Good evening and welcome to Sleep Stories,
A guided meditation to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.
My name is Tara and tonight I'm going to be reading you The Tortoise and the Hare by Janet Stevens.
Before we begin,
Find a comfortable position.
Making any movement or adjustments that you need in order to feel comfortable and at ease.
Maybe adjusting your clothes or the blanket.
If you like,
You can place an eye pillow over the eyes.
Starting to unwind and relax from your day.
Take a soft inhale in through the nose and exhale out with a soft sigh.
And again inhale in and exhale let go.
One more gentle inhalation and gentle exhalation.
All the breath to be natural.
Maybe feeling it flow in and out.
In and out.
Tortoise and the Hare by Janet Stevens.
Once upon a time there was a tortoise and a hare.
Tortoise was friendly and quiet.
He did everything slowly.
Hare was flashy and rude.
He did everything quickly.
Hare liked to tease tortoise about being so slow.
When tortoise ate breakfast,
Hare said,
By the time you finish your last bite,
It will be dinner time.
When tortoise worked in the garden,
Hare said,
By the time you pick those spring flowers,
It will be winter.
One afternoon Hare followed tortoise to the store.
Hare teased him on the way.
By the time you get there,
The store will be closed.
You're so slow,
He said,
I could beat you at a race,
Hopping backwards on one paw.
But I could never beat you,
Hare,
Said tortoise.
Yes you could,
Said tortoises friends.
All you need is a little help.
Then you will race me,
Tortoise,
Asked Hare.
Tortoise pulled his head into a shell.
I don't want to,
He said.
You've got to,
Said his friends.
You've put up with that nasty hare long enough.
We think you can win.
Tortoise didn't want to disappoint his friends,
So he finally agreed to race against Hare.
Tortoise only had two and a half weeks to get into shape before the big race.
Rooster helped him out at the gym.
Raccoon cooked him healthy meals.
Frog went jumping with him every morning.
By the day of the race,
Tortoise was ready.
Animals from all over the county came to watch the tortoise and the hare.
Rooster read aloud the rules and described the course.
Afternoon everyone,
The race will begin when I sound this gong.
The six mile course is marked by red flags.
The first one to reach the finish line wins.
Runners,
Take your mark.
Get set.
Go.
Hare bolted out of sight before tortoise had taken his first step.
The crowd roared and cheered as tortoise inched forward.
Hare was so far ahead that he decided to stop at Bear's house for something cool to drink.
Hare rested and sipped lemonade.
Bear noticed something moving outside the window.
Hare,
There goes tortoise.
What?
Said Hare running out the door.
Hare passed tortoise for a second time.
Then he decided to stop at Mouse's house for a snack.
His hare munched on crackers and cheese.
Mouse said,
Is that tortoise I see out the window?
I'm not worried about that slowpoke,
Said Hare.
I've passed him twice already.
He finished his snack and hopped out the door.
Hare passed tortoise for a third time.
Now he was far ahead.
He saw a pond and decided to stop and rest.
The snacks had made him sleepy.
He was so sure that he could win,
Hare took a nap in the soft grass.
As he closed his eyes,
He dreamed of victory.
Suddenly Hare woke up because the crowd was cheering.
Yay,
Tortoise,
The crowd roared.
Tortoise was two steps away from the finish line.
Slow down,
You bow-legged reptile,
Said Hare as he tried to catch up.
But it was too late.
Tortoise crossed the line just before the tornado of dust and fur that was Hare flew by.
Tortoise had won the race.
Hare couldn't believe it.
That measly shell on legs had beaten him.
Tortoise smiled as his friends carried him on their shoulders.
He had learned an important lesson.
Hard work and perseverance bring reward.
The end.
