Bedtime Stories for Kids

by Kaizen Mindfulness Meditations

  “This way, this way!” Miss Squirrel called from a tree branch ahead of me. “Don’t dilly dally! My acorns are getting frozen.”

  “And my food is getting cold,” I whispered to myself. But I didn’t want to say it too loud. I liked Miss Squirrel, and she was nice for helping me at all, but she was also so impatient!

  Jumping on a dead log, Miss Squirrel taps her acorn against the wood. The sound echoes through the forest, like a soft drum.

  “Down here, down here!” She squeaked, waving her furry little hand down towards the opening in the log. “Just climb in through here, Silly Child. Go down the hole until you go up!”

  Walking over to the log, I shake my head. “But Miss Squirrel, down and up are different directions. That doesn’t make any sense.”

  “You asked for my help, Silly Child! Just do it! I promise you’ll go exactly where you need to.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t-”

  “Go, go, go! If you go now, you can go back to your warm tree. But if you wait too long...”

  “What, Miss Squirrel? What will happen?”

  “Well if you climb into this tree, it will be fine. So, go on.”

  Something told me I shouldn’t wait. I got down on my hands and knees in the snow. It was cold yet soothing. Like I was laying down in the arms of Winter herself. But then Miss Squirrel tapped me on the head with her acorn and reminded me what I should be doing. So, I crawled down into the log. I thought it was going to be cold and wet. But it wasn’t! The wood was warm like it had been sitting out on a summer day. It was almost like I was crawling through the seasons. Inside, moss grew. And threw the holes in the top, sunlight was shining through. The smell of grass and wood filled my nose, and small tufts of orange and purple flowers were popping up here and there. I kept crawling down the log, careful not to crush the flowers as I went past. But the further I went, the warmer it got. It felt like I was crawling forever. My hands got all dusty, covered in bits of wood and dirt. I started to get tired, and really wanted to take a nap.

  “How long is this log?” I asked myself even though nobody was around to answer.

  When I looked down, I was looking up. Up into a long wooden tunnel filled with vines, and mossy beds covered in tiny flowers. It looked like it went on forever! I could crawl for a hundred years and never reach the bottom. The top? Which is it?

  “Wait a minute...” I said to myself. “This isn’t right. Maybe instead of thinking about getting there, I should be enjoying the trip!”

  And then everything changed. The sunlight flooded the log, melting any snow that clung to me with icy fingers. I pulled my scarf loose and kept climbing, but I wasn’t tired anymore. Now I was having fun. As I crawled through a small bush of flowers, I met a family of ladybugs just sitting so quietly. They were all sitting around the flower bed, enjoying a refreshing dewdrop.

  “Hello, ladybug family. Do you come to this log often?”

  “Often?” The big mama ladybug said. “We live here. But what about you? What are you doing here, Silly Child?”

  “Well, I’m looking for someone. I don’t know who though. Miss Squirrel told me that they could help me get back home. I guess they know this forest pretty well?”

  “You’re looking for someone? Oh, you must mean Ol’ Lady Owl. She lives at the top of this tree. But you’re going the wrong way. You’re thinking down. You just gotta think up!”

  “What? What do you mean, Mama Ladybug?”

  “If you keep going down, you’ll never get there. But once you start going up, it’ll only take a few moments.”

  “So all I have to do is think up?”

  “Yup! Up! Tall thoughts. High thoughts. Thoughts that are in the clouds! Go on, give it a try.”

  So, I closed my eyes, sitting there and thinking about “up thoughts”. I thought about stairs and escalators. Tall trees that go way above my head. I thought about that one summer trip I took with my parents, and we hiked to the top of the Appalachian Mountains. I thought of Miss Squirrel, climbing up her trees. And then I felt something change. Like the whole world changed. It felt like the time I got on a roller coaster at the amusement park, and we went down the big drop. It felt weird, yet right, all at the same time.

  “That’s right, up thoughts. Just keep those thoughts up, and you’ll find your way to the top.”

  “Oh. I think I get it now. Thanks, Mama Ladybug!”

  “Good luck, Silly Child!”

  I kept climbing and thinking up thoughts. Suddenly the climb felt a lot easier. I wasn’t going down while fighting to go up. And even though I started by going down, now I was getting to the top. Plus, I knew who I was looking for now. Ol’ Lady Owl.

  “I know where I am, and I know where I am going. And I’ll be there soon!”

  “Sounds like you’re on an adventure.” A soft voice said beneath me. And when I looked down, I saw a bright purple butterfly resting on a bright orange flower. His wings opened and closed slowly, and for a second I thought he was a blooming flower. But that’s impossible. Flowers don’t talk!

  “Did you say something, Mister Butterfly?”

  “I said that it sounds like you are on an adventure. But are you going where you want to go?”

  “I don’t know where I’m going! I wandered into the woods. And I guess now I’m wandering out.”

  “But do you really want to wander out? You wandered in, after all.”

  “Well, I just wanted to play in the snow. I got here by accident!”

  “Did you? What is an accident? Maybe you are meant to be here. You just don’t know it yet.”

  “You’re a strange one, Mister Butterfly. I like it! Do you want to come with me? We can find the answers together.”

  “Sure! If you answer me this. Are you going forward or are you going back?”

  “Neither! Time is moving me. I’m going nowhere.”

  “I like that answer. Let’s go, Silly Child.”

  Mister Butterfly flapped his purple wings and flew around my head a few times, before sitting on the top of my head. And then we continued our journey. There wasn’t much more of the log left. We were coming to the end. The sunlight was fading, and the cold was starting to come back. And then a strong wind filled the wooden tunnel, and I knew we were at the top. Mister Butterfly flew off the top of my head and out into the cold. When I climbed out, I looked around and was almost knocked over by a big gust of snowy wind. Mister Butterfly landed on my head once again. I think I heard him laughing.

  “I think we are here.”

  “Oh really? I didn’t know. The blizzard wasn’t a sign or anything. Silly butterfly.”

  “That's Mister Butterfly to you.”

  “Who’s there?!” A loud squawk came from behind us. And when I turned around, I realized two things. We were really high up! And in a big nest.

  I knew we were going up, climbing through the log. But where we came out? We were on top of the world. In the highest branches of a tree. I walked to the edge of the nest and ignored the snow hitting my face. What I saw was another world. This had to be the tallest tree in the whole forest! We weren’t in the trees. We were above them. All of them. The tips of the pine trees pointed up at me like a thousand tiny green waves, in an emerald sea. Speckled with pale snow, I felt like I was riding a mighty ship through an eternal Winter sea. I spread my arms out wide and felt the wind catch me. In the distance, a flock of ravens burst from the trees. Little black stars against a white-and-green sky. And beyond them, the shadow of the Appalachian Mountains. The spine of a great grey sea serpent, sleeping peacefully through the storm. Oblivious to the waves of snow or the icy cold falling on its back.

  “Excuse me! What do you think you’re doing? This isn't a sight-seeing tour, you Silly Child!” The voice squawked again. That snapped me back to the moment. I was so lost in the view that I forgot!

  “Oh no! I’m sorry. I just think it is so beautiful up here, is all. You have such a pretty nest, Ol’ Lady Owl.”

  “Careful
.” Mister Butterfly whispered.

  “Ol’ Lady? OLD LADY! Who do you think you’re calling OLD, you featherless nestling! I’ll have you know I am in the prime of my life! The PRIME!” Ol’ Lady Owl was a big bird. Bigger than Mister Fox even! She had long white feathers that covered her feet and a big fluffy chest. The feathers on her wings and head were a bright gold that shone even in the snow. And her eyes were a piercing amber that told a story all on their own.

  “Oh! I'm sorry again. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, Miss Owl! You’re very beautiful, and so is your nest. I don’t know how I didn't see it earlier. Clearly, you are the wisest, whitest, greatest bird in the whole forest.”

  Ol’ Lady Owl puffed out her feathered chest and hooted softly. She looked very proud and spread her wings wide like she was taking a shower in the kind words. Then, closing her eyes and folding her wings again, Ol’ Lady Owl hoots at me and Mister Butterfly.

  “Weeeeeeeell alright. I guess you’re not such a silly nestling after all. Of course, I have a beautiful nest. I am the wisest bird in the whole forest! I need the highest, prettiest nest.”

  “Nice save.” Mister Butterfly whispers to me, then flies down to sit on my shoulder.

  “Of course, Miss Owl! And that’s why I came here. To speak with you. The brightest, wisest, biggest bird in all the wood. I need your help, Miss Owl.”

  “Oho! Well, doesn’t everyone! Pretty words can only get you so far, Silly Child. What do you need?”

  “Nothing much. Nothing that the Great Miss Owl can’t do. It’s just that I’m lost, Miss Owl. I followed Mister Fox into the woods. We were playing a game. But I lost my way. I couldn’t tell which way my home was. I don’t know which way is forward and which way is back. And then, in a circle of red pine trees, I met Miss Squirrel. I asked her for help, but she was too busy collecting acorns for her family. And so, she told me to climb into this log. And while crawling through the log, I met Mama Ladybug and her family. They told me that you were just the animal I needed. That you’re the smartest, and that you’d know just how to help me. And then I met Mister Butterfly here-”

  “Hello.” Mister Butterfly says ever-so-quietly.

  “And here we are. So, what do you think, Miss Owl? Can you help me? Will you help me? Please, I just want to find my way back home.”

  The wind was cold as it danced around the nest, and snow slowly moved around our feet, like the current of a pale river. I shivered, Mister Butterfly closed his wings tight, and Miss Owl began to sway with the breeze. Almost like she was a part of the tree too!

  “Hmmm. Hmmmmmm.” She hummed softly, closing her eyes. Maybe she was thinking to herself? “Hmmm. Everyone wants something. Every blade of grass needs the sun, every bee needs the flowers, and every bird needs the wind. Everyone needs something, but nobody asks what I need.”

  “What do you need, Miss Owl?”

  The big bird opened one of her bright amber eyes and stared at me. A few flakes of snow settled on her golden beak, then fell off when she started to speak again.

  “What do I need? What do I need? Peace! Quiet! Everyone is always coming to me for something.”

  “Isn’t that what happens when you are the wisest bird in all the forest? We need your help. And only you can help us.” Mister Butterfly said suddenly.

  “Wrong! Wrong, Mister Butterfly. I can’t help you. Now that the child has come into our wood, only one can help. It is the magic of today. Only one can lead the Silly Child out of the forest and to their home. The only one who can go between our world and theirs is the Guardian.”

  “But we don’t know where the Guardian is. Only the Wisest or the Bravest know where the Guardian is.” Mister Butterfly says back, shocked.

  I didn’t know what they were talking about. Worlds? I knew about magic, sure. But who is the Guardian? And that’s what I asked.

  “Who is the Guardian? Miss Owl, Mister Butterfly?”

  “Oh, Silly Child.” Mister Butterfly said in his gentle voice. “You know so much, yet so little. The Guardian is the Guardian. There is no explanation. They simply guard what is sacred in this forest. The oldest trees, the cleanest rivers, the quiet caves. The places we animals love. The places that make the forest what it is. The Guardian is the oldest animal and the strongest. And only a few animals know them.”

  “Yes.” Miss Owl said, nodding slowly. As if she knew something. “Only the Wisest, the Bravest, or the Swiftest know who the Guardian is. And where they are.”

  “And we don’t know who the Wisest, or the Bravest, or the Swiftest are.” Mister Butterfly says sadly. “I’m sorry, Silly Child. I can’t help you.”

  “Wait...” I say, looking between the butterfly and the owl. “Miss Owl. Are you the Wisest?”

  The feathers on the top of Miss Owl’s head stand up, getting all fluffy. Her amber eyes narrow. “What? What makes you say that, Silly Child?”

  “I just know. I don’t know why. But it’s you, isn’t it? I’m right, aren’t I? You’re the Wisest!”

  “Oh! Oh. Maybe you aren’t so silly after all, Silly Child. Maybe I was wrong about you...”

  “What?” Mister Butterfly says softly. “Miss Owl, are you saying you really are the Wisest?”

  “I am!”

  “She is!” I shout, happiness filling my heart. I felt hope again.

  “Does that mean...”

  “Yes, Mister Butterfly. I know who the Guardian is. But I have not seen them in a long time.”

  “Oh no! Miss Owl, does this mean you really can’t help?”

  “Wrong, Silly Child! I can help. I can bring you to the Swiftest. They may know where the Guardian is! They were the last one to see them, after all.”

  “But where is the Swiftest, Miss Owl?” Mister Butterfly asks, leaving my shoulder and flying in circles around my head. In the sunlight, his violet wings were glowing and beautiful.

  Miss Owl points a white feather towards the big mountains in the distance and hoots loudly. “The Swiftest likes to live on the edge of the forest, at the bottom of the Sleeping Serpent Mountains.”

  I gasped, looking at the mountains and then Miss Owl. “In the Appalachians? Oh no! I’ll never make it there and back before dinner. My family is going to be so angry with me.”

  “The Silly Child is right, Miss Owl. It will take days for their little legs to carry them all the way to the Sleeping Serpent Mountains. Isn’t there another way?”

  “Oh, there is. But I’m so tired. And I don’t feel like flying in a blizzard.”

  I took a step forward, raising my hands in a plea. I did my very best to give the puppy dog eyes Mom was always talking about, but I don’t know if I did it very well. “Please, Miss Owl. You’re the only hope I’ve got. You’ve already helped so much. But if you can help me one more time, I’ll love you forever.”

  “A Silly Child’s love? Hmph! Alright alright, just stop with the eyes. I’ll help you. But only because you’re asking so nicely. Just wait here.”

  “Wait here? Okay, if you say so.”

  Miss Owl stood up from her nest then, and I was amazed. She was even bigger when she was standing. Taller than I was! And when she spread her wings and began to flap them, she created a wind almost as strong as the blizzard! Loose feathers and pieces of wood flew out of the nest as Miss Owl rose into the air and dove off the nest.

  “Nicely done, you Silly Child. Very few people get Ol’ Lady Owl’s help with anything. She isn’t the helping type. She prefers to sleep, eat, and be alone. That’s why she’s up here, in this nest. I think she likes talking to the clouds and the stars.” Mister Butterfly said to me after Miss Owl had gone.

  “I think she is very nice. And the stars and clouds have a lot to talk about. Maybe that’s why she is so wise!”

  “Spoken like a truly Silly Child. Maybe you’re right, though.” He whispered, before landing on my head again.

  “I think we should all spend less time listening to what others say about us, and more time listening to what the stars
have to tell us. They’re older and wiser than we will ever be.”

  “You’re smarter than you look, Silly Child.”

  “Thank you, Mister Butterfly.”

  And then a massive gust of wind pushed me down into the nest. Thank goodness I was wearing a warm hat, or my hair would have been flying everywhere, and I would have been freezing! And then, I heard something different. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. The distinct sound of wings flapping, but bigger. Louder. And then the white and gold head of Ol’ Lady Owl appeared over the edge of the nest. But bigger now. Much bigger. She was the size of a horse! Her feathers had gotten longer and shinier too. She hovered there in the air, glowing gold and pushing us back with all the wind her wings made.

  “Well? Are you going to just sit there, Silly Child? I won’t wait here all day. Get on my back already.”

  “You’re back? Miss Owl, what happened to you? How did you get so big?”

  “Oh, never mind that, will you? You’ve got more important things to be doing right now. Like flying across a forest to find the Swiftest. You want to get home to your warm food, don’t you? I’m sure you miss your nest, and I’m starting to miss mine already.”

  “Oh, okay!” I rose from the woven branches that made the giant nest and walked hesitantly to the edge.

  “So how do I...”

  “Just jump, child! I’ll catch you on my back.”

  “Are you sure? We’re so high up. I don’t want to fa-”

  “Are you saying you don’t trust me? The Wisest? If you want to walk instead, you can just slide back down the dead log and-”

  “No! We want your help. I’ll jump.” I stood on the edge of the nest, looking down at the tops of the trees below. I had to be at least one hundred feet in the air. Maybe even two hundred! The tall pine trees looked like tiny sticks from way up here. Looking up, it was like I could almost touch the clouds. And even though the wind and snow were icy cold, my heart started to race, and my palms broke out in a sweat. A small part of me wanted to climb back into the nest and just stay there forever. But another side of me knew that this was important. I needed to be brave. To make this leap. So that I could get back home. If I didn’t, I would just regret it later. After all, it isn’t every day that someone gets to ride on the back of a giant owl in a snowstorm.