The Surprise Phone ☎️: a calming story and meditation for bedtime

0:05 [SPEAKER_00]: Hello, Away Islanders. [SPEAKER_00]: Oh, we're so glad you're here. [SPEAKER_00]: Let's see if you have everything you want to become on Away 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]: Before we begin our story, let's relax.

0:27 [SPEAKER_00]: By taking a deep, dragon breath. [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]: Okay, deep breath in and out. [SPEAKER_00]: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

0:58 [SPEAKER_00]: Imagine you are a graceful willow tree, swaying in the gentle breeze. [SPEAKER_00]: Pretend your feet are the roots of the willow tree. [SPEAKER_00]: Feel your roots stretch through the grass and into the earth. [SPEAKER_00]: The warm soil hugs you as your roots reach deeper and deeper.

1:23 [SPEAKER_00]: And you feel safe and secure in the earth to embrace. [SPEAKER_00]: Take a deep, dragon breath in and out. [SPEAKER_00]: Think of your legs, tell me and neck as the trunk of the willow tree, warm energy flows up from the earth into your roots and up through your trunk, now pretend that your arms and head are flexible, leafy, willow branches, imagine them swinging gently in the warm [SPEAKER_00]: Back and forth, as you take one more deep dragon breath in and out.

2:31 [SPEAKER_00]: Great job, everyone. [SPEAKER_00]: I hope you are tucked in nice and cozy. [SPEAKER_00]: And now, we're ready to begin our story. [SPEAKER_01]: Let's be calm, an away island. [SPEAKER_01]: Our story today is the surprise phone. [SPEAKER_01]: It was a Saturday afternoon on away island. [SPEAKER_01]: Chris and his brother Jared sat together on the living room couch, playing a video game.

3:12 [SPEAKER_01]: They had been at it since the morning. [SPEAKER_01]: As the pair focused on the screen, [SPEAKER_01]: Their mom entered the living room with the vacuum cleaner. [SPEAKER_01]: Coming through, boys! [SPEAKER_01]: Chris and Jared pause their game, so mom could vacuum the carpet in front of the television without getting in their way.

3:33 [SPEAKER_01]: The vacuum hummed as she moved it back and forth across the floor. [SPEAKER_01]: After a few minutes, mom finished cleaning the room and left, taking the vacuum with her. [SPEAKER_01]: When Jared heard the shower running in the bathroom, he glanced at the big clock on the wall. [SPEAKER_01]: Wow, we've been playing almost all day, and mom has been working, Jared said, Chris nodded, I think we should do something kind for her.

4:08 [SPEAKER_00]: Yes, good idea. [SPEAKER_00]: What should we do? [SPEAKER_01]: Asked Jared? [SPEAKER_01]: We make cards for her a lot. [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe we could do something else. [SPEAKER_01]: We could help her clean, Chris suggested. [SPEAKER_01]: Jared nodded thoughtfully. [SPEAKER_01]: Yes, we should do that.

4:34 [SPEAKER_01]: But we should probably be helping with chores anyway. [SPEAKER_01]: I want to do something we don't usually do. [SPEAKER_01]: Chris looked around the living room. [SPEAKER_01]: with what? [SPEAKER_01]: I don't know. [SPEAKER_01]: We could draw pictures and hang them everywhere. [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe, said Jared, but Mom just finished cleaning in here.

5:03 [SPEAKER_01]: What if we put on a show? [SPEAKER_01]: We could sing in dance? [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe, Jared thought for a moment than his eyes lit up. [SPEAKER_01]: Hold on, I have another idea. [SPEAKER_01]: What if we made mom breakfast in bed tomorrow? [SPEAKER_01]: People in the movies do that all the time.

5:27 [SPEAKER_01]: Yes, Chris sat up excitedly. [SPEAKER_01]: Mom is always making meals for us. [SPEAKER_01]: We could make her something nice before she wakes up and thank her for everything she does. [SPEAKER_01]: I think it's a great idea. [SPEAKER_01]: Jared lowered his voice to make sure their mom couldn't hear.

5:48 [SPEAKER_01]: Let's make it a surprise. [SPEAKER_01]: But first, we need to decide what we can make. [SPEAKER_01]: Pancakes, Chris exclaimed, we're not allowed to use the stove by ourselves, Jared reminded his brother, waffles, the waffle maker gets hot too. [SPEAKER_01]: Chris thought some more could we make her coffee, he offered, [SPEAKER_01]: We definitely can't make coffee.

6:18 [SPEAKER_01]: It's hot, and it might spill when we carry it to her. [SPEAKER_01]: So we can't make anything hot, at least not without mom helping us. [SPEAKER_01]: Chris said, he paused for a moment, then continued. [SPEAKER_01]: Wait, how would we even bring breakfast to her in bed? [SPEAKER_01]: What if we spilled something?

6:39 [SPEAKER_01]: How would she eat without a table? [SPEAKER_01]: Oh yeah, I hadn't thought about that, Jared admitted, maybe we don't have to bring it to her bedroom. [SPEAKER_01]: We could make something and surprise her with breakfast in the kitchen. [SPEAKER_01]: Okay, said Chris, but what can we make by ourselves?

7:01 [SPEAKER_01]: Let's go look, said Jared. [SPEAKER_01]: With that, the two boys turned off the video game console and the television. [SPEAKER_01]: Then they made their way into the kitchen to search for breakfast they could prepare safely. [SPEAKER_01]: Jared opened the refrigerator while Chris checked the pantry.

7:21 [SPEAKER_01]: How about cereal? [SPEAKER_01]: Chris called when he saw the colorful boxes on the pantry shelves. [SPEAKER_01]: We had plenty of milk, so we could do cereal. [SPEAKER_01]: past the boxes of pasta and crackers, Chris saw a large round container. [SPEAKER_01]: I found some oats, he said.

7:43 [SPEAKER_01]: He was about to reach for the container when he remembered they had limits on what they could do without their mom's help. [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, but oat meal is hot, isn't it? [SPEAKER_01]: Chris said, dejectedly. [SPEAKER_01]: Actually, Mom makes overnight oats sometimes. [SPEAKER_01]: Those don't need to be cooked.

8:05 [SPEAKER_01]: Jared said, oh, how do you make them? [SPEAKER_01]: Asked Chris? [SPEAKER_01]: Jared was about to explain when the sound of their mom's footsteps came from the hallway. [SPEAKER_01]: Jared put his fingers to his lips. [SPEAKER_01]: Their mom came into the kitchen. [SPEAKER_01]: Hair wrapped in a towel.

8:26 [SPEAKER_01]: What are you two doing? [SPEAKER_01]: We're looking for something to make. [SPEAKER_01]: Chris began. [SPEAKER_01]: For us, Jared interrupted. [SPEAKER_01]: We're looking for a snack. [SPEAKER_01]: Their mom smiled. [SPEAKER_01]: Sure, let's open some of those crackers. [SPEAKER_01]: She motioned for Chris to step aside, then reached into the pantry and grabbed a box.

8:51 [SPEAKER_01]: As she poured some crackers into a bowl, Chris asked, [SPEAKER_01]: Jared glared at his brother, and subtly shook his head. [SPEAKER_01]: You mix the oats with milk and yogurt, then leave them covered in the refrigerator overnight to soak their mom explained. [SPEAKER_01]: You can add fruit, too, if you want.

9:17 [SPEAKER_01]: Why do you ask? [SPEAKER_01]: Chris Grind broadly. [SPEAKER_01]: Jared and I thought that it would be a healthy breakfast, right, Chris? [SPEAKER_01]: Jared chimed in. [SPEAKER_00]: Sure, oats, yogurt, and fruit are pretty nutritious. [SPEAKER_01]: Reply their mom. [SPEAKER_01]: Okay, I might want to make some sometime.

9:40 [SPEAKER_01]: Said Jared. [SPEAKER_01]: She handed the boys their bowl of crackers and smiled. [SPEAKER_01]: That sounds like a good plan. [SPEAKER_01]: Here you are, I'm going to dry my hair. [SPEAKER_01]: Once their mom had left the kitchen, Jared's side. [SPEAKER_01]: Chris, you almost told her about the surprise.

10:01 [SPEAKER_01]: Twice. [SPEAKER_01]: I know Chris said, feeling a little embarrassed. [SPEAKER_01]: I'm trying not to, but I got really excited. [SPEAKER_01]: And the words came out before I even realized. [SPEAKER_01]: Well, you have to stop, Jared replied. [SPEAKER_01]: Chris frowned. [SPEAKER_01]: But how?

10:23 [SPEAKER_01]: Jared saw Chris's from. [SPEAKER_01]: He could tell that his brother wasn't trying to spoil the surprise. [SPEAKER_01]: Simply telling him to stop wasn't helping. [SPEAKER_01]: Chris needed somewhere to put the excited words before they popped out of his mouth. [SPEAKER_01]: After a moment, Jared had a sudden idea.

10:45 [SPEAKER_01]: Come with me, he said. [SPEAKER_01]: Jared led Chris to their toy box, and after a bit of digging, pulled something out. [SPEAKER_01]: It was a little white toy phone with wheels, and a bright red receiver on top. [SPEAKER_01]: He held it out to his brother. [SPEAKER_01]: When if you tell the phone instead, Jared suggested, Chris picked up the red receiver, but the phone isn't connected to anything.

11:18 [SPEAKER_01]: I know. [SPEAKER_01]: That's why I think it will help when there's something you are bursting to say you can whisper it into the phone. [SPEAKER_01]: Chris nodded and held the receiver to his ear. [SPEAKER_01]: We're making overnight oats for mom and tomorrow we're going to surprise her.

11:38 [SPEAKER_01]: He whispered Chris smiled. [SPEAKER_01]: It felt good to say this surprise out loud. [SPEAKER_01]: The brothers went back to the kitchen and washed their hands. [SPEAKER_01]: They gathered the ingredients, measuring the oats according to the directions on the package, and adding yogurt, milk, and blueberries, and they stirred everything together, snapped a lid onto the bowl, and placed it in the refrigerator.

12:09 [SPEAKER_01]: Jared tried his best to hide the bowl behind the milk and yogurt containers, [SPEAKER_01]: Later, during dinner, Chris kept thinking about the bowl in the fridge and felt the urge to talk about it. [SPEAKER_01]: Like the words were rushing to his mouth. [SPEAKER_01]: He excused himself from the table and told the phone what he wanted to say instead.

12:35 [SPEAKER_01]: When Chris came back to the dinner table, Jared gave him an encouraging grin. [SPEAKER_01]: His brother had remembered to choose which thoughts to share. [SPEAKER_01]: That night, before going to bed, Chris whispered one last time into the surprise phone. [SPEAKER_01]: Tomorrow, we get to give mom her surprise.

12:57 [SPEAKER_01]: I can't wait to see her smile. [SPEAKER_01]: Chris climbed into bed and snuggle beneath his soft blanket. [SPEAKER_01]: He rested his head on the cool pillow. [SPEAKER_01]: Wrap his arms around himself, [SPEAKER_01]: thinking of everything he was grateful for, he felt grateful that he and Jared had found a delicious breakfast.

13:29 [SPEAKER_01]: They could safely prepare together. [SPEAKER_01]: Christopher deep, dragon breath, in and out. [SPEAKER_01]: for Jared, who had understood how hard it was to hold back his excited thoughts, and helped him find a place to share them until the right time. [SPEAKER_01]: Chris took another deep dragon breath, and ended up [SPEAKER_01]: Most of all, Chris felt grateful for his mother and for everything she did to take care of their family.

14:24 [SPEAKER_01]: He was excited to show her how much they loved her. [SPEAKER_01]: Chris pulled the blanket beneath his chin and took one final deep dragon breath in and out. [SPEAKER_01]: his body relaxed, his thoughts grew quiet, and crisp, fall asleep, dreaming of his mom, seeing the blueberry overnight oats, and smiling at their happy surprise.

15:04 [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you for joining us to be calm on our way island. [SPEAKER_01]: See you next time.