1 00:00:13,503 --> 00:00:17,783 Speaker 1: Or an ad free listening experience and more stories, please 2 00:00:17,863 --> 00:00:20,983 Speaker 1: check out sleep Type Premium. A link can be found 3 00:00:21,023 --> 00:00:34,863 Speaker 1: in our show notes. Thank you, hello friends, and welcome 4 00:00:34,943 --> 00:00:41,063 Speaker 1: to sleep Tight Stories. Thank you to Lavinia for suggesting 5 00:00:41,143 --> 00:00:49,183 Speaker 1: this character, and to Norah, Avery, Early, Yuki, Jean, Lucy, 6 00:00:49,943 --> 00:00:55,423 Speaker 1: Libby and all the other lovers of unicorns. We have 7 00:00:55,503 --> 00:01:00,303 Speaker 1: another Bernice story for you. In this story, Bernice is 8 00:01:00,383 --> 00:01:04,863 Speaker 1: already in bed and waiting for a story. Apa Bear 9 00:01:04,983 --> 00:01:10,503 Speaker 1: tells a story about a unicorn named Sparkle. Sparkle is 10 00:01:10,543 --> 00:01:13,663 Speaker 1: a young unicorn who loves to play with her friends. 11 00:01:14,863 --> 00:01:18,263 Speaker 1: On this day, Sparkle is woken up by Bobby the 12 00:01:18,263 --> 00:01:22,623 Speaker 1: Blue Jay because she missed playing with her friends. Bobby 13 00:01:22,743 --> 00:01:26,703 Speaker 1: is wondering why she is still in bed. When Sparkle 14 00:01:26,743 --> 00:01:29,903 Speaker 1: wakes up and gets out of bed, Bobby the blue 15 00:01:29,983 --> 00:01:34,903 Speaker 1: Jay starts acting strange. He suddenly flies off, and after 16 00:01:34,983 --> 00:01:39,423 Speaker 1: a while, Bluebell shows up to talk to Sparkle. What 17 00:01:39,543 --> 00:01:47,143 Speaker 1: could be wrong? Sparkle gets her stripes. It's that time, 18 00:01:47,183 --> 00:01:51,503 Speaker 1: Papa said, Bernice, II for me to go to sleep. 19 00:01:51,623 --> 00:01:55,303 Speaker 1: I think yond her, Papa, is there room in your 20 00:01:55,303 --> 00:01:58,943 Speaker 1: bed for all of us? You can't sleep in my bed. 21 00:01:59,223 --> 00:02:03,503 Speaker 1: You're too big. Oh, I don't know. I'm sure I 22 00:02:03,543 --> 00:02:07,263 Speaker 1: could find room in there somewhere, Bernice's papa said, with 23 00:02:07,463 --> 00:02:11,743 Speaker 1: droopy eyelids. But you might squish my friends, and they 24 00:02:11,783 --> 00:02:15,743 Speaker 1: would be sick if you squished them. I guess you 25 00:02:15,783 --> 00:02:20,143 Speaker 1: are right, little bear. Do you have enough energy to 26 00:02:20,183 --> 00:02:25,503 Speaker 1: tell me a story? Bernice asked, stretching his arms and 27 00:02:25,583 --> 00:02:29,903 Speaker 1: taking a deep breath. Papa Bear said, I always have 28 00:02:30,103 --> 00:02:33,743 Speaker 1: enough energy to tell you a story. It's my favorite 29 00:02:33,743 --> 00:02:39,143 Speaker 1: time of the day. Me too, Papa. What cookie time 30 00:02:39,263 --> 00:02:44,103 Speaker 1: is also my favorite? Yes? Cookie and milk thyme is 31 00:02:44,143 --> 00:02:49,623 Speaker 1: pretty special too. Are you comfy and warm? Yes, Papa. 32 00:02:50,623 --> 00:02:53,863 Speaker 1: How about Twigger Wolfy and Madeline? Are they ready for 33 00:02:53,903 --> 00:03:00,623 Speaker 1: a story too? They sure are good. Now close your eyes, 34 00:03:00,623 --> 00:03:03,743 Speaker 1: little bear, as I do my very best to make 35 00:03:03,823 --> 00:03:10,263 Speaker 1: up a story about unicorns and school. I like unicorns, Papa, 36 00:03:10,303 --> 00:03:14,503 Speaker 1: and I am super excited about at school, I know, 37 00:03:14,663 --> 00:03:21,103 Speaker 1: little Bear. Bernice cuddled with Twigger Wolfe and Madeline and 38 00:03:21,263 --> 00:03:27,823 Speaker 1: closed her eyes. Love you, Papa, whispered Bernice, Love you too, 39 00:03:27,943 --> 00:03:35,583 Speaker 1: little bear. Once upon a time, in a world full 40 00:03:35,623 --> 00:03:39,543 Speaker 1: of magic and fun, there lived a young little unicorn 41 00:03:39,743 --> 00:03:44,983 Speaker 1: named Sparkle. She lived in the mystical Forest, not far 42 00:03:45,023 --> 00:03:50,423 Speaker 1: from Booboom, the Brave little Bear. In this forest there 43 00:03:50,423 --> 00:03:56,783 Speaker 1: were unicorns, fairies, gnomes, and all manner of insects, birds 44 00:03:56,943 --> 00:04:03,263 Speaker 1: and animals. It was a wonderful place. On this day, 45 00:04:03,583 --> 00:04:07,463 Speaker 1: Bobby the blue Jay flew into Sparkle's bedroom, singing his 46 00:04:07,623 --> 00:04:13,663 Speaker 1: morning song. Sparkle, like many unicorns, loved the early morning 47 00:04:14,103 --> 00:04:17,303 Speaker 1: and would usually be out running through the forest meadows 48 00:04:17,343 --> 00:04:22,063 Speaker 1: at this time. The young unicorns of the Mystical Forest 49 00:04:22,263 --> 00:04:26,623 Speaker 1: loved playing with the birds, the butterflies, and the fairies. 50 00:04:28,103 --> 00:04:32,543 Speaker 1: But Sparkle was unusually sleepy this morning and didn't want 51 00:04:32,583 --> 00:04:36,863 Speaker 1: to get out of her comfortable bed. Wake up, sleepy head, 52 00:04:36,943 --> 00:04:41,623 Speaker 1: Wake up, sleepyhead. It's a magical day outside, Bobby the 53 00:04:41,623 --> 00:04:46,623 Speaker 1: blue Jay sang. Sparkle opened one eye and mumbled, what 54 00:04:46,903 --> 00:04:52,063 Speaker 1: time is it. It's already one hour past sunrise, and 55 00:04:52,143 --> 00:04:54,663 Speaker 1: we are all wondering why you are still in bed. 56 00:04:55,623 --> 00:04:58,903 Speaker 1: We missed you this magical morning when we were all playing, 57 00:04:59,623 --> 00:05:05,823 Speaker 1: sang Bobby. One hour past sunrise already, Sparkle said, as 58 00:05:05,863 --> 00:05:09,183 Speaker 1: she opened her eyes a little bit wider. But I 59 00:05:09,383 --> 00:05:14,903 Speaker 1: feel so tired. Maybe you should go to bed earlier 60 00:05:15,023 --> 00:05:18,343 Speaker 1: instead of listening to Squiggles the squirrel and his silly 61 00:05:18,423 --> 00:05:24,743 Speaker 1: stories suggested Bobby Squiggles isn't on vacation anymore. He is 62 00:05:24,783 --> 00:05:28,303 Speaker 1: with his grandpa learning the ways of the forest. So 63 00:05:28,463 --> 00:05:33,663 Speaker 1: he goes to bed earlier now, yawned Sparkle. Bobby the 64 00:05:33,703 --> 00:05:37,103 Speaker 1: blue Jay continued to fly around the room, singing a 65 00:05:37,183 --> 00:05:42,143 Speaker 1: song until Sparkle finally stood up and left her comfortable 66 00:05:42,183 --> 00:05:47,863 Speaker 1: bed made of sweet grass and straw. She stretched, yawned, 67 00:05:48,223 --> 00:05:52,183 Speaker 1: and did a little kick. Well, I guess I better 68 00:05:52,223 --> 00:05:54,503 Speaker 1: get some breakfast and maybe we can play in the 69 00:05:54,543 --> 00:05:59,183 Speaker 1: meadow later, Bobby, she said. Bobby the blue Jay was 70 00:05:59,223 --> 00:06:03,263 Speaker 1: sitting on a nearby branch in the collection of trees 71 00:06:03,303 --> 00:06:06,783 Speaker 1: that had grown to form a shelter for the Unicorn family, 72 00:06:07,503 --> 00:06:15,103 Speaker 1: and he replied hesitantly. UM, yeah, sure, what's the matter. 73 00:06:15,863 --> 00:06:18,423 Speaker 1: Why are you staring at me? You have seen me 74 00:06:18,543 --> 00:06:24,143 Speaker 1: with BedHead before, said Sparkle, somewhat perplexed. Uh, nothing's mattered. 75 00:06:24,463 --> 00:06:27,263 Speaker 1: Just just wait here, I'll be right back, Bobby said, 76 00:06:27,383 --> 00:06:32,543 Speaker 1: as he flew off in a hurry. Well that was strange, 77 00:06:32,583 --> 00:06:36,383 Speaker 1: Sparkle thought, as she gave herself another shake, took a 78 00:06:36,463 --> 00:06:39,463 Speaker 1: drink of water from the bowl by her bed and 79 00:06:39,543 --> 00:06:42,263 Speaker 1: got ready to trot over to the kitchen, where her 80 00:06:42,303 --> 00:06:46,343 Speaker 1: mother would have set aside all kinds of delicious things 81 00:06:46,383 --> 00:06:51,303 Speaker 1: for her to eat. As she trotted over to the kitchen, 82 00:06:51,423 --> 00:06:56,263 Speaker 1: she said hello to the insects, the sparrow family, and Ignacious, 83 00:06:56,383 --> 00:06:59,703 Speaker 1: the old the fairy who had lived longer in this 84 00:06:59,823 --> 00:07:06,343 Speaker 1: neighborhood than any other creature. All the animals looked at her. 85 00:07:07,983 --> 00:07:11,663 Speaker 1: What is wrong with everybody this morning? Sleeping in is 86 00:07:11,783 --> 00:07:17,183 Speaker 1: not that big a crime, Sparkle mumbled. Just as she 87 00:07:17,343 --> 00:07:21,623 Speaker 1: started to eat some lovely berries, Bobby returned with her 88 00:07:21,703 --> 00:07:26,623 Speaker 1: older sister Bluebell. There she is, saying, Bobby, I'll be 89 00:07:26,703 --> 00:07:31,143 Speaker 1: off and let you two talk. Good morning, sleepy head. 90 00:07:31,383 --> 00:07:35,703 Speaker 1: Blue Bell said, what is wrong with everyone? This can't 91 00:07:35,743 --> 00:07:39,383 Speaker 1: be the first time a unicorn has slept in. Getting 92 00:07:39,423 --> 00:07:42,583 Speaker 1: some extra sleep Does a unicorn's body good, you know, 93 00:07:43,063 --> 00:07:47,743 Speaker 1: Sparkle said, starting to get a bit annoyed. It's not 94 00:07:47,903 --> 00:07:51,423 Speaker 1: the sleeping in, silly, Blue Bell said, come over to 95 00:07:51,463 --> 00:07:56,383 Speaker 1: the large water trough and look at your reflection. Sparkle 96 00:07:56,463 --> 00:07:59,183 Speaker 1: walked over and looked at her reflection in the water 97 00:07:59,503 --> 00:08:05,743 Speaker 1: and gasped, ugh, oh no, not now. Sparkle, who like 98 00:08:05,823 --> 00:08:09,183 Speaker 1: her father, had grown up with a brilliant white coat, 99 00:08:09,663 --> 00:08:14,543 Speaker 1: had developed pink and purple stripe all over her body. 100 00:08:16,343 --> 00:08:19,863 Speaker 1: Why did this happen now, right at the end of 101 00:08:19,903 --> 00:08:24,143 Speaker 1: my summer vacation before I go back to school, she said, 102 00:08:24,143 --> 00:08:29,543 Speaker 1: with a moan. It's normal, Sparkle. All unicorns get stripes 103 00:08:29,783 --> 00:08:33,223 Speaker 1: and then it fades away with time. Some of us 104 00:08:33,303 --> 00:08:36,343 Speaker 1: keep the stripes in our mans, some of us keep 105 00:08:36,383 --> 00:08:39,463 Speaker 1: them in our horns. Some of us adopt one of 106 00:08:39,503 --> 00:08:43,023 Speaker 1: the colors for our whole body. It's just part of 107 00:08:43,063 --> 00:08:48,383 Speaker 1: who we are. Sure all unicorns get stripes when they 108 00:08:48,383 --> 00:08:52,223 Speaker 1: are babies. And you don't see father with any stripes, 109 00:08:52,263 --> 00:08:57,143 Speaker 1: do you, Sparkle said testily. You didn't get stripes when 110 00:08:57,143 --> 00:09:00,103 Speaker 1: you were young. I don't know why, but the change 111 00:09:00,103 --> 00:09:04,743 Speaker 1: has happened much later for you, Lubell replied. But I 112 00:09:04,863 --> 00:09:07,623 Speaker 1: have to go to school next week, and it's the 113 00:09:07,823 --> 00:09:13,063 Speaker 1: advanced school with new classmates and new teachers. What kind 114 00:09:13,103 --> 00:09:16,583 Speaker 1: of first impression will I make looking like a baby unicorn, 115 00:09:17,183 --> 00:09:22,743 Speaker 1: Sparkle cried, You are over reacting, Sparkle, No one cares 116 00:09:22,783 --> 00:09:26,103 Speaker 1: about what you look like. You might take more care 117 00:09:26,183 --> 00:09:30,983 Speaker 1: brushing your teeth, though you have seriously bad breath, blue 118 00:09:30,983 --> 00:09:33,743 Speaker 1: Bell said, trying to lighten the mood a little bit. 119 00:09:35,303 --> 00:09:39,023 Speaker 1: Bad breath is the least of my problems, Sparkle said, 120 00:09:39,063 --> 00:09:41,863 Speaker 1: as she galloped out of the kitchen and down the 121 00:09:41,983 --> 00:09:47,063 Speaker 1: forest trail away from their home. Sparkle was one of 122 00:09:47,103 --> 00:09:50,903 Speaker 1: the fastest unicorns in the Mystical Forest, so there was 123 00:09:51,023 --> 00:09:58,863 Speaker 1: little chance that Bluebell could catch her. Sparkle kept galloping 124 00:09:58,983 --> 00:10:02,743 Speaker 1: until she came to a small clearing, a place where 125 00:10:02,743 --> 00:10:06,783 Speaker 1: she sometimes went whenever she wanted some time alone to explore. 126 00:10:08,463 --> 00:10:11,903 Speaker 1: She trotted in a circle around the clearing, thinking and 127 00:10:12,023 --> 00:10:17,663 Speaker 1: snow to herself. How am I the daughter of the 128 00:10:17,743 --> 00:10:22,143 Speaker 1: great white unicorn Zane, going to face my new classmates 129 00:10:22,263 --> 00:10:26,343 Speaker 1: looking like this? I want to fit in, not stand out. 130 00:10:27,063 --> 00:10:33,263 Speaker 1: I look like a baby. She continued to snort and 131 00:10:33,423 --> 00:10:37,063 Speaker 1: scratch the ground with her hoofs until she heard the 132 00:10:37,103 --> 00:10:41,303 Speaker 1: branches of the trees parting seemingly of their own will, 133 00:10:41,903 --> 00:10:47,703 Speaker 1: as her father appeared and joined her. Her father was 134 00:10:47,823 --> 00:10:52,743 Speaker 1: an impressive size, full of muscle, and the sun seemed 135 00:10:52,743 --> 00:10:57,583 Speaker 1: to gleam off his coat. He was the proudest unicorn 136 00:10:57,703 --> 00:11:04,903 Speaker 1: she had ever known. Hello, father, she said, quietly. Good morning, Sparkle, 137 00:11:05,503 --> 00:11:07,983 Speaker 1: I heard from Bluebell that you are a little upset 138 00:11:08,063 --> 00:11:11,263 Speaker 1: this morning. What seems to be the problem, he asked, 139 00:11:12,543 --> 00:11:16,583 Speaker 1: What seems to be the problem. It's pretty obvious what 140 00:11:16,623 --> 00:11:20,783 Speaker 1: the problem is. I've gone from a gleaming white coat 141 00:11:21,103 --> 00:11:25,423 Speaker 1: to pink and purple stripes. I look like a baby unicorn. 142 00:11:25,703 --> 00:11:28,103 Speaker 1: And I have to go to school soon with new 143 00:11:28,183 --> 00:11:32,783 Speaker 1: classmates and new teachers. What will they think? I will 144 00:11:32,783 --> 00:11:35,983 Speaker 1: be teased by the older unicorns. I just know it, 145 00:11:36,903 --> 00:11:42,623 Speaker 1: she said in a distressed voice. I understand, he replied, 146 00:11:42,663 --> 00:11:48,303 Speaker 1: Simply understand. How can you understand? No one has ever 147 00:11:48,343 --> 00:11:53,903 Speaker 1: got their stripes this late before. That is true, your 148 00:11:53,983 --> 00:11:58,023 Speaker 1: experience is unique to you, But I have had a 149 00:11:58,143 --> 00:12:04,583 Speaker 1: similar experience. Let me tell you a story. When I 150 00:12:04,863 --> 00:12:08,103 Speaker 1: was just a young fool, I had my stripes for 151 00:12:08,383 --> 00:12:13,263 Speaker 1: far longer than the other unicorns at school. Mine faded 152 00:12:13,303 --> 00:12:17,823 Speaker 1: only slightly while everyone else had settled into their final colors. 153 00:12:18,983 --> 00:12:23,423 Speaker 1: I was very frustrated, and to make matters worse, there 154 00:12:23,503 --> 00:12:27,143 Speaker 1: was one unicorn in my class who wasn't very nice. 155 00:12:27,983 --> 00:12:33,863 Speaker 1: He would tease me all the time. Zane said, what 156 00:12:33,943 --> 00:12:37,463 Speaker 1: did you do, Sparkle asked, I went to the bathroom 157 00:12:37,463 --> 00:12:42,983 Speaker 1: and cried. He replied, matter of factly, with an incredibly 158 00:12:43,063 --> 00:12:48,823 Speaker 1: surprised look, Sparkle said, you cried, father, but you are 159 00:12:48,863 --> 00:12:51,863 Speaker 1: the bravest and strongest unicorn in this part of the 160 00:12:51,903 --> 00:12:56,103 Speaker 1: mystical forest, and you never seemed to get upset. Well 161 00:12:56,703 --> 00:12:59,823 Speaker 1: except for that one time when I galloped too far away, 162 00:13:00,263 --> 00:13:03,503 Speaker 1: got lost, and Kai Kai the dragon came and found me. 163 00:13:05,943 --> 00:13:10,703 Speaker 1: There is nothing wrong with crying, Sparkle, And I wasn't 164 00:13:10,743 --> 00:13:17,823 Speaker 1: always this brave. Well what happened, she asked? Old Master 165 00:13:18,023 --> 00:13:21,823 Speaker 1: Sunburst saw that I was upset and just stood there 166 00:13:21,823 --> 00:13:25,543 Speaker 1: with me and talked to me. I don't remember what 167 00:13:25,703 --> 00:13:28,623 Speaker 1: all he said, but I do remember that he gave 168 00:13:28,663 --> 00:13:33,663 Speaker 1: me some advice. He said that all unicorns are unique 169 00:13:33,903 --> 00:13:38,423 Speaker 1: in their own way, that that is something I must accept, 170 00:13:38,983 --> 00:13:43,143 Speaker 1: and that I should be happy with who I am. 171 00:13:43,423 --> 00:13:46,863 Speaker 1: He said, I should be brave and trot back into 172 00:13:46,903 --> 00:13:52,783 Speaker 1: the classroom with my head held tall. I took his advice, 173 00:13:53,503 --> 00:13:58,423 Speaker 1: did just that, and overcame that and the many challenges 174 00:13:58,543 --> 00:14:03,703 Speaker 1: large and small that followed. Being brave is something that 175 00:14:03,783 --> 00:14:07,903 Speaker 1: I learned through experience, and there are many times I 176 00:14:07,943 --> 00:14:12,023 Speaker 1: am still scared, but I am always trying to do 177 00:14:12,103 --> 00:14:19,303 Speaker 1: my best and accepting and learning from my mistakes. Did 178 00:14:19,303 --> 00:14:24,143 Speaker 1: that unicorn ever stop teasing you? Yes? He did eventually, 179 00:14:24,463 --> 00:14:29,943 Speaker 1: and later we became good friends. Who was he? He 180 00:14:30,103 --> 00:14:35,783 Speaker 1: is your uncle Moonbeam, he replied, Uncle Moonbeam, Mother's big brother. 181 00:14:37,223 --> 00:14:42,143 Speaker 1: That's him. I'm not going to tell you that having 182 00:14:42,263 --> 00:14:46,423 Speaker 1: stripes this lad is no big deal, because it obviously 183 00:14:46,583 --> 00:14:49,983 Speaker 1: is to you. All I can say is that to 184 00:14:50,023 --> 00:14:53,503 Speaker 1: put one hoof in front of the other, and eventually, 185 00:14:54,103 --> 00:14:57,663 Speaker 1: I am sure by meeting this challenge and the many 186 00:14:57,743 --> 00:15:00,703 Speaker 1: others you will meet in your life, you too will 187 00:15:00,783 --> 00:15:06,983 Speaker 1: learn to be brave in your own way. Sparkle stood 188 00:15:07,023 --> 00:15:10,463 Speaker 1: there for a few minutes in silence, and then said, 189 00:15:11,663 --> 00:15:14,863 Speaker 1: thank you for talking with me. Father. I still feel 190 00:15:14,863 --> 00:15:20,983 Speaker 1: a little nervous, but I do feel better. Good. Now, 191 00:15:21,503 --> 00:15:23,783 Speaker 1: how about we see who can go back to the 192 00:15:23,863 --> 00:15:28,303 Speaker 1: kitchen the fastest for lunch. I brought some delicious gooseberries 193 00:15:28,343 --> 00:15:31,743 Speaker 1: before I came to see you. Her father said, you 194 00:15:31,903 --> 00:15:35,383 Speaker 1: know I will win. Father, Sparkle said, with a laugh, 195 00:15:36,423 --> 00:15:40,903 Speaker 1: you might be surprised, little one, and off they zoomed. 196 00:15:45,663 --> 00:15:49,143 Speaker 1: And with that, Papa Bear gave Bernice a kiss on 197 00:15:49,183 --> 00:15:53,783 Speaker 1: the forehead, turned off her lamp, and quietly whispered, I 198 00:15:53,903 --> 00:16:01,943 Speaker 1: love you. Little bear, and that's the end of our story. 199 00:16:02,863 --> 00:16:27,183 Speaker 1: Good Night, sleep tight. The band, the back, the the 200 00:16:27,183 --> 00:16:33,663 Speaker 1: the b in the