Once upon a time, lived a little gingerbread man named Gibby. Gibby loved to play! He loved to roll around the kitchen floor, and he loved to bounce on the comfy baking mats. But his mama always said, "Gibby, it's almost bedtime! You need your sleep to grow big and strong."
One evening, Gibby was having so much fun playing hide-and-seek amongst the cookbooks that he forgot all about his mama's words. He tumbled and bounced, giggling as he went, until the sun had almost completely set.
When Gibby finally came back to the kitchen, he saw his mama and papa gingerbread people, their faces a little worried. "Gibby," said Papa Gingerbread, "it's very late. It's time for bed." Gibby hung his head. He had disobeyed them.
Mama Gingerbread smiled gently. "It's okay, sweetie," she said, "but next time, remember to listen. It’s important to come to bed when we ask you to. Now, let's get you ready for sleep."
Mama and Papa helped Gibby into his tiny gingerbread bed, a cozy nook made of soft flour sacks. They read him a story about a sleepy little bunny who finally learned the importance of rest. Gibby snuggled under his warm, sweet-smelling blanket.
As Papa Gingerbread tucked him in, Gibby whispered, "I'm sorry I didn't listen earlier." Papa Gingerbread gave him a warm hug. "It’s alright, my little one. We all make mistakes, but it's important to learn from them. Now close your eyes and sleep tight."
Gibby closed his eyes, feeling sleepy and content. He thought about his fun day of play, but he also thought about how happy he was to be tucked into his bed, safe and loved. He realized that listening to his parents and getting a good night's sleep made him feel happy and ready for another fun-filled day tomorrow.
And so, the little gingerbread man drifted off to sleep, dreaming of sweet dreams and the next day's adventures, knowing that being a good listener brought the best kind of happiness.