Sarah (0:00)

Foreign hello friends, and welcome to Sleep Tight Stories. Sarah cannot believe that the picture her mother hung in the dining room is actually real. When Sparky introduces himself, Sarah pinches herself to see if she is dreaming. Sparky asks Sarah if she believes in magic and when she says yes, they go outside for their first adventure. Sarah and Sparky meet the Storyteller Tree I wonder if I am having some kind of vivid dream. It's a pretty cool dream so far and well, my mother says I have the best imagination so it could be all in my mind. But what if I am awake and I am seeing things? That wouldn't be good. It could be from all those green vegetables my mother made me eat at dinner. I'm sure I heard somewheres that eating too many healthy vegetables can cause you to see dragons. Maybe if I am asleep and this is just the greatest dream anyone has ever heard of, then there is only one way to know for sure. Sara pinched her cheek again, really hard this time. Ouch. She said out loud. Are you okay? Sparky asked. Yeah. So where shall we begin? Can we fly somewhere far away and have sweet treats? I didn't get so many treats at dinner, so I think I can have more. I hear the ice cream in Italy is delicious. Or there are good burgers in California, but I'm not really hungry. Oh, and I have always wanted to try Dutch chocolate ever since my classmate Isabel brought some with her to share. Sarah said in almost one breath. I mean, dragons can fly, right? And I'm not heavy so I could fly on your back. I rode a pony once and the pony didn't complain. I can fly though I have never been to Italy, California, or wherever you find Dutch chocolates. I thought we might walk in your backyard, Sparky said, his scales softly glowing. Oh, okay. Sarah still had a big smile on her face, but she had been hoping for some ice cream. Sarah followed the Labrador sized dragon out into the kitchen and through the back door to the backyard of her home. At least she thought it was her backyard. It had changed a lot since the last time she saw it. As Sarah followed Sparky, the change she saw was magical. The wooden fence surrounding her yard seemed to disappear into the night, making her backyard look like it went on forever. Instead of the short grass and the few flowers she remembered now, there was a big beautiful garden that seemed to glow and sparkle under the moonlight. The grass under her feet fell softer and kind of funny, as if it was happy she was there. It was a bright green color even in the dark and seemed to be Whispering, though it could have been the wind. Flowers that shone with their own light were everywhere in colors she had never seen before. These weren't ordinary flowers, but special, magical ones that lit up the night. Her backyard didn't have much in the way of trees, but now there were many. And they were very tall, almost like they were reaching toward the clouds or maybe up to the stars. The bark on the trees also glowed, making it look like they were lit from within. And the leaves rustled softly and talked like the grass she walked on. The air was different, too, thicker and filled with the sweet smell of jasmine and something wild she couldn't name. She liked jasmine. It felt like the garden was giving her a big, warm hug. Hugs were even better than ice cream. There was also a little stream that wasn't there before, bubbling and flowing gently, sparkling as if it was full of stars. Looking closer, Sarah could see it was full of little fish that looked like goldfish or miniature koi. And the night sky looked amazing. The moon seemed bigger and closer, shining so bright it was like daylight, but softer. It was so close, she thought she might be able to touch it. If the moon really was made of cheese, that would be convenient, she thought. Cheese snacks whenever she wanted. The stars even twinkled in patterns like flashing Christmas lights. Sarah's backyard had turned into an endless magical garden full of glowing flowers that followed her movements, giant trees and a starry stream. Where are we going? Sarah asked, sounding excited and amazed as she looked around at all the changes. We're going to a magical place where the ground and stars make music together. Sparky said with a big smile. It's a hidden garden that glows in the dark. Come on, let's go. As they walked further, Sara's backyard continued to change into a magical place that was hard to believe. She found herself in the center of a garden full of glowing flowers, lighting up paths under big old trees that reached the sky like the roofs of huge natural houses. Sarah was full of questions. How could such a magical place be right next to her house? Is this real? Are those flowers that are shaped like candy, edible? With every step they saw amazing things. Leaves that sparkled like tiny stars. And the quiet sounds of the garden that sounded like music. It feels like we are in a dream. Sarah said quietly, amazed by everything around them. She pinched herself again. It still hurt. Sparky smiled. Here, dreams and real life are the same. This garden is full of magic at night and is a home for special creatures. As they walked, Sarah kept asking questions. Sparky told her all about the magic Keeping the garden alive and the special spirits that looked after it, which only some people could see. Soon they found a place with trees that had leaves that glowed green, and if you listened, it sounded like they were telling old stories. Sarah touched one tree and felt a warm buzz. What are they saying? She asked. They're talking about the earth's old memories, the happy and sad times. Sparky said. Each tree has a story for those who listen. As Sarah and Sparky walked deeper into the magic garden, they found a very special tree. This tree was taller and sparkled even brighter than the others, with leaves that glowed like tiny suns. Sparky told Sarah this was the Storyteller Tree, an ancient and wise tree that knew lots of stories. Would you like to hear a story from it? Sparky asked. Sara nodded, excited to hear a story from the tree itself. The air around them grew quiet and they heard a deep, gentle voice. It was the tree talking. A long time ago, the tree began, there was a young girl, much like you. Her name was Aruri, and she loved the world deeply, but didn't know how she could help it. Sarah listened carefully as the tree told the story of Arury, who decided to plant a tiny seed. Some people didn't think it was a big deal, but Aruri took care of it with lots of love. Aruri watered the seed every day, talking to it and making sure it got enough sunlight. Even when her neighbours didn't understand why she cared so much about a single seed, Aruri knew something special was happening. As days turned into weeks and weeks into months, Arury watched as her seed sprouted into a tiny plant. She protected it from the harsh weather and made sure it was never lonely, placing colorful stones and small figures around it. Over the years, the plant grew taller and stronger until it grew into a beautiful tree that created a home for animals, gave shade to people, and made everyone who saw it happy. Aruri's small act of planting a seed made a big difference in the world, showing that even the smallest act of kindness can grow into something wonderful and bring beauty and happiness to the world. The story made Sarah feel warm inside. She looked at Sparky and said, I want to do something good too, like a Rory. I want to plant my own seed of change. Sparky's smile was as bright as the glowing flowers around them. And you will, Sarah. This garden's magic isn't just in its beauty, but in also inspiring kind hearts like yours to make the world a better place. After hearing the Storyteller Tree's tale, Sarah felt inspired. They talked about all the good, small things they could do. As they walked back home, Sarah was full of ideas, ready to start making a difference, starting with planting a tree. This tree would be her first step in helping the world, just like the girl in the story. As Sparky and Sara returned to the back door of her house, Sarah's mind was filled with thoughts about how she could make a difference by being kind. When they reached the spot where her adventure began, Sparky turned to her and smiled. Remember, Sara, the magic you have seen tonight is always around you, waiting for you to bring it to life, he said softly. Sarah nodded, feeling a little sad that she was saying goodbye to her new friend. She hugged Sparky, feeling the warmth of his glowing scales. I'll never forget the fun we had tonight. And I'll start by planting a tree tomorrow, she whispered. With a final twinkle in his eye, Sparky faded into the night, leaving Sarah standing alone in her backyard. She looked around, half expecting the magical garden to still be there. But everything looked as it always did, quiet and still under the night sky. Sarah headed back to bed, her thoughts full of plans and dreams. As she went back to sleep, she wondered if it had all been a wonderful dream, a figment of her imagination. But she pinched herself again, and it still hurt. The next morning, Sarah woke up with the sun streaming through her window, casting warm patterns on her walls. She lay in bed for a moment, the memories of the night's adventure feeling distant, like a dream. That was the most vivid dream I have ever had in my whole life, she said to herself. Dragons and magical gardens, trees that tell stories and plants that glow in the dark. It must have been all those healthy vegetables that I ate. Dream or not, I will do something kind today, she decided, throwing back the covers to get out of bed. The first thing will be to plant a tree in our backyard. There aren't that many trees in the neighborhood. Then I will find something else kind to do. As Sarah got out of bed, she noticed something odd. Her feet were dirty, and not just some stinky dust. There was real dirt sticking to her skin, like from the garden. Surprised, she looked down at her pajamas and saw they were smeared with dirt and grass stains. Maybe it hadn't been a dream after all. The adventure, the magical garden, Sparky and the storyteller tree. All of it had been real. She rushed to her window, half expecting to see the magical plants and the whispering trees. But her backyard looked the same as it always did. Smiling, Sarah knew what she had to do. Today she would plant a tree in her backyard just as she promised Sparky. It would be her way of bringing a piece of that magic into the world. Her first step in making a difference. Just like a Rory. And that is the end of this part. Good night. Sleep.