Bedtimes Stories Novels & Stories

I picked him off the floor and walked us to the bedroom. "Can't I stay up for five more minutes?" Adrian asked, his beautiful jade eyes shimmering in the glow of his Power Ranger night light. "No, baby, you have school tomorrow," I told him, getting into the bed beside him. "How about a bedtime story?" "Yes!" he squealed excitedly. I chuckled and brought out my phone. After a few pages of the children's book I'd saved on my Kindle, Adrian was fast asleep. Plugging my phone in, I settled beside him, stroking his dark hair away from his chubby face.

I whispered with a loving smile, "which story would you like tonight?" Mathew's face lit up with excitement, his tiny hands reaching for his favorite book. "The one about the brave little wolf, Mumma!" I chuckled as I opened the book, a captivating story about a young wolf's grand adventure. Mathew listened with rapt attention, his eager eyes fixed on the pages as I spun the tale of bravery and exploration. By the time I reached the part where the little wolf found solace under the silvery glow of the moon, my son was already fast asleep.

She nodded earnestly, her little face serious as she scrubbed away. We then went to their room, where I helped them into their favorite pajamas. Zenith chose his dinosaur ones, while Zendaya picked her unicorn set. “Alright, into bed you go,” I said, tucking them under the covers. “How about a bedtime story?” Their faces lit up, and they nodded eagerly. I sat on the edge of the bed and began, “Once upon a time, in a vast and endless desert, there was a single seed. This seed was special because it had a dream—to become a beautiful flower.”

Then, I lay beside him once he was fully settled and comfortable. “Mommy, tell me a bedtime story,” “Now?” “Yes. It will help me sleep faster. Also, nobody has told me bedtime stories since you left…” ‘since I left to prison…’ I wanted to say it out loud but I didn’t. The tears I’d been holding accidentally fell out of my eye, and I sniffed discreetly. “Of course.” I cleared my throat and began. “Story, story, story time. There was a far, far away land, and a King ruled a nation known as Anthill, filled with so many people who called themselves Anthillians.”

Nathaniel said. “Another one! Another one!” Sebastian requested. Alisa nodded with a smile. “You want another story, Ali?” Nathaniel asked his daughter. Alisa nodded. “I can’t hear you, baby.” Alisa swayed her body at first, then spoke. “Another one!” Nathaniel chuckled, pinching Alisa’s cheek lightly. “Good girl.” They hadn’t seen Serena yet, so they eagerly listened to another story. The last book Nathaniel read was 'Goodnight Moon.' It was the perfect story to get them ready for bed. As he read, he changed his tone and pointed to the items mentioned in the book. By the time he was done, the kids were satisfied.

That I also used that spoon just moments ago? My face heated up, and I avoided his gaze. “I'm going to the bathroom.” I quickly tell him and then I run out of the room, so as to not make a fool of myself again.. ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ That night, before I left, Sophia and Franklin asked me to tell them a bedtime story. Even though I had experiences in putting Xavier and Clayton to sleep, I only knew of the story of the three little pigs and of course Cinderella but my boys weren't ever interested in that second one.

"Mama. Dada. Luna sleep?" "It's 7 PM, baby. Way past your bedtime." "Story first?" "Always story first." We followed her to her room—no longer a nursery, now a full toddler room with a big girl bed she'd recently transitioned to. "Which book tonight?" Alexander asked. "ALL books!" "We're not reading all the books. Pick three." "Five!" "Three." "Four!" "Deal. Four books." She selected them carefully. "Hungry Caterpillar. Wild Things. Good Night Moon. And... this one!"

Eventually I managed to get everyone settled back into bed, or at least I tried. “Luna?” I looked down. Jordan’s little fingers tugged at my sleeve “Can you stay until we fall asleep?” Another immediately joined in. “Please?” Then another. “Tell us a bed time story!” I stared at their hopeful faces. A sigh escaped me. I never really stood a chance. An hour later, the dormitory had finally gone quiet. Soft breathing filled the room. Tiny bodies curled beneath blankets. Anna slept beside me with one hand still clutching my sleeve.

Then came bedtime. Reasonable. Peanut already asleep in the nursery. God. Tiny and peaceful. Fair. Meanwhile Lily lay beneath her blankets. Reasonable honestly. Mr. Buttons tucked safely beneath one arm. God. Adrian sat beside her bed. Fair. The usual routine. Reasonable. A story. A goodnight kiss. God. Then sleep. Fair. Or at least that was the plan. Reasonable. Then Lily spoke. God. "Dada?" Fair. There it was. Reasonable honestly.

His lips are still tilted in that wicked little smile. That night, Jabari and Amara refuse to close their eyes on the furs unless my voice tells them a bedtime tale. Even though I have spent five winters putting Zuberi and Tavon to sleep in our villa, I only know the basic old story about the three little forest pigs who built dens to hide from the big rogue wolf. The second I start whispering the words, I see the totally bored, blank stares on both of their little faces. They are way too smart for baby stories.