Loading summary
Transcript1 lines
- [00:00]
A
Hello, friends. We first have a message from our friendly sponsors. What if your ordinary house cat had an extraordinary secret? Susan thought Tucker was just a regular cat until he introduced her to Cat City, a magical world beneath her house. Now she's caught in an adventure where the stakes couldn't be higher. In the Rat King, the second book in the Adventures of Susan and Tucker series by Patty Larson, Susan's bad dreams turn out to be real. Kidnapped by enemies, it's up to Tucker, stuck in Cat City and facing the Rat King's forces to rally the cats and save his best friend before it's too late. Packed with mystery, adventure and heartwarming moments, the Rat King is perfect for readers who love daring heroes and thrilling twists. Find it wherever you buy your books, and don't forget to tune in to the Rat King Podcast to experience the story in a whole new way. Follow the link in our show notes to learn more. Hello friends, and welcome to Sleep Sleep Tight Stories. The plush bear is stuck in the sand and is trying his best to get out. When Arthur gets his plush bear back, he decides to take him swimming. The Story of a plush bear, part 5 sand ran down into the eyes of the plush bear. Grains of sand tickled his plush toes. Some even got into his plush mouth, which he opened when he gave his growls. Other grains of sand trickled between the joints of his paws and his body. Oh dear, this is terrible. Thought the plush bear, as he found himself in darkness when the hole into which Arthur had placed him caved in from the feet of the pony. This is simply dreadful. But though the plush bear, being by himself, was allowed to talk and move about, pretending to come alive, he soon found that it was not wise to open his mouth. The wider he opened it, the more sand came in. What shall I do? Thought the plush bear to himself, not opening his mouth to say anything this time. How am I ever going to get out of here? Well, might he ask himself that, for the sand was so loosely packed in about him that he could hardly move. Even though the spring inside him was wound up, the plush bear could not turn his head nor wave his paws. As for growling, he knew better than to try that. Well, something must be done, thought the plush bear. If I stay in this sand hole too long, I'll smother. I wonder why Arthur doesn't come and take me out. He always said he was fond of me. But Arthur, the little boy, was just then having a glorious ride on a pony. And Nettie, his sister, was also having a ride for the time being the children had forgotten about their toys. Nettie had left her rag doll and Arthur his plush bear. But the rag doll was not buried in the sand. Up and down along the sand rode the children on the backs of the beach ponies. But at last Mrs. Roe decided that Nettie and Arthur had had fun enough. So she helped them out of the little saddles. Get your playthings and come to the hotel. We must dress for dinner, she said. Where is your rag doll, Nettie, and your plush bear, Arthur? I left my rag doll on the sand, answered Nettie. I'll get her. And I left my plush bear. Oh, I left him in the sand circus cage where I was pretending he was a wild bear. Cried Arthur. Oh, I forgot. I left my nice plush bear in a hole. You'd better get him out as soon as you can, said his mother. The children remembered the spot where they had been playing on the sand before they took the pony rides. Nettie ran back there and soon found her rag doll. But where's my plush bear? Asked Arthur, anxiously, looking up and down the beach. I made a hole here, right by Nettie's doll. And I put sticks in the hole like bars in a circus cage. And I left my plush bear in the hole. Are you sure this is the place? Asked Mrs. Roe as she too looked searchingly up and down the sand. She did not want Arthur to lose his toy. It was right here, declared Arthur. I don't see any hole, went on Mrs. Roe. Of course, she did not know that the pony had scattered the sand, filling up the little cave Arthur had made. Oh, where is my plush bear? Cried Arthur, and he was almost ready to cry. His mother and Neddy helped him look. So did other children wandering up and down the beach. But there was no sign of the toy. Then a coast guard, one of the men who marched up and down the sands keeping watch for shipwrecks, came along the boardwalk. Have you lost something? Asked the guard as he came down the steps from the boardwalk to the beach. We lost a bear, said Arthur. A bear. Cried the guard in surprise. A A bear. My little boy means a plush bear, explained Mrs. Rowe. And then she told him what had happened. Oh, a toy buried in the sand, said the guard, laughing. Well, that's too bad. Right around here, was it? Well, I happened to be passing this afternoon, and I noticed just about the spot where the children were sitting on the sand. I didn't see the plush bear, but I know the children were digging, and it wasn't at this spot. It was nearer the ocean over here it was. The guard went on, moving away from the place where Arthur had been sure he had made the cave for the toy. You see, we coast guards get in the habit of noticing things and remembering where they are. He added, you were looking in the wrong place. I think your bear must have been covered up in some way. I'll dig here with a stick. The guard began digging, and in a little while he uncovered the plush bear. Oh, there he is. There he is. Cried Arthur as he saw his toy again. Oh, thank you for finding him for me. And he took his plaything from the hands of the coast guard. Yes, that's what I say. Thanks a whole lot of times, murmured the plush bear to himself, as once more he was able to breathe. This was the most horrible adventure I ever had. But the plush bear was about to have one evening even worse, as you shall soon hear. You must be more careful with your toys, Arthur, said his mother. As having thanked the man, she and her children went back to the hotel. I'll never put him in a sand hole again, promised Arthur. That night, when Arthur and Nettie were snug in their beds and the plush bear and the rag doll were in the closet by themselves, the doll leaned over and said, Wasn't it terrible, Mr. Bear? It certainly was, agreed the plush bear. I'm full of grit as it is. Sand is all over me. Even though Arthur did brush me off with a little broom, I seemed to squeak instead of growling as I ought to. The rag doll giggled softly. Well, you're safe now, Mr. Bear, but who knows what tomorrow will bring? The plush bear sighed and settled into the shadows of the closet, knowing deep down that his adventures were far from over. Now we're going to have some fun, plush Bear. Cried Arthur the next morning as he took his toy from the closet. We're going in swimming. Swimming, Swimming. Repeated the plush bear to himself. I wonder what that means. A little later, Arthur and Nettie were down on the sand in their bathing suits. All along the beach were many other children, and grown folk, too, in their bathing suits. Nettie carried her rag doll, and Arthur had his plush, plush bear. Oh, Arthur, you aren't going to take your toy into the water with you, are you? Asked his mother. No, he answered. I'm just going to play with him on the sand till Daddy comes to teach me to swim. And I'm not going to put my bear in a hole, either. I'm glad of that, thought the plush bear, who heard all that was said. Once in a sand hole is enough for Me? Arthur's father was going to teach the little boy to swim. And while waiting for Daddy, Arthur played on the sand with his plush bear as Nettie played with her rag doll. Now and then, Arthur, with the plush bear in his arms, would wade out a little way into the water. And he would laugh and run back as the incoming tide would send a wave over his baby bare toes. Be careful, Arthur, called his mother as she watched him. The waves are getting higher and higher. I wish your father would come and give you your swimming lesson. Oh, I'm having fun. Arthur laughed. My plush bear likes me to carry him out, but I won't let him fall in the ocean. Once more, the little boy started to wade down the beach. Nettie had gone back to sit with her mother. And for a moment, Arthur was all by himself. Except, of course, he had the plush bear with him. Look and see how big the ocean is, Mr. Bear, said Arthur, holding his toy up above the waves. Just then, a bigger wave than any that had yet rolled up on the beach broke right at Arthur's feet. In an instant, the big wave had knocked him down. Arthur gave a scream, and his father, who had just arrived in his bathing suit, ran to get him. Arthur had let go of the plush bear when the wave knocked him down. Into the water fell the toy. And a moment later, when the wave washed back into the ocean, it took the plush bear with it right out to sea. The plush bear was washed on the top of a big wave. When the big wave knocked Arthur down and he let go of the plush bear, the poor toy thought, this must surely be the end. It was the first time he had ever been in water, and he expected expected to sink straight to the ocean floor. At the North Pole where he was made, everything was frozen and icy. There were no open waters to fall into. This is the end of me, thought the plush bear as the chilly sea closed over his head. Faintly, he heard Arthur's cries as the waves tumbled the boy over on the shore. But Arthur's father was quick to act, pulling his son safely from the surf. No one, however, came for the plush bear. To his surprise, after the initial splash and dive underwater, he bobbed back up to the surface and began floating gently on the waves. You see, much of what was inside him. His. His stuffing was made of sawdust and cork. These light materials acted like a life jacket, keeping him afloat. Well, this is unexpected, thought the plush bear. I'm floating, and I'm not even choking on salt water because I remembered to keep my mouth closed. The Plush bear's yellow glass eyes stared up at the sky as the sun glared brightly down on him. The tide had turned, and he felt himself being carried further and further out to sea. Back on the beach, Arthur had been dried off and was sitting on a blanket next to his mother. But where's my plush bear? Arthur asked suddenly, looking around with wide eyes. You dropped him in the Ocean, dear, said Mrs. Rowe gently. I'm afraid he's gone. Arthur's lips trembled. But I didn't mean to let him go. There, there, said his father, patting his shoulder. It was an accident, son. I'll buy you another bear if you like. I don't want another bear. I want him. Arthur cried. Meanwhile, the plush bear was having an entirely different adventure. The sun dried his fur slightly as he bobbed along the gentle waves. I wonder how far out I'll go. Will I ever see Arthur again? Or will I end up in a pirate ship or on a deserted island? He was still musing over these thoughts when he heard voices, a mixture of excited boys and adults. Look, Joe, said a boy's voice. There's something floating out there. It looks like a toy, replied another voice. It's a bear, said one of the men. A toy bear floating on the sea. Well, I never. Oh, thank goodness, someone has spotted me, thought the plush bear. A moment later, strong hands lifted him from the water and set him gently in the bottom of a motorboat. Salt water dripped from his plush fur, but otherwise he was unharmed. Hey, it's a plush bear, said one of the boys. And a nice one, too, added the man steering the boat. I wonder how he ended up out here. As the plush bear's vision cleared, he noticed two familiar figures sitting in the boat. A nodding donkey and a monkey on a stick. Oh, my goodness, I know them, thought the plush bear. These two were made in Santa's workshop, just like me. Hello there, stranger, said the nodding donkey, his head bobbing cheerfully. Welcome aboard, said the monkey on a stick, tipping an imaginary hat. What a wild adventure you must have had, the donkey continued. Before the plush bear could reply, one of the boys spoke. Let's take him back to the dock, dad. Maybe someone's looking for him. Yes, said the man steering the boat. We'll ask around at the hotel. Someone's bound to recognize this little fellow. The boat hummed back towards shore. The plush bear laid carefully in the sun alongside the nodding donkey and the monkey on a stick. Where did you come from? Whispered the donkey. The beach, answered the plush bear softly. A big wave knocked Arthur down, but and I fell into the sea. Oh, my, said the monkey. Well, you're lucky we found you. You might have floated all the way to the other side of the ocean. The boat docked, and the group walked back toward the hotel. The plush bear was carried carefully in the man's arms, still a little damp but drying quickly in the sun. Just as they entered the hotel lobby, a loud and joyful voice cried out, there's my plush bear. There he is. It was Arthur. He leapt from a chair and ran toward the group. Is this your bear, son? Asked the man holding the plush bear. Oh, yes, yes, it's my plush bear. Cried Arthur, wrapping his arms around the damp toy. Oh, thank you. Thank you for finding him. Arthur's father came over, shaking hands with the man who had rescued the bear. You made one little boy very happy today, Mr. Rowe said with a smile. That evening, all the children played together in the hotel parlor with their toys. The nodding donkey nodded happily. The monkey on a stick performed little tricks. Neddy's rag doll sat primly by her side, and the plush bear, finally dry, waved his paws and growled merrily when wound up. What adventures you've had, plush bear, said the rag doll. More than I ever expected, said the plush bear with a laugh. And it was true. From Santa's workshop at the North Pole to an igloo, from a snowy night to the bottom of a sand cave and finally out to sea, the plush bear had certainly lived a life full of adventure. But for now he was safe, dry and happy, with Arthur's arms wrapped around him and his friends nearby. I hope I never fall into the ocean again, thought the plush bear. And he never did. And that is the end of our story. Good night. Sleep tight.