Nighttime story book
Bedtime Stories | Free 5 Min Bedtime Stories for Kids Online Bedtime Stories
The Classic fairytale of Cinderella: a young girl, mistreated by her step-mother and step-sisters, who finds out that dreams really can come true.
The Classic Fairytale Story of Snow White with a Modern Twist: Who is the “fair”est of them all? Snow White of course!
A Bedtime Story of Honesty, Courage and Truth. If Pinocchio is to become a Real boy he needs to learn how to be honest, brave and true.
A Grimm’s Brother Tale: A miller tells a tale that his daughter can turn straw into gold. A strange little man is willing to help…for a price. Guess his name and he will be gone…but what is his name?
Goldilocks and the Three Bears ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids. Goldilocks finds the three bears cottage in the woods. Should she make herself comfortable?
Hansel and Gretel Bedtime Stories for Kids. When Hansel and Gretel go in search of food, they find a gingerbread house. But who is inside?
A Story of Friendship, Love and Courage. Rapunzel’s Story ~ A Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale. An evil witch has trapped Rapunzel in a tower. Can her long hair or love save her?
A Story of Courage, Justice and Self-Awareness. Merlin the Magician places a magic sword in a stone…whomever can pull it out is the rightful king.
A Bedtime Story of Acceptance and Self-Awareness. A Mama Duck is proud when her six ducklings hatch from their eggs. But one duckling does not look like the others? Is he truly an Ugly Duckling?
The classic Brother’s Grimm fairytale that sparked the Disney adaptation.
A Story of Courage, Learning and Love. The Classic fairy tale: The Little Mermaid falls in love with a prince on shore and she makes a deal with the Sea Witch to become human. But without her voice, how can the prince fall in love with her?
This Classic Folktale is adapted from the original story of “Aladdin” from The Arabian Nights. Aladdin, the Genie and the Magic Lamp work to impress the princess who wishes to be a commoner.
A Story of Courage, Kindness to Animals and Learning. The Classic Tale of a male deer, Bambi, his mother and his adventures learning in the woods.
A Story of Charity, Compassion and Justice, from England. Robin Hood takes part in an archery contest thrown by the Sheriff of Nottingham. Will he realize its a trap before it is too late? One of the many Tales of Robin Hood.
This is the Legend Tale of Maui the Demi-God from Moana. It is part of our Classic Bedtime Stories for Kids Collection. It has been adapted from the Tales of Maui as well as Disney’s version of Moana.
A Bedtime Story in Simple English for Kids. A toy rabbit learns that through a child’s love it can become real.
The Classic Tale of the Snow Queen: Gerda and Kai struggle to fight the Snow Queen and find the balance between Good and Evil.
The Classic Fairy Tale of Sleeping Beauty. Princess Aurora has been cursed by Maleficent. When she pricks herself on a spinning wheel on her 16th birthday, she is put into a deep sleep for 100 years.
Who can save her?
Bedtime Story for Kids: The Gift of the Magi, A Christmas Story. Della and Jim wish to give each other the perfect Christmas present, but how will they come up with the money?
A Bedtime Story of Friendship, Courage and Acceptance. . The story tells of the time Pocahontas saved the life of settler John Smith from her father, Powhatan.
A Cinderella Story ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids
The Classic fairytale of Cinderella: a young girl, mistreated by her step-mother and step-sisters, who finds out that dreams really can come true.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Story ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids
The Classic Fairytale Story of Snow White with a Modern Twist: Who is the “fair”est of them all? Snow White of course!
Pinocchio Story ~ Fairy Tale Bedtime Stories in English for Kids
A Bedtime Story of Honesty, Courage and Truth. If Pinocchio is to become a Real boy he needs to learn how to be honest, brave and true.
Beauty and the Beast Classic Tale ~ Fairy Tale Stories for Kids
The classic fairy tale of a beautiful woman and the monstrous beast.
Rumpelstiltskin ~ A Fairy Tale Bedtime Story for Kids
A Grimm’s Brother Tale: A miller tells a tale that his daughter can turn straw into gold. A strange little man is willing to help…for a price. Guess his name and he will be gone…but what is his name?
Goldilocks and the Three Bears ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids
Goldilocks and the Three Bears ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids. Goldilocks finds the three bears cottage in the woods. Should she make herself comfortable?
Hansel and Gretel ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids
Hansel and Gretel Bedtime Stories for Kids. When Hansel and Gretel go in search of food, they find a gingerbread house. But who is inside?
Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm ~ Bedtime Stories
A Story of Friendship, Love and Courage. Rapunzel’s Story ~ A Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale.
An evil witch has trapped Rapunzel in a tower. Can her long hair or love save her?
The Sword in the Stone: a King Arthur Legend of the Sword Story
A Story of Courage, Justice and Self-Awareness. Merlin the Magician places a magic sword in a stone…whomever can pull it out is the rightful king.
The Ugly Duckling Story ~ Fairy Tale Story for Kids in English
A Bedtime Story of Acceptance and Self-Awareness. A Mama Duck is proud when her six ducklings hatch from their eggs. But one duckling does not look like the others? Is he truly an Ugly Duckling?
The Frog Prince: The Story of the Princess and the Frog ~ Bedtime Stories
The classic Brother’s Grimm fairytale that sparked the Disney adaptation.
The Little Mermaid Story ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids in English
A Story of Courage, Learning and Love. The Classic fairy tale: The Little Mermaid falls in love with a prince on shore and she makes a deal with the Sea Witch to become human.
But without her voice, how can the prince fall in love with her?
Aladdin and the Magic Lamp from The Arabian Nights ~ Bedtime Stories
This Classic Folktale is adapted from the original story of “Aladdin” from The Arabian Nights. Aladdin, the Genie and the Magic Lamp work to impress the princess who wishes to be a commoner.
Bambi Story: A Life in the Woods ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids in English
A Story of Courage, Kindness to Animals and Learning. The Classic Tale of a male deer, Bambi, his mother and his adventures learning in the woods.
Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow Story ~ Legend Stories for Kids
A Story of Charity, Compassion and Justice, from England. Robin Hood takes part in an archery contest thrown by the Sheriff of Nottingham. Will he realize its a trap before it is too late? One of the many Tales of Robin Hood.
Maui from Moana: Tales of the Demi-God ~ Legend Stories for Kids
This is the Legend Tale of Maui the Demi-God from Moana.
It is part of our Classic Bedtime Stories for Kids Collection. It has been adapted from the Tales of Maui as well as Disney’s version of Moana.
The Velveteen Rabbit Story ~ Bedtime English Story for Kids
A Bedtime Story in Simple English for Kids. A toy rabbit learns that through a child’s love it can become real.
The Snow Queen Fairy Tale Story ~Bedtime Story for Kids
The Classic Tale of the Snow Queen: Gerda and Kai struggle to fight the Snow Queen and find the balance between Good and Evil.
Sleeping Beauty Fairy Tale Story ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids
The Classic Fairy Tale of Sleeping Beauty. Princess Aurora has been cursed by Maleficent. When she pricks herself on a spinning wheel on her 16th birthday, she is put into a deep sleep for 100 years. Who can save her?
The Gift of the Magi Story ~ A Holiday Story for Kids
Bedtime Story for Kids: The Gift of the Magi, A Christmas Story. Della and Jim wish to give each other the perfect Christmas present, but how will they come up with the money?
Pocahontas and John Smith Story ~ Folktales Stories for Kids
A Bedtime Story of Friendship, Courage and Acceptance.
. The story tells of the time Pocahontas saved the life of settler John Smith from her father, Powhatan.
The Emperor’s New Clothes Story ~ Bedtime Stories
A Bedtime Story in Simple English for Kids. The Emperor is fooled into believing he is wearing magic clothes which can’t be “seen”.
Mulan Story ~ Tale of Hua Mulan Bedtime Stories | English Story for Kids
A Bedtime Story in Simple English for Kids. Based on the “Ballad of Mulan” and Disney’s Mulan, this is a legend tale about a girl who goes in disguise as a boy and joins the army in her brother’s place.
Short Stories for Kids ~ Folk tales, Fairy Tales, Riddles, Legends, Poems
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More From Stories to Grow By
You will find a story you love. Did you know that Stories to Grow By also provides a collection of World Tales? Folktales, fairytales, fables, and more! Whether you are looking for a story from your own country or culture, or a want to learn about a new one! We have you covered.
Check out our special collection of world tales by clicking HERE.
We are strive to provide more. If you would like to see additional stories, content, and materials, or maybe even have some of your own you would like to share - drop us a line! Contact us directly by clicking HERE.
Stay Up to DateJoin our blog by clicking HERE.
Teaching Resources from Stories to Grow By
In addition to our bedtime stories, we also offer a multitude teaching resources! This includes over 100 free bedtime stories, fairy tales, folk tales, readers theater play scripts, and performance notes!
You will find the bedtime stories and the materials you need for your classroom with Stories to Grow By.
Award-Winning Free 5-10 Min Bedtime Stories Kids Love
Short bedtime stories for kids
We know bedtimes can be unpredictable, however a short bedtime story for kids can help create an easier bedtime routine.
Reading before bed has been proven to help kids have a better sleep. Sooper Books has a range of short bedtime stories for kids, from 2 minutes to 5 minutes.
We have a variety of categories that you and your kids can explore. From classic bedtime stories for kids such as Little Red Riding Hood to original series collections all written by our authors.
Our Bedtime Stories for Kids include stories inspired by Grimm's Fairy Tales, Hans Christian Andersen and Aesop fables.
3 mins. 4-10yrs. Bedtime Stories. A farmer gets his wagon stuck in the deep, squelchy sticky mud. How will he get free?.More
3 mins. 4-10yrs. Bedtime Stories. What lesson can we learn from a stroppy, thirsty fox that doesn't get what he wants..More
2 mins. 4-10yrs. Bedtime Stories. Charlie comes to school with a head full of lice. Amidst the chaos, something happens to his hair..More
3 mins. 4-10yrs. Bedtime Stories. A hare and a tortoise are not exactly evenly matched but decide to have a race.
.More
Free bedtime stories
If you’re looking for bedtime stories to read for free, you’re in the right place. At Sooper Books you can find hundreds of free bedtime stories. We believe everyone should be able to access award winning, quality stories. That’s why we have bedtime stories free for all!
10 mins. 4-10yrs. Bedtime Stories. Three little pigs build houses from straw, sticks and bricks. Which house keeps them safe?.More
5 mins. 4-10yrs. Bedtime Stories. A bedraggled maiden turns up at the King’s castle and the Prince thinks she might be a Princess..More
16 mins. 4-10yrs. Bedtime Stories. As the kingdom prepares for a much anticipated Royal Ball, will Cinderella be able to attend?.More
5 mins. 4-10yrs. Bedtime Stories. A boy who eats sweets morning, noon and night. Then something strange starts happening..More
Bedtime stories to read online
Read bedtime stories online with ease at Sooper Books. We've evolved traditional books with modern technology.
Sooper Books was created to easily integrate into modern day families so we optimised our bedtime stories to read online.
Parents can read our online bedtime stories or have the story read by our narrator.
Our range of kids bedtime stories can easily be read online in a matter of minutes. We also have audio recordings of each story, so your children can either listen or read along with the audio. Bedtime stories to read online are the perfect solution for those busy nights.
Bedtime stories to read online are a great alternative to physical books. With Sooper Books you can easily access and read quality bedtime stories from your computer, laptop, phone or tablet - wherever you may be!
8 mins. 6-10yrs. Bedtime Stories. Hickory Slick guides us through a day in the life of a curdmonkey, the caretaker of a rare grove of cheese trees on a secret island..More
12 mins. 3-5yrs. Bedtime Stories. Sarafina Dinkle, a young Husharoonian, is accidentally delivered to Earth.
There, she meets her new best friend - a moose named Donk..More
9 mins. 6-10yrs. Bedtime Stories. Monty is a young, green-furred monster. Our hero must try to keep his new fuzzy friend out of his boss’s dreaded Flomble traps!.More
9 mins. 3-5yrs. Bedtime Stories. Young Bonnie Fields meets a magical toy, Dumpling, and learns she is the only one who can save the entire dreamy Fluffland society!.More
Bedtime stories read aloud
All Sooper Books bedtime stories come read aloud by our Disney narrator. Explore our huge range of free audio bedtime stories for toddlers and children on Sooper Books. Parents wanting to learn how to read a children's story like a pro will be able to tell a good bedtime story after listening to a few Sooper Books narrations.
Types of bedtime stories
A bedtime story could be a fairy tale, a fable or any short story that isn't too scary. Our kid’s stories come in all shapes and sizes, from silly rhymes to slightly more complex storylines.
Whether you need stories to make your little one laugh, think or simply get lost in a good old-fashioned bedtime story adventure – we’ve got it all!
Our story collection includes brave children, a variety of animals (including a scheming wolf or two) princesses, some long hair and many more family-friendly themes. Can you guess which stories we’re talking about?
Why do we write bedtime stories?
When we first decided to create a bedtime story for kids, we knew we wanted it to be fun, engaging and high quality. We wanted Sooper Books to bring children's publishing into the 21st century. We strongly believe that bedtime stories for kids need to fit seamlessly into modern family lives which is why our free bedtime stories are all online.
It began when we started writing stories for our own family. Then our friends and wider families asked for copies and we started to share Sooper Books with other children.
At Sooper Books we write, curate and narrate bedtime stories for kids so they can enjoy the best quality content, enchanting stories and magical adventures.
Bedtime stories promote a positive attitude to reading and instil a love of books in children from an early age.
Why are bedtime stories so important?
Bedtime stories are an ideal way to end the day, as they help ease children into a peaceful sleep. Bedtime stories are important because they help to create a calming environment, whether bedtime stories are read sitting down or in bed, they encourage us to slow down.
Studies have shown that reading as little as 6 minutes per day can improve our quality of sleep, reduce stress, and sharpen our mental ability. Read our blog on The benefits of reading just 6 minutes together for more of the science behind bedtime stories.
Reading doesn't just help children have a good night's sleep, it helps adults too.
We want bedtime routines to be a positive experience for children and parents alike. Our bedtime stories are designed to inspire imagination and creativity in our young readers.
With so many bedtime stories to choose from, you can always find the perfect bedtime story on Sooper Books.
Read online “Collection of stories for the night. Love. Fear. Pain. Hope”, Alex Fox – Litres
The price of my words
Everything that happened to me at the moment was absurd and defied logic. What am I even doing here? How did you come to such a life?
The damn rain didn't stop. I'm soaked to the skin. The shirt is stuck to my back, but I have to run forward. You can’t stop, otherwise HE will get to me. I don’t want to think about what will happen if ... No! I shouldn't think about it! Now the main thing is to knock him off my trail, hide in a safe place.
Only three lamps lit the street, and even then one of them blinked suspiciously. The entrance appeared ahead. Without thinking twice, I turned there.
– If only a door were open somewhere! - as I repeated a prayer.
The yard was dark and deserted. On the right side, a black cat ran out from under the car. This bastard crossed my path. Don't care, the main thing is to find the door.
Passing by garages with rusty iron doors and local garbage cans, I saw that one of the entrances was open. I was ready to scream with happiness. He ran into it and closed the door behind him. It smelled horribly of rotten meat and urine. The source of such an unpleasant smell was nearby. Near the entrance to the basement, leaning against the wall, sat a bum with a swollen face, he was wrapped in rags. As I approached, I smelled alcohol. I almost vomited, but I restrained myself. I went up to the second floor and leaned against the cold wall. Slid down on it to the floor. There was a window next to it that I didn't have the courage to look through.
I put my hand on my chest. My heart was pounding, it was hard to breathe, which forced me to take deep breaths. Everything inside was shaking. It was hard for me to think clearly.
What the hell did I forget in this disgusting place?! I just wanted her to live. Then I couldn't think of anything else. I heard a surgeon and three nurses called to her in the operating room.
I tried to find out how she was, but everyone was silent. An hour passed, I could not find a place for myself, I walked from side to side. A man in a white coat appeared around the corner and walked towards me. How could I then know that it was not a doctor at all. He asked me what I was ready for for her, and I replied: "At all!". He smiled and I never saw him again.
The same evening when the doctors told me that she had miraculously returned from the other world, I jumped for joy, my appetite returned. I was about to pour myself some coffee and poured boiling water over my hand. Instead of the usual burn, I saw three sixes in the palm of my hand.
Exactly a week later, when she was discharged from the hospital, it all started. HE came for me?
I heard footsteps and the drunken unintelligible voice of the bum brought me back to reality. Goosebumps ran across the skin. It seems that he was dissatisfied with the fact that I occupied his entrance. I plucked up courage and looked out the window.
HE was close, I couldn't see him, but I knew he was there, maybe even looking at me right now. And the bum continued to grumble. After checking my pants pockets, I found a couple of coins and handed them to the homeless man, begging him to be quiet.
I noticed movement! How could I not have seen him before, he was standing in the middle of the street and looking at me. It seemed to me that HE heard my heart beating loudly. Everything went cold inside. My hands began to shake despite my attempts to calm myself. I held my breath. It seemed to me that an eternity passed before HE left the yard.
The bum looked at me attentively for a minute, and then held out a half-empty bottle. In another situation, I would have refused, but now ... I drank the contents of the bottle in one sip. The liquid was so disgusting that I threw up. I coughed. The bum grumbled something and waved his hand at me, returned to the first floor.
I wiped my mouth with my shirt sleeve and quickly left the entrance.
There was supposed to be a church two blocks away. It's safe there. I am sure about that.
Stitched in the side. It was very cold. Stepping through the puddles and trying to figure out where I was, I stumbled, not noticing the drain. In order not to break my face, I put my hands out and, as a result, peeled off my palms. A headless dove lay twenty centimeters away from me, other birds managed to tear its belly open. The urge to vomit shook me, but I managed to contain it. He got to his feet and ran on.
cozy stories for the night • Articles on the website of the publishing house BOMBORA
- Articles
- January 13, 2021
Sleepy tales for adults: three stories to help you fall asleep.
More interesting things below
This story began when Katherine Nicolai, a 17-year yoga teacher from Michigan, noticed that daily bedtime stories helped her cope with her insomnia. Katherine created the Nothing Much Happens podcast with bedtime stories for herself and her friends.
And hit the "bull's eye": the podcast became incredibly successful. Listeners from all over the world wrote thanks for the fact that for the first time in many years they slept through the night, without sleeping pills and nightmares.
Katherine's years of experience in yoga and meditation helps her seamlessly blend storytelling with brain training techniques. She knows how to relax the body, how to help the brain build new sleep habits, and how to make being awake as pleasant and serene as sleeping.
We have selected for you 3 cozy stories from Katherine Nikolay's book "Nothing Special Happens" that will help you sleep soundly and, most importantly, get enough sleep.
The instructions are simple: get as comfortable as possible in bed. You will go to the usual friendly place with a cute coffee shop and a small library where the seasons change, and at the local market you can slowly choose spicy herbs and fragrant pears for a birthday cake.
Inhale deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth.
And repeat. Inhale and exhale. Okay, let's start
The first story. Snowstorm
We were warned the day before that it would snow all night and all the next day. They said they'd sweep up driveways and lanes, fields and intersections, and that it's best to stay safe at home. We agreed. The whole area and the whole town. Everyone supported this decision. Today we got hit by a snow storm.
I lay in bed in the dead silence of the early morning, thinking about the snow that had covered the ground like a thick blanket, lying on the bare branches of the trees, on the roof over my head and on everything you can imagine.
I didn't move after waking up, I just felt how my hands relaxed and warmed under the covers, and I thought how good it was to be a snowy day, and how wonderful it was to know that from last night. I slept soundly and woke up not remembering dreams, feeling that today everything would start from scratch. She slipped her feet into the slippers by the bed, pulled on a long thick sweater, and went to the window.
She slowly pushed back the curtain and enjoyed a small spark of anticipation in her stomach as she looked at the snow-covered ground.
There used to be a lot of snow too. I have seen this a thousand times, reliving the same moment since childhood, how in the morning after a heavy snowfall I stand in my pajamas, pressing my nose against the cold window pane, but to this day it causes me admiration.
The morning light was faint and cast long shadows on the drifts, catching still-falling flakes in smooth flight, and showing the crisp, untouched surface of the snow that covered the ground outside my old farmhouse. I lingered there for a moment, just watching the falling snow, shielding myself from the cold outside with my hands. Enjoyed a gift from mother nature.
As a child, snowy days were associated with excitement and running around with cups of chocolate to the warm kitchen and back. For adults, such days bring relief. You are forced to relax, no one expects anything from you.
In a hectic world that sometimes moves too fast, this respite is great medicine. I stocked up on everything I needed the night before: a pound of fresh coffee beans, a long loaf of bread for sandwiches and toast, a bag of muffins and muffins, a bag of winter oranges and grapefruit.
In the fridge was a jug of fresh juice and a huge pile of green vegetables, and in the closet were neat rows of homemade canned tomatoes and pickles, jars of beans, bags of rice, bags of crackers and pasta. I looked out the kitchen window and told the snow, "Keep falling, I've got enough for a few weeks."
I started making coffee, rummaged through the cupcakes, broke off the corner of one and ate it. “If you are going to do this,” I thought, “then you have to do everything right,” and pulled out a waffle iron from the sideboard. After all, that was part of enjoying the snowy day.
There is finally time to do things that you normally don't, and there is no reason to avoid them.
I poured a cup of coffee, took the right ingredients from the shelves and began to mix and beat them, heating the waffle iron. She settled down at the kitchen table with her favorite plate, napkin and fork. I had a flashback of what my aunt did when we were little. She had a special plate in her closet, painted gold in an old fashioned way and didn't match anything else. And, if you did well in an exam, or you had a birthday, or a bad day and you just needed to feel special and cared for, your aunt put her in your place.
When you sat down, you stood a little taller and felt her warm hand on your shoulder. And dinner turned into a delight.
This memory warmed me as I poured batter into a hot waffle iron. It hissed, filling the kitchen with aroma, and I smiled. With pancakes and waffles, the rule of three always applies. Don't overcook the first, burn the second, and the third will be perfect.
When the plate was full, I sat with a cup of fresh coffee and a warm jug of maple syrup, enjoying my breakfast, watching the snow fall.
I peeled the orange and ate the slices slowly between sips, setting the rind aside, thinking I'd add it later to a simmering pot with cinnamon sticks, vanilla and a couple of cloves. Let it simmer all day to fill the house with a sweet aroma and soften the dry air with steam. I rinsed my plate, tidied up the kitchen and began to walk from window to window, looking out into the street.
In the evening I brought firewood and put it in the fireplace: now it was ready to give warmth. She lit a long match and held it up to the paper and kindling, watching it burn. I added a few crumpled newspapers to the fire and squatted by the fire for a couple of minutes until my face and fingers warmed up.
Now the wind was blowing and I watched small swirling spirals of snow appear and disappear in the air. Maybe later I'll pack up and go for a long walk through the fields and woods, and then reward myself with a cup of something hot; but now I was not going to leave my cozy place. I imagined laying out a puzzle on the table and thinking about it while a movie was playing in the background, or reading for hours, or lying in a hot bath until the skin on my fingers wrinkled.
But first, having eaten my fill after breakfast and warmed up by the fireplace, I stretched out on the sofa, covered my legs with a warm blanket and felt that it would be best to close my eyes, listen to the crackling of logs and forget the long winter sleep.
Sweet dreams.
Second story. Night outside with a dog
I heard the soft rustle of dog paws when my pet stopped by the bed. My ears were already programmed for it. I heard him sigh at night or toss and turn in bed. And when he got up and quietly stood next to me, I heard it too. He is already an old dog with a gray muzzle, and his movements are slow and careful.
Our walks got a little shorter, but today he saw a squirrel running along the pavement and suddenly found some youthful canine energy in his limbs. He pulled me along, following the path. Fortunately, the squirrel was not caught, but he enjoyed the chase. He barked as she ran up the tree and teased him with the language of little animals who know how fast they are.
I stroked his head and told him that he tried his best. Shouldn't we go to the park? I reached out to put my hand on it and lowered my feet to the floor, sleepy but understanding.
As he got older, he sometimes had to leave the house in the middle of the night. I didn't mind at all, wrapped myself in a dressing gown, slipped my feet into my slippers, and we went down the stairs to the backyard. Most of the time, I just let it out and came back a few minutes later, but as I opened the door this time, I felt something in the smell of the air pull me outside. It was pitch dark, deep night, about three o'clock. There came those weeks when the weather tossed between autumn and winter.
The cold air opened my eyes and I lifted them up to see a clear sky lit by stars and a little more than half of the moon. Growing moon, I thought. After the dog returned to me, we stood very still and just listened. Summer nights are filled with the buzzing of beetles, the croaking of frogs, and some unreasonable buzzing that comes from nowhere and is simply present in the air.
Maybe it's the fecundity of growing, swaying plants, or just the trace of life left after a day in the sun, but it certainly sounds loud.
There is a special sound that can only be heard in the middle of the night just before winter, a shocking silence. Not a single car passed by, no one was visible except us, and only the faint rustle of a very light wind stirred in the bare branches high above us. The earth was asleep, its creatures curled up in their burrows, preparing for the new season. The bulbs were deep under mulch and dirt, only dreaming now of the vibrant pinks, purples and yellows they would turn into in spring. We stood still for a while, and I let the cold air tingle my fingers and move up my neck, knowing that I would soon be back in a warm bed.
I took a few very deep breaths, and under the spicy scent of dry leaves, something clean and clear appeared in the air. I thought it might be snow. Tomorrow these clear skies may be thick with clouds. And if we get up again in the middle of the night, which we most likely will, we will be standing under the first falling flakes.
I leaned over and slowly kissed the top of my old man's head, and then we turned and walked back into the house. He stopped to drink water. I drank too and slowly walked up the stairs back to the bedroom. He turned a few times and sat down on the large soft cushion. I covered the dog with a blanket and tucked it in from all sides. In a few seconds he will be asleep. We should all learn this from dogs: they can go from awake to deep sleep instantly and wake up just as easily.
I took off my bathrobe and slippers and pulled back the heavy blanket on the bed, slipped onto the sheets and straightened the covers. I felt the cold gradually leave my body until the tips of my toes were warm again. I thought about the change of season, the gentle breeze outside, and how grateful I was that the dog had taken me along. It's the magic that our friends give us: they take us to places we wouldn't go on our own and show us things we would otherwise miss.
I sighed slowly, rolled over on my side, pulling the blanket over my shoulders, and felt myself sinking into sleep, drawing part of today into my daydreams, falling asleep.
The squirrel swept its tail high up in the tree. The leash was taut because the dog suddenly wanted to run. Growing Moon and sleeping Earth. Probability of first snow.
Yes, I'll probably wake up again tomorrow night, and the day after tomorrow, and so on, but it made me happy.
Sweet dreams.
The third story. Winter day outside the window
From the window I watched what was probably the last big snowfall of this winter.
Snow lay in even layers on the lawns and rooftops of our block. I knew we all wanted spring now, but we could be coaxed into spending another day admiring the quiet charm of falling flakes, squeezing snowballs with gloves and making snowmen, sledding down the hillside in the park.
I didn't know if I wanted to go sledding, but I was ready to watch it from the cozy warmth of the living room, warming my feet with thick socks while the kettle whistled in the kitchen. Watch how a small flock of neighboring children, wrapped from head to toe, dragged sleds and ice-boats on thin ropes.
Even in boots and insulated thick trousers, they somehow skipped forward and called their friends and younger sisters to speed up their pace. The sledding hill was waiting for them.
As a child, there was one in the neighborhood, and I remembered with what delight we rushed from it, crammed into the sled two or three, holding on to their worn-out reins and each other, and shouted, picking up speed. We rolled over or crashed into a pile of snow, jumped up, shook snowflakes from our faces and raced back up.
Sometimes it was cold or someone's parents drove us back into the house to keep warm. We took off our wet coats and hats, put them on the radiator so that they would dry faster, and sometimes, without waiting, put them on again and raced up the hill.
I went into the kitchen, poured boiling water from the kettle into a cup, and tossed in the tea bag, shaking it slowly as I watched the reddish-brown color of the rooibos spread like ink through the water. She went to the sideboard and took out a pack of cookies, bought the day before.
Pushing a cart down the aisles of the grocery store, I was lost in the day's worries when I saw a familiar orange pack of cookies I hadn't eaten since I was a kid. It looked like windmills, light brown, with almond flecks scattered across the dough.
In the blink of an eye, I forgot about the confusion of thoughts that did not let me go, and reached for the pack on the shelf. The inscription was exactly the same as it had been when I was a child, thick and slightly smeared, as if it had been printed on an old-fashioned press. The company logo was a greased windmill and a family name, and when I turned the pack over, I saw that the cookies were still being made in a small town up north.
Suddenly, I felt immense gratitude that this delicacy had ended up here, on the shelf of a nearby store. She smoothed out the wrapper and peered through the cellophane at the cookies. It wasn't perfectly shaped, each a little irregular, some darker, thicker, or paler. They immediately migrated to my cart, and since then I have been looking forward to the moment to open them for tea.
I ate these cookies at my grandparents' house. Looking back, I couldn't remember trying them anywhere else. She took out a plate, placed a stack of windmills on it, and carried them back to the chair by the window. Sitting comfortably and tucking her legs under her, she put the blanket on her knees and took one of the cookies. I brought it to my nose and inhaled the sweet aroma.
There was some spice in it - I smelled the smell of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and a faint cherry-sweet aroma of almonds. I took a bite, the cookies were a little crumbly and dry, but the taste immediately brought me back to my grandparents' kitchen. Their house was small, with a tiny front porch, and nestled in a cozy spot among tall, old trees. Their shadows lurked in every corner, and the rooms were filled with paintings and toys that had once belonged to my father. But in the daytime the house was bright and full of sun.
Grandmother hid the “windmills” in the back of the cupboard, covering the cookies with a jar of flour so that grandfather would not accidentally stumble upon them.
She and I would put a pack of biscuits on the table and each one would dip them into their drink, Grandmother into coffee and I into cocoa, and slowly ate it while watching the squirrels running along the fence.
Maybe I inherited a penchant for quiet contemplation from her. Looking out over the snow-covered yard, I raised my cup to share my memories of our time in the kitchen with her, then washed down the cookies with a slow sip of tea. A few more guys ran to their friends on the hill, and mittens dangled from strings on their wrists. I saw how the snow lay flat on the bare branches of a plane tree in a neighbor's yard and the slanting peach-orange rays of the setting sun spilled across the sky. Yes, I will be happy for spring when it comes, but I was happy to stay at home and watch the snow fall.
Sweet dreams.
More cozy stories, meditations to relieve tension during the day, recipes and crafts in Catherine Nikolai's book Nothing Special Happens. Cozy stories for restful sleep.
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