← Sleep Tight Stories - Bedtime Stories for Kids
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Hello friends. Before we begin, there's a quick ad and then we'll get right to the story.
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Ready everyone? Follow me.
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All of your family favorites are available on Disney.
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I love it.
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Share the stories you grew up with with your kids like Bear in the Big Blue House and Roly Polioli. That sounds like fun. Then discover new stories together.
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The more the merrier.
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Like Sophia the First Royal Magic Bluey. And Spidey and his amazing friends.
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Get ready to spread Spidey Swing on Disney.
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All of these and more available this month. Disneyplus.com what's on what exactly do you
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learn at a school for Royal Magic, Sophia? I can't wait to find out. Join Sophia welcome to Charmswell.
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Don't just stand there. We've got spells to learn.
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In her most magical adventure ever. My emulate's giving me new powers. Blue Maggo. It's a good thing I met a school for Royal Magic Sophia the First Royal A new series is available May 25th on Disney. Your next day on Disney. Learn more@disneyplus.com what's on.
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Hello friends and welcome to Sleep Tight Stories. Each week we share a few shout outs and birthday wishes for listeners who help support the show. It's a small way we say thank you and it always makes us smile. Shout out to Barrett. Mom and dad are so proud of you for starting kindergarten. We love your smart, funny and sweet personality and can't wait to watch you learn and grow. We love you from mom and dad. And a big hello to Eva and Riley. We love you very much and are so proud of you. And happy 10th birthday, Eva. Love mom and dad. Happy birthday to Izzy, the silliest preschooler I ever met. I love you. Love Sunshine. Happy 7th birthday to Sloane Lucille. We can't wait to hear what new animal stories and pictures you make for us this year. We love you Mom, Dad, Quinn and Tegan. Happy Birthday to our dandelion butterfly, Wilhelmina. You are pure magic. We love watching you grow, explore and discover new things every day. We love you to the moon and back. Love Mama, Dada and Tex. Happy birthday George. You are so very kind and smart and we love you very, very much. Love Mama Agnes, Hazel, Juniper and Aster. Happy 10th birthday Emerson Wolf. We love your imaginative mind and are so proud of the wonderful young man you are growing into. We love you so much. Love Mama and Louie. Happy 8th birthday to our beautiful, smart, funny Sigrid Daisy. You brighten every day with your laughter, energy and kindness. We hope your year is full of fun, friends and adventure. We love you so much and are so lucky you're our Siggy. Love always mom, dad and Rosie Posy Happy 9th birthday Roman. You are so very special to us. We love you so much and are so proud of you every day. Love Mommy, Zach, Sage, Salem and cosmo and happy 10th birthday Saul. Mama, Papa and your whole family love you so much and are incredibly proud of you. You are kind, smart, talented and bring joy to our days. No matter where life takes you, you will always be deeply loved. Keep being exactly who you are. Happy Birthday to you all. You know, every time we sit down to record, we think about you tucked in, ready for a story, maybe holding a favorite stuffed toy or snuggled next to someone you love. Knowing we get to be part of your bedtime makes everything we do feel worthwhile. If sleept Stories has become part of your family's routine, thank you. And if you'd like to support what we do while enjoying ad free episodes and bonus stories, sleept Premium is just two taps away. The link is in the show notes. Now on to our story. It is Wednesday and the gang is moving forward with their plans. Red arrives at school early to watch the teachers lounge. She sees Jordan and then hears footsteps, but when she hides, she cannot see who the person was entering the teacher's lounge. The gang tries again at lunchtime but run into the same problem. The angle is wrong for everyone. They come up with an idea that they think will help them narrow it down the next day. The Transfer Student Volume 3 Part 13 Wednesday Morning Red skipped her normal breakfast, grabbing something that popped out of the toaster, and took a cab so that she could arrive at school extra early. There were none of the usual sounds but the hum of the lights. And there was the smell. The discipline disgusting smell of whatever floor cleaner they used in the school. Red thought she would ask Blue to check what effects it might be having on their sensitive Martian brains. She went straight to the library, grabbed a book at random without even checking the title, and settled at a table with a clear view of the hallway through the glass doors. Jordan arrived at exactly 7:15, walked straight to his usual corner spot, dropped his backpack on the floor, and pulled out homework. Just another normal early morning for Jordan. Red pretended to read, but kept glancing up at the hallway. Around 7:45, Jordan stood up, reached into his backpack and pulled out something small. It looked like one of his handmade bookmarks. He got up and then walked straight to the hallway. Red waited a few seconds before following at a distance, staying close to the lockers and Just out of sight in the turns of the hallways. Jordan approached the teacher's lounge door, glanced around quickly to make sure no one was watching, and slipped something underneath. Then he turned and walked away fast, heading back toward the library. Red realized Jordan was doing exactly what he said. Small acts of kindness. Nothing expensive. Just quietly helping people. But then she heard footsteps echoing down the hallway. Red ducked into a gap in a row of lockers where a fountain used to be, pressing herself flat against the wall. Someone else was coming, walking with confident, purposeful strides. Red was squashed so hard against the wall, she could only see their back as they passed. Average height and moving like they belonged not a sub or someone else. Unfamiliar with the layout of the school. The person approached the teacher's lounge, pulled the door open without hesitation, and slipped inside quickly. Red waited. Thirty seconds later, the door opened again. The person emerged empty handed and walked away in the opposite direction. Same confident stride. Red tried to lean out for a better look, but the person was walking quickly and had already turned the corner. Could it be Macaskill? Red waited another minute before heading back to the library, full of questions. It still looked like there were two people at different times, being kind in their own way. But she still couldn't identify the second person. Maybe lunch surveillance would work better later that day. During lunch period, the gang had positioned themselves at different spots around the school. Alexa was in the library with a view of the hallway. Charlie and Rachel were stationed near the cafeteria entrance. Kurt had claimed a table by the windows. Red was sitting on the floor near her locker, wishing she had brought food from home. Her location gave her a partial view of the teacher's lounge door. If she angled herself just right, the lunch bell rang and the hallway instantly flooded with students. It was a chaotic river of noise and motion that slowly drained away as everyone headed toward the cafeteria. Red sat by her locker, notebook in hand, like she was looking for something important. But her eyes were fixed on the teacher's lounge door. It was 12:15, and the hallway was mostly quiet now. Just the distant rumble of cafeteria noise and the occasional locker door slamming somewhere far away. Red watched. Waited. At 12:17, someone appeared from the direction of the main office, walking quickly with a small paper bag in their hand. Red got excited. Maybe this was it. The person paused, looking left and right down the hallway, checking if anyone was watching. Red made herself small and focused on her notebook, trying to make herself invisible. The person moved fast. After that, they pulled open the teacher's lounge door and disappeared inside. Red counted slowly. About 20 seconds later, the door opened. The person emerged without the bag and walked away with the same confident stride. Red tried to see their face, tried to catch any identifying detail, but the angle was all wrong. She caught a glimpse of someone older, moving with teacher like authority, but she couldn't make out specific features. The person turned the corner and vanished. Red stayed frozen for another minute, then casually closed her locker and headed toward the cafeteria. She'd seen someone leave what could have been a gift, but she didn't know who. Now she had to grab something quickly to eat. Her stomach told her so. After school, the gang gathered at Red's house. Everyone was talking over each other with frustration. I saw someone go into the lounge, alexa said, pulling up her tablet. But from the library angle I couldn't see who. Just that someone definitely went in during lunch. Same problem here, red said, dropping into her desk chair. Wrong angle. I saw them, but I couldn't make out who it was. Just that they were older, moved with confidence like a teacher. This is so annoying. Charlie threw his hands up. We know when it happens. We know what they're doing, but we can't see who it is. Kurt unwrapped another granola bar. Maybe we do need binoculars. That's still creepy, alexa reminded her. Well, watching the door didn't work, rachel said. But we already have a better plan for tomorrow. Right, red said. Tomorrow at lunch, we all sit in the cafeteria together and watch who's not there. Process of elimination. That should work better than trying to catch glimpses in hallways, alexa agreed. Everyone nodded. Tomorrow they'd try a different approach. Thursday lunch period arrived, and the gang sat at their usual wobbly table. Nobody was eating except Kurt. Kurt always ate. They were too busy scanning the cafeteria with the full focus of security cameras. Alexa had her tablet out with a comprehensive list of every teacher in the school. Okay, I'm marking off everyone we can actually see right now. Ms. Rodriguez, Kurt said, nodding toward the lunch line. Getting soup. Looks like tomato. Alexa tapped her screen. Check. Mr. Pattison, Rachel added, pointing discreetly toward the doors. He's on lunch duty today, standing by the exit. Check. Ms. McDonald, Charlie said. Over at that corner table, grading papers with a red pen. Check. They continued scanning the cafeteria, systematically marking off teachers one by one as they spotted them eating lunch, supervising students, or grading papers at various tables. Mrs. Johnson? Red spotted her near the windows at the far side. She's eating lunch with Mr. Torres. They're both there.
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Check.
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Check. Alexa scrolled down her list. It was getting shorter with each name they crossed off. Red watched her scan through the remaining names, tapping and swiping and double checking. Wait, charlie said suddenly, his voice sharp with realization. Where's McCaskill? Everyone scanned the cafeteria again, more carefully this time. Red's eyes swept across the entire room, checking every table, every corner, every face. I don't see him anywhere, red said. He's not here. Hit confirmed. I've been watching that whole side of the cafeteria since we sat down. He definitely hasn't come in. Rachel looked around, scanning carefully. Now that you mention it, I don't think I've ever seen him eat lunch in here. Where does he usually eat? Red asked, though her mind was already racing ahead to the answer. His classroom, probably, rachel said slowly. But. But what if he's not in his classroom at all? Kurt finished the thought. Alexa was already pulling up her tracking spreadsheet. Her fingers flew across the screen as she scrolled through her data, cross referencing dates with gift appearances, checking and double checking the pattern. Then her finger stopped moving. She stared at the screen, her eyes widening. I can't prove it from my data, alexis said slowly. But look. Every expensive gift appeared during lunch periods. McCaskill's never hear during lunch. It fits. The table went completely silent. Even the cafeteria noise seemed to fade into the background. You really think it's him? Charlie asked, his voice barely above a whisper. It has to be. Alexa turned her tablet so they could all see. The dates were highlighted in yellow on her spreadsheet, all clustering around the same time frame. Red thought it through. Mr. McCaskill, their English teacher with the colorful bow ties and the funny jokes. The one who'd noticed them investigating from the very beginning. The one who'd said people have good reasons for staying anonymous. The one who was always observant, always kind, always noticing details that others missed. It was him. It had to be. But why? Red asked quietly, voicing the question they were all thinking. Why would MacAskill leave anonymous gifts for other teachers? He's not invisible like Jordan was. He could just give them gifts openly. And why did he start right after Jordan did? Rachel added softly. Friday morning, before first period, Red found Mr. McCaskill in his classroom. He was writing the day's agenda on the whiteboard, wearing a bow tie covered in tiny books. Mr. McCaskill, Red said from the doorway. Can I talk to you for a minute? He turned around, and his expression told Red everything she needed to know. He wasn't surprised. He'd been expecting this. Of course. Red, come in. He set down his marker and leaned against his desk. I imagine this is about the teacher gifts. Red stepped inside, closing the door behind her. You know, we were investigating. Hard to miss, he said with a slight smile. You and your friends have been watching the hallways quite intently this week. Very Nancy Drew of you all. Red felt her face flush. They hadn't been as subtle as she'd thought. We figured out it was you, red said. The expensive gifts. Jordan's leaving the small handmade ones. But you're leaving the coffee and pens and chocolate. McCaskill nodded slowly. You're very observant. Yes, that's me. But why? Red asked the question that had been bothering her since yesterday. You could just give people gifts normally. Why stay anonymous? McCaskill was quiet for a moment, choosing his words carefully. Do you know how long I've been teaching, red? No. 20 years. Two decades of grammar lessons and essay prompts and book discussions. He smiled, but it was tinged with something sad. I love teaching. I really do. But somewhere along the way I think I forgot why it started. It became a job. Lesson plans, grading meetings. The routine of it all. Red waited, sensing there was more. Then I saw Jordan, Mr. McCaskill continued. A few weeks ago I came in early and saw him slipping something under the teacher's lounge door. I was curious, so I went in and found one of his bookmarks. Beautiful, handmade, with a pressed flower and a note that said, you're doing important work. It was for Ms. Rodriguez. He walked over to his desk and opened a drawer. He pulled out a small bookmark with a dried violet pressed between clear paper. He left one for me, too. A couple days later. Red could see the emotion in his face. This kid, Mr. McCaskill said softly, who has ever every reason to stay invisible, who struggles with feeling seen, was taking time to notice when teachers looked tired or stressed. He was trying to help. And I realized when was the last time I'd noticed my colleagues were struggling? When was the last time I'd done something kind just because so you started leaving gifts, too? Red said. Jordan reminded me what teaching is supposed to be about, he said. Seeing people, helping people. Making things a little better when you can. He was doing it with all he had time and creativity. I have a little more resources, so I thought, why not add to what he started? But why anonymous? Red pressed. Because Jordan was doing it anonymously, Mr. McCaskill explained. His kindness wasn't about getting recognition. It was pure. I wanted mine to be pure, too. No thank yous, no pats on the back. Just making people's days a little brighter. Red got it now. Jordan's small acts of kindness had created ripples, had reminded a teacher why he loved teaching, had inspired someone to be more generous. Will you keep it quiet? Mr. McCaskill asked. I'd like it to stay anonymous. Red nodded. We will. But can I tell Jordan? I think he'd want to know that his bookmarks mattered. Mr. McCaskill smiled, Genuine this time. I think that would be nice. Tell him his kindness is contagious. After school, the gang gathered in the library quickly. It was Friday, after all. So we solved a mystery where nobody was bad and everyone was just nice, charlie said, leaning back in his chair. Yeah, red said, smiling. That's not a bad kind of mystery. To solve small acts, creating bigger acts. That's pretty cool, alexa said, reviewing her notes one last time. Rachel closed her book. Well, unlike this book I am reading, not every mystery has a villain. Kurt mumbled something clearly positive but unintelligible as she ate what had to be her 10th granola bar of the day. The Solving Mysteries Club solved another one, charlie said. And nobody got hurt. Nobody got in trouble. And everyone ends up happier. They packed up their things and headed out to catch their buses, everyone in a good mood. Red waved goodbye to the gang and climbed onto her bus, already thinking about what mystery might come next. She had no idea what was waiting for her at home. The bus ride home was uneventful. No bumps and no sneezing from Charlie. The bus pulled up to her stop. Red climbed off, walked up to her house, and opened the front door. The house was unusually quiet. Mom? She called out. No answer. She walked into the living room and stopped. Her mother was asleep on the couch, curled under a blanket. At four in the afternoon. That wasn't normal. Mom never napped during the day. Mom, red said again, louder this time, touching her shoulder gently. Her mother stirred slightly but didn't wake up. She looked exhausted even in sleep, pale dark circles under her eyes. Blue appeared in the doorway, looking worried in a way Red rarely saw from him. She's been sleeping a lot, blue said quietly. Like a lot. She was asleep when I got home from school, too. And yesterday. Red looked at her mother more carefully. This wasn't just tired from a cold. This was something else. Do you think she's okay? Blue asked, his usual confidence completely gone. Red thought about all the signs she'd noticed over the past week. Sleeping in, looking exhausted at breakfast, the virus that never quite went away, how she'd been too busy to make proper lunches. This wasn't just a cold. I don't know, red said. Honestly. Blue moved closer to Red, and they both stood there looking at their mother sleeping in the middle of the afternoon. Red had just sun a mystery about kindness and teachers and anonymous gifts. But standing here watching her mom sleep when she should be awake, Red realized she had a different kind of mystery to solve. One that was a lot closer to home. And that is the end of this part. Good night. Sleep tight.