A Different Princess 👑: a mindful bedtime story

0:10 [SPEAKER_00]: Hello, Awe Islanders. [SPEAKER_00]: We're so glad you're here. [SPEAKER_00]: Let's see if you have everything you want to be calm on Awe Island. [SPEAKER_00]: Are the lights in your room dim or off? [SPEAKER_00]: Do you have your favorite blanket or listening buddy? [SPEAKER_00]: But before we begin our story, let's relax by taking a nice deep dragon breath.

0:48 [SPEAKER_00]: Breathe in through your nose, filling up your lungs, and then out through your mouth, imagining you are breathing fire like a dragon. [SPEAKER_00]: Ready? [SPEAKER_00]: Deep breath. [SPEAKER_00]: In and out. [SPEAKER_00]: good job. [SPEAKER_00]: Today, we're going to relax our entire bodies.

1:26 [SPEAKER_00]: First, wiggle all your toes and then squeeze your toes together and relax them. [SPEAKER_00]: Then lift your leg up just a little. [SPEAKER_00]: and let it float down. [SPEAKER_00]: Now lift your other leg just a little and let it float down. [SPEAKER_00]: Let's take another deep dragon breath in and out.

2:17 [SPEAKER_00]: Next, squeeze both your hands into tight fists, and then release them. [SPEAKER_00]: As you relax your hands, reach your arms around your chest and give yourself a big hug. [SPEAKER_00]: Now, make a very grumpy face, squeeze your eyes shut, squinch up your mouth, and hold that grumpy face.

3:01 [SPEAKER_00]: And let it go. [SPEAKER_00]: Now your whole body is relaxed. [SPEAKER_00]: So let's take one final, deep, dragon breath, [SPEAKER_00]: great job everyone. [SPEAKER_00]: I hope you are tucked in nice and cozy. [SPEAKER_00]: We're ready to begin our story. [SPEAKER_00]: Let's be calm on our way island.

4:04 [SPEAKER_00]: Our story today is a different princess. [SPEAKER_00]: It was a bright sunny day on our way island. [SPEAKER_00]: The sunlight shone through the windows of a cute little house on a quiet street. [SPEAKER_00]: The sun beams sparkled on the waters of the shimmering pond in the backyard, warming up all the froggies and pondfish who lived in the pond.

4:35 [SPEAKER_00]: Inside the house, Ali was sitting at the kitchen table watching the shiny pond as she ate for lunch. [SPEAKER_00]: Today was an exciting day. [SPEAKER_00]: Ali was going to Anora Lewis's house for the very first time. [SPEAKER_00]: Ali had played with Anora plenty of times in groups with other friends, but today was extra special.

5:06 [SPEAKER_00]: She was going to play with just Anora and see her friend's house and backyard. [SPEAKER_00]: Ali loved going on new adventures, and Anora did too. [SPEAKER_00]: That was one reason why they were becoming such good friends. [SPEAKER_00]: Ali knew that Anora's house was right at the edge of the Awe Island Forest.

5:34 [SPEAKER_00]: One of Ali's favorite places to go with her family. [SPEAKER_00]: So, Ali was especially excited to play with Anora in her backyard. [SPEAKER_00]: Ali, are you ready to go? [SPEAKER_00]: Ali's mom called? [SPEAKER_00]: Yes, I am. [SPEAKER_00]: Ali finished her sandwich and hopped off the dining room chair.

6:03 [SPEAKER_00]: She put her dirty dishes in the kitchen sink, then headed to the foyer closet to put on her favorite rain boots, so she wouldn't get her nice sneakers all dirty. [SPEAKER_00]: She gave her dad a goodbye hug and ran outside to meet her mom. [SPEAKER_00]: The two held hands as they walked to a Norris house.

6:30 [SPEAKER_00]: Ali loved going on walks. [SPEAKER_00]: Car rides were fun too, but walking let her see all of the beautiful things that surrounded her on Awe Island. [SPEAKER_00]: Ali's mom always reminded her to appreciate the things that she had in her life, especially the fact that she was always surrounded by love on Awe Island.

7:01 [SPEAKER_00]: Today, as she walked hand in hand with her mob on the way to a Norris house, Ali felt extra full of love and happiness and excitement. [SPEAKER_00]: When Ali and her mom got to a Norris house, Ali ran up to the door and knocked really fast. [SPEAKER_00]: She was so eager to see her friend that she was bouncing on her feet.

7:34 [SPEAKER_00]: She saw Anora peek out the side window to see who was at the door. [SPEAKER_00]: A moment later, Anora opened at the door and gave Alley a big hug. [SPEAKER_00]: Hi Alley, Anora said, I'm so happy you're here. [SPEAKER_00]: Allie gave her a big smile. [SPEAKER_00]: I'm happy to be here.

8:02 [SPEAKER_00]: Allie, Allie's mom, and Nora all entered the house through the blue front door. [SPEAKER_00]: A Nora's mom was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of warm tea. [SPEAKER_00]: Allie thought that Mrs. Lewis was always so nice. [SPEAKER_00]: Ali especially appreciated the delicious snacks Mrs. Lewis would make for all the kids when they play around the neighborhood.

8:34 [SPEAKER_00]: Hello Ali, we're glad you could come over today Mrs. Lewis said with a smile. [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for inviting me. [SPEAKER_00]: Ali replied with enthusiasm. [SPEAKER_00]: The girls chatted with one another while Ellie's mom sat next to Miss Stacey and started to talk. [SPEAKER_00]: The two moms gave their daughter's big smiles and nodded at how happy their little girls were.

9:07 [SPEAKER_00]: Let's go play in the forest, a Nora said, we can bring Daisy too. [SPEAKER_00]: Alley's eyes lit up. [SPEAKER_00]: She remembered hearing that Anora had a cute, beagle dog, but hadn't ever met her. [SPEAKER_00]: Anora picked up a pink leash and whistled. [SPEAKER_00]: Alley was impressed that Anora was able to whistle so easily.

9:35 [SPEAKER_00]: For Alley, it was a little hard learning to whistle. [SPEAKER_00]: Daisy Beagle came bounding toward Anora and then sat down politely when she reached Anora's feet. [SPEAKER_00]: Good girl, Anora said, putting the pink leash on Daisy's yellow collar, then Anora offered the leash to Ally and asked, would you like to walk Daisy?

10:05 [SPEAKER_00]: Ally's eyes widened in surprised pleasure. [SPEAKER_00]: Y'all, let me walk her? [SPEAKER_00]: Ali asked. [SPEAKER_00]: Yes, Daisy is a good girl. [SPEAKER_00]: She loves making new friends. [SPEAKER_00]: A Nora said. [SPEAKER_00]: A Nora padded Daisy on the head before opening the door for Ali to step out first, holding Daisy's leash carefully.

10:35 [SPEAKER_00]: The grass was a bright green, like it had just been freshly watered by rain. [SPEAKER_00]: The cool grass felt nice on this sunny, warm day. [SPEAKER_00]: As the girls walked through the grass, Daisy sniffed the ground all the way to the forest. [SPEAKER_00]: I love being outside, Alley said, Me too replied, Anora, Isn't it fun to be outside?

11:17 [SPEAKER_00]: And we haven't even gotten to our game yet, Anora added, Anora held her arms out and spun around in the grassy field. [SPEAKER_00]: What game are we going to play? [SPEAKER_00]: Alley asked. [SPEAKER_00]: I haven't thought of one yet, a Nora said laughing. [SPEAKER_00]: Ali and Nora laughed at a Nora's silliness, while Daisy jumped around, excitedly wagging her tail.

11:50 [SPEAKER_00]: Daisy rolled around in the green grass, a Nora and Ali got on their knees and rubbed Daisy's belly. [SPEAKER_00]: which only made her tale wag even harder. [SPEAKER_00]: The girls continued their journey to the edge of the forest where it met a Nora's backyard. [SPEAKER_00]: They were happy to be with one another on such a nice day.

12:19 [SPEAKER_00]: When they reached the tree line, a Nora found some pretty flowers. [SPEAKER_00]: Alley knew that a Nora loved flowers. [SPEAKER_00]: So she followed right behind Anora to take a closer look. [SPEAKER_00]: Anora picked one flower of each color. [SPEAKER_00]: Red, pink, yellow, and orange.

12:45 [SPEAKER_00]: Just then, Anora's eyes lit up. [SPEAKER_00]: I have an idea, Anora said, [SPEAKER_00]: Anora took some of the flowers by the stems and started to tie them together. [SPEAKER_00]: She made them into a big ring and then placed it on her head like it was a crown. [SPEAKER_00]: Anora gave Ellie a big smile, walking around slowly and waving her hand.

13:23 [SPEAKER_00]: Anora pretended that she was in a big, beautiful, poofy princess dress, and curtsy. [SPEAKER_00]: The pretty flowers looked so nice on top of Anora's braids. [SPEAKER_00]: Ali gave Anora a big smile and placed a hand over her heart, bowing to princess Anora. [SPEAKER_00]: a Nora laughed, you're not supposed to bow, you're a girl.

13:54 [SPEAKER_00]: Why can't girls bow, Ellie asked, because that's what boys do, a Nora said, but why Ellie asked, a Nora thought for a minute as she looked at her friend. [SPEAKER_00]: Allie was dressed in a blue coat, blue pants, and yellow rain boots. [SPEAKER_00]: While Allora was wearing a green skirt and a yellow shirt, with the flower crown on top of her head.

14:29 [SPEAKER_00]: Allora saw Allie smile. [SPEAKER_00]: Allora smiled back. [SPEAKER_00]: as it suddenly occurred to her that it didn't matter whether Ali Boud or Kurtzid, or how she dressed, or if she liked playing with frogs. [SPEAKER_00]: Those things didn't matter to their friendship at all. [SPEAKER_00]: So Anora said slowly, I think, in the old days, boys used to bow and girls used to Kurtzid.

15:02 [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know why it used to be that way, exactly. [SPEAKER_00]: But I guess nowadays, it doesn't matter. [SPEAKER_00]: Ali nodded and said, I guess that's why people think Bows are for boys, because it was like that in the old days. [SPEAKER_00]: But my mom told me that we can be anything we want.

15:26 [SPEAKER_00]: And we can like different things than other people, and that's okay. [SPEAKER_00]: For example, you like pretty flowers, and I like frogs. [SPEAKER_00]: Actually, I like frogs too, a Nora chimed in, and picking flowers. [SPEAKER_00]: Alley and a Nora laughed. [SPEAKER_00]: You see, said alley, as long as something makes you happy and doesn't hurt anybody, it doesn't matter, right?

15:58 [SPEAKER_00]: Alley said, [SPEAKER_00]: A Nora nodded with a big smile on her face. [SPEAKER_00]: She bent down and picked up a cute yellow flower from her flower pile and started to tie the stem into a circle. [SPEAKER_00]: When a Nora was finished, she reached out her hand to Ellie. [SPEAKER_00]: Ali gave Anora her hand, and watched as Anora put the small yellow flower ring she had just made on Ali's finger.

16:33 [SPEAKER_00]: Here's a ring for you, said Anora. [SPEAKER_00]: You can wear it and pretend to be whatever you want. [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you, my lady, said Ali, bowing, maybe I can be the knight, or even your butler or something Ali suggested. [SPEAKER_00]: Yes, said Nora excitedly, or you know what? [SPEAKER_00]: You can be a princess too, but a different kind of princess.

17:02 [SPEAKER_00]: There's got to be all kinds of different princesses, right? [SPEAKER_00]: A Nora said, you can be a princess who vows and wears pants and plays with frogs. [SPEAKER_00]: That sounds great, Ellie said happily. [SPEAKER_00]: The two friends played around in the edge of the forest for a long time, making more flower jewelry.

17:30 [SPEAKER_00]: As they played, Daisy happily barked and played around them. [SPEAKER_00]: Anora suggested that they danced together, like in the princess story she read. [SPEAKER_00]: Alice smiled big and nodded. [SPEAKER_00]: She was so happy to be playing with her good friend. [SPEAKER_00]: Ali and Anora held hands, dancing like the princesses did in Anora's books.

18:00 [SPEAKER_00]: Sometimes, Ali bowed, and a Nora curts it, and then they switched, and Ali curts it, and a Nora bowed. [SPEAKER_00]: Ali couldn't stop smiling. [SPEAKER_00]: She was having so much fun. [SPEAKER_00]: Finally, Ali, a Nora, Daisy, Ali's mom called them in from the house. [SPEAKER_00]: Allie and a Nora ran back to the house, still wearing the flower jewelry they'd made while playing.

18:36 [SPEAKER_00]: Allie's mom patted Allion her head, her curly red hair bouncing. [SPEAKER_00]: I love your flowers girls, said Allie's mom, did you have fun, asked Stacey? [SPEAKER_00]: The girls nodded happily and told their moms about how they'd played princess, and that there were different types of princesses, and how some princesses liked to bow and wear pants.

19:08 [SPEAKER_00]: Then it was time to say goodbye, a Nora ran up to Ali and gave her a big hug. [SPEAKER_00]: Daisy's tail wagged as she knuzzled Ally with her head, saying goodbye in her own way. [SPEAKER_00]: Bye-bye Princess Anora, Ally said, goodbye Princess Ally, Anora said, [SPEAKER_00]: That evening, after dinner, Ali finally felt tired after her exciting day of playing outside.

19:50 [SPEAKER_00]: After she brushed her teeth and put on her pajamas, Ali's mom tucked her into bed. [SPEAKER_00]: Little Zara kitten hopped onto the bed, ready for bedtime as well. [SPEAKER_00]: When Alley's mom turned off the bedroom lights, the little glowing star stickers on Alley's ceiling lit up. [SPEAKER_00]: Alley smiled sleepily and pulled her blanket closer to her chest.

20:29 [SPEAKER_00]: She had so much fun playing with Anora today. [SPEAKER_00]: Alley settled into her bed, and, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, [SPEAKER_00]: and thought of all the things she had to be thankful for.

21:14 [SPEAKER_00]: Ali was thankful to have a warm place to fall asleep. [SPEAKER_00]: Her blankets were nice and soft. [SPEAKER_00]: So soft that even Zara was already asleep right at her feet. [SPEAKER_00]: Puring quietly. [SPEAKER_00]: Alley took another deep dragon breath in and out. [SPEAKER_00]: Alley was thankful to have done something different today, like playing princess with [SPEAKER_00]: Alley snuggled her pillow.

22:09 [SPEAKER_00]: Most of all, Alley was thankful to have such a fun and understanding friend like Anora. [SPEAKER_00]: Alley took one last deep dragon friend in and out. [SPEAKER_00]: and Ali fell asleep dreaming of playing a different kind of princess with a Nora again. [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for joining us to be calm on our way Island.

22:58 [SPEAKER_00]: See you next time.