Barnaby Bear loved the circus more than honey! Every year, when the Sparkling Star Circus came to town, Barnaby would watch with wide eyes. He dreamed of being a circus performer, twirling and tumbling with the best of them. But Barnaby wasn’t very good at tumbling. Or twirling. Or juggling!
This year, Barnaby decided he *would* join the circus. He practiced tumbling, but he mostly rolled into little piles of fluff. He tried juggling berries, but they always ended up squished on his nose. He even attempted to walk on a rope, but wobbled and giggled his way right off! Barnaby felt very sad. Maybe he just wasn’t a circus bear.
Old Man Fitzwilliam, the circus ringmaster, saw Barnaby looking glum. He walked over, his mustache bouncing. “What’s troubling you, little bear?” he asked kindly. Barnaby explained his dream and how he wasn’t good at any of the circus tricks.
Old Man Fitzwilliam smiled. “The circus isn’t just about tumbling and juggling, Barnaby. It’s about everyone using their special talents! What *do* you like to do?” Barnaby thought for a moment. “I love to make people laugh!” he exclaimed. “I tell silly jokes and do funny faces.”
“Wonderful!” cried Old Man Fitzwilliam. “We need a funny bear! We need someone to welcome the audience and make them smile.” And so, Barnaby Bear became the circus’s official greeter. He wore a bright red bow tie and told the silliest jokes before each show.
He wasn’t tumbling or juggling, but Barnaby was making everyone happy. The acrobats waved to him, the strongman gave him a thumbs-up, and even the lions chuckled at his jokes. Barnaby realized he didn’t need to be good at everything to be part of the circus. He just needed to be himself.
That night, as Barnaby snuggled into his bed, he smiled. He had found his place in the Sparkling Star Circus, and it was the best place of all. He learned that even if something is hard, you should keep trying, and that everyone has something special to offer. And sometimes, the best talent is simply making others happy.
Close your eyes now, little one. Just like Barnaby, you have special talents too. Dream sweet dreams of sparkling stars and happy circuses, and remember to always be yourself. Goodnight.