Phoebe spotted Pip, a younger US sitting alone near the clover patch. His snail shell float was cracked, his flower hat was wilted, and his face looked like he was trying not to cry. Phoebe sat beside him. What's wrong, Pip? He sniffled. I tried to make a float, but it broke and all my petals blew away in the wind. Now I can't be in the parade. Phoebe looked at her masterpiece, then at Pip, then back again. She took a breath. Well, she said gently, you can borrow mine. Pip blinked. Really? Really. Phoebe nodded. You'll be wonderful. So that spring morning, Phoebe walked beside the parade, waving and clapping as Pip proudly rode past on her float, flower hat straight and smile wide. As they reached the end of the route, something magical happened. A soft breeze blew through the trees and a shower of petals rained down from above as if spring itself was clapping too. One petal brighter than the rest, landed in Phoebe's hands. She smiled and tucked it behind her ear. It wasn't leading the parade, but it felt special, too. Papa Bear looked down at Bernice and saw that she was fast asleep. Let's end our short story right here, little bear. Maybe it will be longer tomorrow night, he whispered as he kissed her forehead, adjusted her blanket, made sure that her friends were comfy, and turned off her lamp. I love you, little bear. And that is the end of our story. Good night. Sleep tight.