Once upon a time, in a big green forest, there lived a kind bear named Khabaloo. Khabaloo, like all other bears, loved to sleep. But one night, something strange happened. Khabaloo could not fall asleep! He tossed and turned in his soft, warm bed, but sleep would not come.
Khabaloo got up and went to see his friends: an energetic squirrel named Noosha and a wise owl named Darwin. He said sadly, “Friends, I cannot sleep! I do not know what to do.”
Noosha said happily, “Maybe you should exercise a little so you get tired and have a good sleep. Come on, let us run together!”
Khabaloo ran around the forest with Noosha. They climbed the hills and leaped from the trees. After a while, Khabaloo was very tired and thought that now he could sleep. But when he went home and lay down in his bed, he still could not fall asleep.
Khabaloo went back to his friends. This time Darwin said, “Maybe you should hear a good story. I always fall asleep when I listen to calm stories.”
Darwin began to tell a beautiful, peaceful story. It was about a colorful butterfly who lived in a garden full of lovely flowers. Listening to the story, Khabaloo felt calm, but he still could not fall asleep.
Khabaloo felt discouraged and said, “Friends, I do not know what to do. Maybe I will never be able to sleep again.”
Noosha and Darwin thought together, and then Noosha said, “Maybe a cup of warm milk will help you. Whenever I cannot sleep, I drink warm milk.”
Darwin agreed, and all three went to Khabaloo’s house. Noosha warmed the milk, and Khabaloo drank a big cup of it. He felt warm and cozy, but he still could not fall asleep.
Darwin said worriedly, “Maybe you should listen to the quiet sounds of nature. I always love the sound of the crickets and the wind in the leaves. Those sounds calm me.”
Khabaloo went outside his house and sat on a rock. He listened to the quiet sounds of the forest: the crickets, the wind in the leaves, and the gentle flow of the river. These sounds were very calming, but Khabaloo still could not sleep.
Khabaloo became very sad and said, “Maybe I will never be able to sleep again.”
Noosha and Darwin were worried too, but they did not want their friend to give up. Darwin said, “Khabaloo, maybe the problem is in your thoughts. Sometimes too many thoughts keep us from sleeping. You should try to think of good, pleasant things.”
Khabaloo decided to try this way. He closed his eyes and thought of pleasant things: the days he played with his friends, the warm sunny summers, and the tasty taste of honey. Little by little he felt his eyes growing heavy, and he drifted off to sleep.
Noosha and Darwin were happy to see that Khabaloo had finally fallen asleep. They quietly left his house, and while they smiled they said, “Khabaloo, sleep well!”
From that night on, Khabaloo learned that when he could not sleep, instead of worrying and feeling stressed, he should think of good, pleasant things. He understood that sometimes just a little calm and happy thoughts are enough to help us fall asleep.
And that is how Sleepy Bear could sleep well at night again, and live in the forest by day with energy and happiness. His friends were always ready to help him, and he was always ready to help his friends.
Sleepy Bear learned that with the help of friends and happy thoughts, you can overcome any problem. And every night he went to sleep with a smile, sure that the next day would be a day full of new adventures and joys.
The End.