← Sleep Tight Stories - Bedtime Stories for Kids
Sleep Tight Stories - Bedtime Stories for Kids
The Transfer Student V3 - Part 4 🛸
00:29:32
A bedtime story featuring aliens from Mars and Earth kids working together to solve mysteries.
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Foreign. Hello, friends, and welcome to Sleep Tight Stories. Each week we share a few shoutouts 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. Sweet dreams to Brinley, Brooklyn and Bianca. Happy seventh birthday to Ray on January 25th. Mommy, Daddy, Abby, Biggie and Bobby love you more than anything in the whole world. You are incredibly creative, smart and kind and we can't wait to see everything you do this year. Happy 9th birthday to Elizabeth from Austin, Texas, with love and snuggles from Mom, Dad, Winston, Frankie and buddy. Happy 5th birthday on January 30th to Cammie from Marietta, Georgia. You bring infinite joy to our family and we love watching you grow. Keep being your happy, sparkly self, sweet girl. We love you, Mama, Papa, Isaac and Mateo. Happy ninth birthday to Theo Hill in Albuquerque, New Mexico on January 31st. Happy birthday, buddy, mom and dad lava you this much. A very happy birthday to our only son, Zeus, who turned 9 years old on January 29th. From your mom and dad. Happy 9th birthday to our wonderful daughter, Anbie. You fill our lives with happiness in every possible way. Watching you grow has been one of the greatest joys of our lives and we're so proud of the bright, kind and joyful person you're becoming. From your father, mother and brother. Happy 9th birthday to Rowan from Okemus, Michigan. Mom and dad are so proud of you. You are so kind, smart and fun. We love you and can't wait to see what this next year brings. Happy 5th birthday to Juniper from Mom, dad, Hadlin, Lainey and Leo. We love you. Happy birthday to Ori, Penny Campbell from the Netherlands. We are so proud of our little creative chicken. Love, Mom, Dad, Indy and Tommy and Sammy the tortoises. Happy golden birthday on February 7 to Madeline in Portland. We love you, Momo, Dad, Nana, Bo and Harry. And happy 10th birthday to Luka in Madison, Wisconsin on February 7th. Mom and dad love you and are so proud of you. Happy birthday to you all and thank you for supporting the show. We're so grateful you're here with us. Whether you've been listening since the beginning or just found us last week, you're part of something really special. Millions of families around the world making bedtime a little sweeter. Together this year, we have some lovely new stories planned. More adventures, more wonder. And maybe even a few surprises. We can't wait to share them with you. Now, on to our story. After the failed stakeout, the gang realizes they need to try something else. Blue suggests they were so busy looking for someone suspicious that they missed the actual person who was doing something normal. Red and the gang plan to get together and figure out a new plan. The transfer student volume 3, part 4. Friday morning the gang meets in their library corner before homeroom, everyone looking disappointed from yesterday's failed stakeout. Okay, alexis says, opening her tablet. We need to talk about who we actually saw yesterday morning. Charlie pulls out his notebook, flipping to the page where he'd scribbled observations. Chess class president, newspaper editor, Band kid with trumpet janitor, Teachers with coffee, the newspaper editor, red says. Suddenly everyone looks at her. Taylor was there at 7:20, right when notes could have been placed and she had her camera. Emma mentioned Taylor yesterday, rachel adds quietly. Said she's always taking photos around school for the paper. Kurt sits up straighter. Wait. Didn't Taylor stop at her locker? Like she was right there near the Bee hallway lockers? Exactly. Red can feel the pieces clicking together. And newspaper editors know everyone's business. They hear gossip. They observe people. They know who's struggling or dealing with stuff. Senna looks uncertain. But wouldn't that be kind of obvious if the newspaper editor is leaving coded notes? Maybe that's the point, charlie says, pushing his glasses up. Hide in plain sight. Everyone expects the newspaper editor to be everywhere, asking questions, taking pictures. Nobody would think twice about seeing Taylor near lockers. Alexa is already pulling up information on her tablet. Taylor Chen, 8th grade editor of the school paper since last year, Honor roll student, member of photography club, debate team. And she pauses. Chess club. Chess club, red repeats. Which means Taylor would know about codes and puzzles. And maybe know how to create different encryption systems, rachel adds. The bell rings. Five minutes to homeroom, but nobody moves yet. So what do we do? Kurt asks. Alexa closes her tablet with a decisive click. We investigate Taylor carefully. We need actual evidence before we accuse anyone. How carefully? Charlie asks nervously. We follow Taylor around today, alexa says. See where she goes, who she talks to, if she does anything suspicious. Red can see Senna shifting uncomfortably, but not saying anything. Following someone around feels different than investigating clues. More invasive, More creepy. Just for today, red says. Partly for Senna's benefit. We watch, we gather evidence, and if it turns out Taylor isn't involved, we move on. No harm done. And if Taylor is involved? Charlie asks. Then we figure out why someone would leave encouraging notes for struggling students, rachel says thoughtfully. Because even if the notes are weird, they're not exactly mean. They're weird about me, senna points out quietly. The Mars references. That's not just encouraging. That's knowing something really private. The gang falls quiet for a moment. You're right, Red says. Which is why we need to figure out who's doing this today. We watch Taylor. If it's not her, we keep looking. They split up to head to homeroom, but Red catches Alexa's arm. Make sure everyone knows to be subtle about this. We don't want Taylor to know we're watching. Alexa grins. Don't worry. I've got a plan. Red hopes Alexa's plan involves more subtlety than her usual military level organization. Somehow she doubts it. The plan starts falling apart immediately. First period Charlie positions himself near Taylor's locker, pretending to look for something in his backpack. He's been there for three minutes when Taylor walks up. Can I help you find something? Taylor asks, looking amused. Charlie's face goes red. No. I mean, yes. I'm looking for my science homework, which is in my backpack that I'm searching. Taylor raises an eyebrow. Your backpack that you're standing in front of my locker to search. The light is better here, Charlie blurts out, then immediately sneezes directly into his elbow. Taylor backs away slowly. Okay then. Good luck with your homework. Red watches this disaster unfold from down the hallway. She texts the group, Charlie blown. Taylor suspicious. Between second and third period, Alexa tries to casually follow Taylor to the library. Unfortunately, Alexa's version of casual involves walking exactly three steps back behind Taylor while pretending to read a book. Taylor stops. Alexa stops. Taylor turns around. Are you following me? What? No, Alexa says, then realizes she's holding her book upside down. I'm just also going to the library to get more books for reading. You already have a book, taylor points out. I like options, alexa says weakly. Taylor shakes her head and continues walking. Alexa texts the group. Ok, that didn't work either. At lunch, the gang crams into a table too small for six people sitting, sitting about 10ft from Taylor. They're trying to be subtle. They are not subtle. This is ridiculous. Senna whispers. We look like we're having a secret meeting. We are having a secret meeting, kurt whispers back, trying to lean casually but nearly falling off the bench. Rachel has positioned her book so she can watch Taylor over the top of it. Unfortunately, she's so focused on watching that she misses her mouth with her fork and stabs herself in the cheek with a piece of lettuce. Smooth, kurt mutters. This is a disaster, charlie says, pushing his glasses up. We're terrible at this. We need a better plan, Alexa admits, pulling out her tablet. Maybe if we don't. You think this is kind of wrong, senna interrupts quietly. Everyone looks at her. I mean, we're basically spying on someone who hasn't actually done anything wrong. At least not that we know of. The gang falls silent. Red thinks about how it felt when she first arrived at school, feeling like everyone was watching her, judging her. Difference how uncomfortable that was. You're right, red says. This feels creepy, like we're invading Taylor's privacy. But we need to figure out who's leaving the notes, Charlie protests. Yeah, but this isn't the way, rachel says, closing her book. We're not gathering evidence. We're just being weird. Kurt nods. Taylor definitely knows something's up. Alexa sighs, putting away her tablet. Okay, so surveillance is clearly not our strength. What do we do instead? We could try actually talking to Taylor, sena suggests. Like ask questions, be honest about investigating the notes. That's very mature and reasonable, charlie says. I hate it. But Red can see the logic. They're not good at sneaking around. Maybe being direct is better. Okay, red decides. After lunch, we approach Taylor carefully, respectfully, and we ask if there's anything she can tell us about the locker notes. And if Taylor is the note writer? Alexa asks. Then maybe we find out why, red says. The bell rings as they clear their trays. Taylor watches them from across the cafeteria. This is going to be interesting. After school, the gang regroups at their usual library table, determined to investigate Taylor more carefully without the terrible surveillance. Let's look at what we actually know, alexis says, pulling up her tablet. Charlie opens his notebook. Taylor's the newspaper editor. Access to the whole school for stories and photos arrives early. 7:20am Rachel's been researching on the library computer. I found last year's school newspaper archives. Taylor wrote an article about students dealing with stress and anxiety. Listen to this, she reads aloud. Small acts of kindness can make a difference. Noticing when classmates are struggling, reaching out, even in small ways. That's exactly what the notes are doing, sena says quietly. Alexa pulls up Taylor's schedule. Photography club, chess club, and advanced math. Chess club means knowledge of codes and puzzles, charlie says. And photography gives Taylor an excuse to observe everyone. Red thinks about the personal knowledge in the notes, the perfect timing. Newspaper editors hear everything. People tell them things for stories. They overhear, gossip. And look at this. Rachel turns the computer screen. Taylor wrote another article two months ago about anonymous kindness, about helping people who are too proud to ask. The pieces fit almost too perfectly. Alexa types quickly. Early arrival 7:20am Code knowledge, chess, Math Observes everyone Photography, Newspaper, Personal information Access Articles about anonymous Kindness? That's circumstantial, senna points out. No proof, but enough to ask questions. Red agrees. What if we're wrong? Senna asks. Accusing someone when it's not them would be really unfair. Red remembers being the new student, people making assumptions about her. We don't accuse. We ask gently if Taylor is the note writer. Perhaps there's a good reason. And if Taylor's not? Charlie asks. Then we apologize for the weird surveillance and keep looking, red says. Alexa nods. Okay, so we approach Taylor, now together. Red glances across the library. Taylor's still there, working alone at a computer near the windows. Taylor's notebook, the same one from lunch, is open on the desk. Now? Charlie asks nervously. Now, red confirms, before we lose our nerve. The gang exchanges looks, then stands up together. Time to get some answers, Taylor. Red approaches first, the others hanging back slightly. Can we talk to you for a minute? Taylor looks up, sees the entire Solving Mysteries Club standing there, and sighs. Let me guess. This is about today's terrible surveillance job. Red's face gets warm. You noticed, Red. You walked past my table in slow motion. Charlie hid behind a plant that was literally 2ft tall. Of course I noticed. Taylor sets down her pen. So what's this actually about? The gang exchanges glances. They agreed Red would do the talking. We're investigating the locker notes, red says, sitting down across from Taylor. The coded messages people have been getting. We're trying to figure out who's leaving them. Taylor's expression doesn't change. And you think it's me? We've noticed some things, red admits. You arrive at school early. You're in chess club and take advanced math, so you'd know about codes. You're the newspaper editor, which means you hear things about people. And you wrote those articles about anonymous kindness. That's a lot of circumstantial evidence, taylor says, echoing exactly what Senna said earlier. It is, red agrees. Which is why we wanted to ask you directly instead of making assumptions. Are you the one leaving the notes? Taylor studies Red's face for a long moment, then looks at the rest of the gang standing nearby. Finally, Taylor lets out a breath. No, taylor says simply. I'm not. Red believes her immediately. There's no defensiveness, no elaborate explanation, just a straightforward answer. But I have been curious about them, Taylor continues, pulling out her notebook. The one from lunch. I'm a journalist. Or I was to be. Mysterious coded notes appearing in lockers. That's a story. I've been trying to figure out who's behind it, too. Taylor opens the notebook showing pages of observations similar to what the gang has collected. Names of recipients, types of codes used, timing patterns. I thought maybe it was some kind of publicity stunt, taylor explains. But the notes are too personal for that. Whoever's doing this actually cares about helping people. We thought the same thing, alexis says, stepping closer to look at Taylor's notes. I'm sorry we suspected you, senna adds quietly. And sorry about the weird following thing. Taylor laughs. Honestly, it was kind of flattering. Nobody's ever cared enough about my schedule to stalk me before. Then, more seriously, I get why you suspected me. The evidence fits. But I promise it's not me. Do you have any idea who it might be? Charlie asks hopefully. Taylor flips to a page in the notebook. Actually, yeah. I took photos all week for the newspaper and I accidentally caught something interesting. Taylor pulls up a photo on her camera. It's from Thursday morning during the gangs failed stakeout. The image shows the bee hallway lockers, and there, barely visible in the corner, is someone in a dark hoodie standing near Senna's locker. I didn't notice this until I was editing photos last night, taylor explains. The person's face is hidden, but they're definitely doing something at the lockers. Red stares at the photo. The figure is small, shorter than most seventh graders, maybe a fifth grader. The hoodie makes it impossible to see who it is. Can you send that to us? Lex asks. Already did, taylor says, showing them the email. Figured if you're investigating, you might as well have all the information I've got. Red looks at Taylor with new respect. Thank you and sorry again for suspecting you. No worries, taylor says with a smile. If you figure out who it is, let me know. This would make a great story. The Mystery of the Kindness Notes Very wholesome. As the gang walks away from the library table, Red feels relieved. They were wrong about Taylor, but at least now they have a new lead and an unexpected ally. So, Charlie says, pulling out his phone to look at the photo Taylor sent. We're looking for someone who wears a dark hoodie. That narrows it down to like half the school, kurt says. Red studies the blurry photo. Somewhere in this school, someone is watching struggling students and trying to help them. Someone who knows Red and Sena are Martian. They just need to figure out who. After leaving the library, Red walks with Senna toward their lockers. The hallways are still crowded with students grabbing coats and and heading home, everyone talking about homework and weekend plans. At least we know it's not Taylor, senna says as they navigate through the crowd. Yeah, but we're back to having no idea who it actually is, red admits. They reach Senna's locker. She spins the combination and opens it to grab her math textbook. A folded piece of paper falls out. Both girls freeze. Not again, senna whispers, staring at the note on the floor. Red picks it up carefully. It's folded the same way as the others. Precise, deliberate. She hands it to Senna, who unfolds it with shaking hands. The message is in simpler code this time, one Red can read immediately. You're not alone. Others understand what it's like to be far from home. Senna reads it twice, then looks up at Red. Whoever this is, they know I'm homesick. They're trying to help, red says quietly. But it's creepy, senna says, her voice tight. How do they know how I feel? I haven't told anyone except you. About missing Mars, about my brother. About any of it. Red thinks about Taylor's photo, the blurry figure in the hoodie. Someone small, someone who watches carefully enough to notice when people are struggling. Maybe they just see it, Red suggests. The way you look sometimes in the hallways. The way you sat alone at lunch before we found you. Red folds the note carefully, tucking it into her backpack. I don't know if this makes me feel better or worse, like someone cares enough to reach out, but they're doing it in this weird, secret way that makes my skin crawl. We're going to figure out who it is, red promises. We have Taylor's photo. We're getting closer. And when we find them, Senna asks, what then? Red doesn't have a good answer, because Senna's right. Whoever is doing this knows too much about both of them. The notes might be kind, but the knowledge behind them is dangerous. Then we find out why, red says. And we figure out if they're trying to help or if this is something else. They walk toward the bus together. Red keeps thinking about the photo, about the figure near Senna's locker. Someone who arrives early, Someone who knows Martian symbols. Someone who cares enough to reach out but stays hidden. Who at Maplewood knows their secret and can they trust whoever it is? And that is the end of this part. Good night. Sleep tight.