By
Bill Conley
America’s
Favorite Children’s Storyteller and Author
Moral
of the Story:
Little children are full of energy,
excitement, curiosity, and joy, but it is important to learn when to slow down
and rest. Running all day without stopping can make our bodies tired and our minds
cranky, even when we do not notice it at first. Good sleep helps children grow strong, think clearly, feel happy, and enjoy
each new day even more. Nature teaches us that every creature has a special rhythm and purpose,
including nighttime animals like bats. Bats may sleep during the day and fly at night, but children need proper sleep
at night to stay healthy and cheerful. Listening to parents when they say it is time to rest is one of the smartest
things a child can do. Being active is wonderful, but balance is important too. A happy life includes playtime, learning time, family time, and restful sleep.
Deep inside a sunny meadow near a
bubbling brook lived a little gopher named Archer.
Archer was furry, fast, and full of
energy.
In fact, everyone in the meadow said
the very same thing about Archer.
“That little gopher never stops
moving!”
From the moment the sun peeked over
the hills each morning, Archer’s tiny paws were already digging, hopping,
racing, spinning, climbing, and darting around.
He bounced out of bed every morning
shouting, “Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!”
His mother would smile and laugh.
“Good morning, Archer.”
But Archer was already halfway out of the tunnel before she could finish speaking.
Zoom!
Off he went.
Archer loved everything.
He loved racing butterflies.
He loved chasing leaves.
He loved digging tunnels.
He loved rolling down grassy hills.
He loved splashing in puddles.
He loved climbing tree stumps.
And most of all, Archer loved
staying awake.
“I do not need rest!” Archer would
say proudly. “My motor never stops!”
The other little animals giggled
whenever he said that.
One warm afternoon, Archer raced
through the meadow so fast that he nearly tumbled into a patch of wildflowers.
“Whoa!” laughed Penny the Porcupine.
“You almost rolled right over me!”
“Sorry!” Archer shouted as he zipped
past.
“I am too busy to stop!”
That evening, Archer’s mother called
him inside.
“Dinner time!”
Archer gobbled his carrot stew in
three giant bites.
“Can I go back outside?”
His mother shook her head gently.
“No, little one. The sun is going
down soon.”
“But I am not tired!”
Just then, a soft fluttering sound
drifted through the evening sky.
Flap. Flap. Flap.
Archer looked up.
Dark shapes swooped and twirled
above the meadow.
“Wow!” Archer said excitedly. “What
are those?”
His father smiled.
“Those are bats.”
The bats zipped through the air
gracefully as the sky turned purple and blue.
One bat swooped low and landed
upside down on a tree branch nearby.
Archer’s eyes grew wide.
“Hello!” said the bat kindly. “My
name is Benny.”
“You sleep upside down?” Archer
asked.
“We do,” Benny replied with a
chuckle.
“That is silly!” Archer laughed.
Benny smiled warmly.
“Well, every creature is different.
We bats sleep during the day and fly at night.”
Archer gasped.
“You stay awake all night?”
“We sure do,” said Benny proudly.
Archer’s eyes sparkled.
“That sounds amazing! I want to stay
awake all night too!”
His mother quickly shook her head.
“Oh no, Archer. Bats are nighttime
animals. Gophers are not.”
But Archer crossed his little paws
stubbornly.
“I can do it! My motor never stops!”
That night, Archer peeked out of his
tunnel after everyone else had gone to sleep.
The moon glowed brightly above the
meadow.
The bats danced through the night
sky like tiny shadows.
“This is great!” Archer whispered.
He ran around the meadow in circles.
He chased crickets.
He dug tiny holes.
He tried hanging upside down from a
branch like Benny the Bat.
Thunk!
He fell right into a bush.
Still, Archer kept going.
“I am not tired at all!”
But after a while, his eyes started
drooping.
Then his legs felt wiggly.
Then his head bobbed up and down.
Soon Archer accidentally walked
right into a tree stump.
Bonk!
“Ouch!”
Benny the Bat fluttered down beside
him.
“You look tired, little gopher.”
“I am fine,” Archer yawned.
Then he tripped over his own feet.
Benny smiled gently.
“You know, Archer, even bats need
sleep. Every creature needs rest.”
“But you stay awake all night.”
“Yes,” Benny said kindly, “because
that is how God made bats. But you are a gopher. Your body needs nighttime
sleep.”
Archer tried to keep his eyes open.
“I can still go and go and go.”
But then he yawned the biggest yawn
of his life.
YAAAAAAAWN!
Benny laughed softly.
“I think your motor needs charging.”
Archer blinked slowly.
“My motor feels broken.”
“It is not broken,” Benny explained.
“It is simply tired.”
Archer looked around.
The moon suddenly did not seem
exciting anymore.
The grass felt cold.
His paws felt heavy.
And all he could think about was his
cozy little bed underground.
“I think I should go home,” Archer
mumbled.
“That sounds like a very smart
idea,” Benny said.
Archer slowly shuffled back to his
tunnel.
When he climbed inside, his mother
was waiting for him.
She smiled gently.
“Did your motor finally slow down?”
Archer nodded sleepily.
“I think I understand now.”
His mother tucked him into bed.
“What did you learn?”
Archer yawned again.
“Bats are supposed to stay awake at
night.”
“That is right.”
“And little gophers are supposed to
sleep.”
His father smiled proudly.
“That is very true.”
Archer snuggled under his blanket.
“I still like going and going and
going.”
His mother kissed his forehead.
“And tomorrow you can. But tonight
your body needs rest.”
Within seconds, Archer was fast
asleep.
The next morning, the sun rose over
the meadow once again.
And right on time, Archer burst out
of bed full of energy.
“Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!”
His parents laughed.
But this time Archer stopped before
racing outside.
“After breakfast,” he said with a
grin.
“And after a good night’s sleep!”
Far above the meadow, Benny the Bat
smiled as he hung upside down from his tree branch.
“Now that little gopher finally
understands.”
And from that day forward, Archer
still loved to run and jump and play.
But every night, when the stars came
out and the bats filled the sky, Archer happily climbed into bed knowing that
even the busiest little motor needs time to rest.
Moral
of the Story Poem:
Run and play and laugh each day,
But rest your body along the way.
Bats may fly beneath the moon,
While sleepy children dream quite soon.
Strong little hearts need peaceful
rest,
Because a healthy body works the best.
When bedtime comes, do not delay,
So you can shine again the next day.
Questions
for Parents and Children:
- Why do you think Archer became so tired during the
night?
- What are some important things our bodies need besides
playtime?
- What happens when you get a really good night of sleep?
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