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Hello friends. Have you checked out our new channel on Apple Podcasts? Over the past few years, Clark and I have worked hard to bring you stories and science content that entertains and educates while helping your little ones relax and drift off to sleep. On our new channel, you'll find ad free episodes, bonus stories, and for the first time, classic tales presented just as they were meant to be heard, one chapter at a time. It's a wonderful way to experience these timeless stories together, helping to make bedtime a cozy shared adventure. Look for SleepType Media on Apple Podcasts and let's make bedtime the best part of the day. Hello friends, and welcome to Sleep Tight Stories. Ryan needs to stay home and look after his little squirt of a sister, Zoe. He is older than Zoe and isn't so happy about this. Zoe and Ryan eat dinner and as she is getting ready for bed and he is playing video games, Zoe realizes that Bunny Boo, her rabbit, is missing. She cannot sleep without Bunny Boo. Where could she be? Bunny Boo is missing. But Mom, I was supposed to go to Rob's house and play with the guys tonight. I can't stay home and look after Zoe, ryan said, clearly distressed at the thought of having to spend an evening with his younger sister. Ryan, we don't ask you to do too much. Your father and I have tried to find a babysitter for tonight and everyone we know is busy. It's just one night. Your father and I seldom have a chance to go out to dinner with friends. We won't be home that late, ryan's mother said as she raced to get ready in time. But mom, ryan complained. Spending one night with your sister won't be that bad, his father said gently, indicating that the matter was settled. All right, all right, ryan moaned. But I'm not going to read her a bedtime story. Huh? I wouldn't want you to read me a bedtime story anyway, zoe mumbled from just inside her bedroom door when where she had been listening to her brother complain. Zoe looked up to her brother, though she would never give him the satisfaction of knowing that he was much older than her and they didn't have a whole lot in common. He always tried to fit in with all the cool kids at school while she was a part of the group of kids in the lower school that were content to read books all the time. They didn't fight or argue often, but they didn't do much together either. Go to bed early and listen to your big brother, zoe's mother said as she entered her bedroom. She was all dressed up and even had makeup on. Usually getting dressed up for her mother meant wearing clean jeans. I don't need to listen to that big stinker. I'm old enough to look after myself. Zoe said with her arms crossed and in a huff. I know princess. So maybe you need to look after Ryan tonight. Okay? Her mother replied as she walked out of her bedroom. Be good tonight you two. There is some cold pasta and salad in the fridge for dinner. We won't be late. Her mother said as her father rushed her out the door. I don't think I have ever seen daddy wear a tie before. I didn't even know he had any. Zoe said as she ate her dinner with Ryan. Yeah, he has a few, but since he has been dressing more casually these past few years he hasn't been wearing them. I wore a tie once and it felt like it was constricting the blood flow to my brain. Ryan said as he finished his plate of pasta. That certainly explains a lot. Zoe said with a laugh. Finish your pasta. I want to put our plates in the dishwasher and play video games. Ryan said gruffly. What am I supposed to do while you play video games? Zoe asked getting upset. I don't know. How about going to bed? You are such a stinker. Zoe said as she got up from the table. Takes one to know one, Ryan replied. Zoe didn't mind not watching tv. She preferred to read books at night anyway. But she would have liked to have been asked to join Ryan. Huh? She mumbled as she brushed her teeth. I don't need him anyway. After Zoe washed, brushed her teeth and dressed for bed, she grabbed the book she was reading about Wilbur and Charlotte and settled down to read for as long as it took her to get sleepy. But first she needed to find her reading and sleeping companion, her bestest friend. Bunny Boo. Where are you? Zoe called. Are you hiding under the bed? Zoe said as she looked under her bed. She didn't see Bunny Boo, but she did find five of her missing socks and her English homework that she lost. Bunny Boo, where are you? Are you hiding in my closet? Zoe asked as she opened the door to her closet. Her Bunny wasn't in there, but she did see her favorite jeans rolled up in a ball. She had been looking for those. Then she looked on and under her desk, on top of her dresser, at the bottom of her bed and even in her garbage container she could not find Bunny Boo. I can't read or sleep without her. She said out loud. So she went to the living room where Ryan was playing his video game. Ryan, have you seen my Bunny Boo? She is missing. Zoe asked. Maybe she ran away from you because you snore so loudly. Ryan replied, barely paying attention to his little sister. I don't snore. Zoe said gruffly. Well, maybe the bunny ran away to be with other bunnies. Ryan said, still not paying much attention to Zoe. Bunny is my bestest friend. She wouldn't just go anywhere without me. Zoe replied, and in a slightly louder voice she continued, there is no way I can go to bed without my Bunny Boo. That got Ryan's attention. Ryan paused the game and put his controller down. Contrary to your overactive imagination, a stuffed bunny doesn't just walk away. You must have put it somewhere, you just don't remember where. But I looked absolutely everywhere. Zoe said. Sure you did. Ryan said sarcastically. Walking into her bedroom, he asked, did you look under your bed? Yes. In your closet? Yes. And I looked at my desk, on top of my dresser, at the bottom of my bed, and even in my garbage container. She isn't here and I can't sleep without her. Zoe said, starting to get a little bit sad. Looking at his sister and the look in her eyes, Ryan started to feel a bit bad. After all, she was his little Zoe, and though he still thought she was a pain, he loved her all the same. Okay, let's retrace your steps and see if we can find your Bunny Boo. You will help me find her? Zoe asked, almost smiling. Yes, I will do anything if it means you might not snore so loud tonight. Ryan said with a smirk. Zoe closed her arms and said, hmm. So where did you have Bunny Boo today? He asked. Did you have her in the bathroom with you tonight? I might have. I forgot to check. Zoe said somewhat sheepishly. Zoe and Ryan go to the bathroom and look everywhere. Even the yucky place behind the toilet. Though she wanted Bunny Boo back, Zoe was relieved that she wasn't hiding there. That would be yucky. Where else did you have Bunny Boo today? Ryan asked. Well, I had her with me when I ate dinner. So Ryan and Zoe went to the kitchen and looked everywhere. Ryan even looked in the food waste container. And though Zoe really wanted Bunny Boo, she was glad she wasn't found in such a stinky and yucky place. Well, she's not in here. Did you have her with you today when mom drove you all over the place like she always does on Saturday? Ryan asked. I had swimming, Ryan. It's not like we went to the beach or something. And yeah, I take Bunny Boo almost everywhere. I Go. Okay, let's go and look outside in Mom's car, Ryan said as he walked through the door. Put your shoes on and come with me. Grabbing the car keys, Ryan and Zoe went outside to look inside their mother's car. But all they found were some wrappers from Zoe's snack that she had after swimming and Ryan's charging cord for his phone, which he had been looking for for about a week. Walking back into the house, Ryan said, it's getting late. Can't you just go to sleep with another animal? You practically have a whole zoo in your room. No, Ryan. I miss my bunny Boo, and I am scared that she is somewhere all by herself and lonely. Zoe started to cry. She tended to cry about many different things when she was tired. Okay, okay. Sheesh. Don't get so upset. We'll keep looking. Where else were you today where your little bunny would have been with you? I was at the swimming pool, but I don't usually bring her in because she is afraid of the water and doesn't want to smell like the pool. Then mom and I went to the ice cream parlor for a treat because I was super hungry and worked really hard at practice. You went for ice cream without inviting me to come along? Ryan said, pretending to be upset. We have invited you to come many times before, but you always seem to not want to be around us in case your silly friends see you. You have a point. Ryan said with a smirk. Would you have taken Bunny Boo into the ice cream shop with you? Do bunnies eat ice cream? Bunny Boo does sometimes, but mostly she eats carrots. It's a bit late for us to go by the ice cream shop, but they might still be open. Perhaps I can call and see if they have a runaway bunny waiting to be picked up by a little squirt. Ryan said with a laugh. I'm not a squirt. You are the squirt. Zoe said with her arms crossed. If they have her, can you go pick her up? Um, it's kinda late. Well, let me call them first and then we can see. Ryan said as he pressed the number to the ice cream shop. Hello, Dairy King? Said a hurried voice. Um, hi. This might sound kinda silly, but did you find a rabbit there? Ryan said. Are you trying to trick me or something? The voice on the other end of the phone said in a slightly angry tone. No, no, sorry. I mean, did you find a young squirt's toy bunny there today? My little sister was there today and may have left it behind. Zoe punched her brother on the arm for calling her a squirt again. Let me ask the others. The voice at the Dairy King said. After what felt like ours to Zoe, the voice returned and said, nope. I'm sorry there are no rabbits here and there are no stuffed bears either. Sorry I couldn't help. Thank you. Ryan said and he ended the call. I'm sorry Zoe. We have looked all over the house, retraced your steps and even called the Dairy King. I'm not sure what more we can do this evening. You know how these things are. Stuff for some reason magically goes missing but then the next day it always seems to be found. When mom gets home, I'm sure she can find her. She finds everything that we lose. It's like her superpower or something. Zoe pouted and looked like she might cry. Okay, okay. How about I go in and tell you a bedtime story? I'll even stay in your bedroom and keep you company while you go to sleep. Ryan said as he tried to comfort her. You would do that for me? Zoe asked, a smile forming as she started to get excited. Let's not make a big deal about it and get you to bed before I change my mind. Ryan said jokingly. Zoe jumped into bed and quickly got under the covers. What should I read for you tonight? That one about the giraffe that gets lost in the big city or something? Ryan asked. I'm grown up now and don't read those little kid books. I read long chapter books now. Zoe said proudly. You want me to read you a whole chapter book? Ryan said laughing. Maybe just a little. Zoe said with a smile as she got herself comfortable. She shook the bed a little bit more which caused two long white ears to appear behind her bed's headboard. Noticing, Ryan reached around and pulled out a dusty white and pink bunny. You found my bunny, Boo. Zoe said sheepishly. I guess I didn't think to look there. Ryan sighed. Will you still read some of my chapter book to me? Zoe asked looking up at her older brother with a big smile. I guess so you squirt. And that is the end of our story. Good night, sleep tight. Sa.