Leo the lion cub didn't *love* bedtime. He thought it was boring! But Mama Lion had a secret. “Tonight, Leo,” she whispered, “is a Bedtime Quest! If you complete all the steps, you’ll find special Dream Rewards!”
Leo’s eyes lit up. A quest! First, he had to tidy his toys. It wasn’t his favorite, but he zoomed around, putting blocks in the box and stuffed animals on the shelf. “Step one complete!” he roared softly.
Next, Mama Lion helped Leo brush his teeth. “Shiny teeth help chase away any grumpy dream monsters,” she said with a wink. Leo giggled and brushed extra carefully. Step two was done!
Then came a warm bath with bubbly soap. Leo pretended he was a brave explorer sailing on a soapy sea. He splashed and played, but remembered to be gentle. Mama Lion read him a story about a sleepy snail. This was step three.
Finally, it was time for pajamas and a snuggle. Mama Lion sang a quiet song, and Leo closed his eyes. “Now for the Dream Rewards!” he whispered.
Suddenly, Leo felt a warm, fuzzy feeling. He wasn’t sure what the Dream Rewards were, but he felt peaceful and happy. He dreamed of flying with friendly butterflies and building a magnificent castle of clouds.
When Leo woke up, he felt amazing! He realized the Dream Rewards weren’t *things* you could hold, but the wonderful feeling of being rested and ready for a fun day. He understood that doing his bedtime routine helped him have the best dreams.
“Mama,” Leo said, “I love the Bedtime Quest! Can we do it every night?” Mama Lion smiled. “Of course, my little explorer. Because the best reward of all is a good night’s sleep.” And Leo knew, from then on, bedtime wasn’t boring at all – it was an adventure!