Benny the Banana was a very cheerful banana, but he was a little bit worried. Tonight was his first time sleeping all alone in his fruit bowl! All his banana friends had already been peeled and enjoyed, and he was the only one left. He wished his peel felt a little less…yellow.
Mama Banana always said, "Even a little banana can be brave!" But Benny wasn't sure he felt brave. He looked at the sleepy oranges and the dreaming grapes. They all looked so cozy. He wished he had a special bedtime routine like they did.
Suddenly, a little strawberry named Stella rolled over. “What’s wrong, Benny?” she asked, her voice soft. Benny explained his worries about sleeping alone and wanting a bedtime routine. Stella smiled. “Bedtime routines are fun! I like to have a little leaf-bath and then listen to Papa Strawberry tell stories.”
Benny thought that sounded nice. He didn’t have a leaf-bath, but he *could* try to wiggle and shine his peel! He wiggled and shined as best he could. Then, Stella told him a story about a little seed who was scared to grow, but discovered how wonderful it was to reach for the sun.
As Stella talked, Benny started to feel sleepy. He realized that even though he was a little different – a banana among berries – he was still special. He liked being a banana! He liked his bright yellow peel. He liked being sweet and yummy.
Stella finished her story, and Benny yawned a big banana yawn. He snuggled into a comfy spot in the fruit bowl. “Thank you, Stella,” he whispered. “I feel much better now.”
Stella smiled. “Sweet dreams, Benny!” she said. Benny closed his eyes, thinking about sunshine and growing seeds. He realized that trying new things, like talking to Stella, wasn’t so scary after all. And having a little routine, even just wiggling and shining, made bedtime feel cozy and safe.
Soon, Benny the Banana was fast asleep, dreaming sweet dreams of banana trees and happy fruit friends. He knew that even a little banana could be brave, especially when he had a friend and a cozy bedtime routine. And that’s a very sweet dream indeed.