Berry the bunny was quite sure that sleep was the most boring thing ever invented. Every night, when Mummy Rabbit blew out the lantern in the burrow, Berry sat up in bed and said, "One more story! Just one! The very last one!"
Every night, Mummy Rabbit told one more. Then one very last one. Then one very, very last one. But Berry's eyes simply would not close.
Tonight, Mummy Rabbit sat down on the edge of the bed and said, "Tonight I'll tell you a special story. It's about the Sleepy Meadow. But be careful: it's a magic story. Anyone who listens all the way to the end gets heavy ears, heavy paws — and very heavy eyelids."
"My eyelids never get heavy!" declared Berry, opening her eyes extra wide.
"We'll see," smiled Mummy Rabbit, and she began. "In the Sleepy Meadow, the grass grows tall and soft, as soft as a feather duvet. When the moon climbs into the sky, every blade of grass begins to sway, ever so slowly. This way… and that way. The poppies fold up their petals. The ladybirds wander home under the leaves. The bees are already asleep in their hive, humming softly in their dreams: zzz… zzz…"
One of Berry's ears drooped, just a little.
"In the middle of the meadow," Mummy Rabbit went on, even more quietly, "stands an old willow tree. Its branches are so long they reach right down to the ground, and when the evening breeze blows, the willow whispers: sss-hhh… sss-hhh… It whispers: sleep… sleep…"
Berry's paws grew heavy, like two little sacks of acorns.
"And under the willow tree," whispered Mummy Rabbit, "there is a nest of soft moss. And in that nest lies a little bunny whose mummy is very, very proud of her. The little bunny gives a great big yawn… snuggles under her blanket… and her eyelids slowly, slowly…"
Mummy Rabbit stopped and looked down. Berry's eyes were closed. The little bunny was fast asleep, breathing softly, her nose twitching now and then — she was probably already hopping through the Sleepy Meadow in her dreams.
Mummy Rabbit kissed the top of her head. "Goodnight, Berry," she whispered. "That was the very, very last story. For tonight, anyway."
The end. Sweet dreams! 🌙