Leo the lion cub didn't *love* bedtime. He loved playing! But Mama Lion had a special idea. "Tonight," she said with a twinkle in her eye, "bedtime is a quest!" Leo’s ears perked up. A quest sounded much more fun than just…going to bed.
“Your quest,” Mama Lion explained, “is to complete three little tasks. First, you need to gather all your stuffed animals and tuck them into their beds – the toy box! Then, you need to brush your teeth, making sure every tooth sparkles. And finally, you need to put on your pajamas all by yourself.”
Leo bounced with excitement! Gathering his stuffed animals was easy. He carefully placed Barnaby Bear, Penelope Penguin, and Reginald Rabbit into the toy box, making sure they were all cozy. “Task one complete!” he roared softly.
Next came tooth brushing. Leo sometimes rushed this part, but Mama Lion reminded him, “Remember, sparkling teeth are important for a healthy lion cub!” Leo took his time, brushing up and down and all around. He even brushed his tongue! “Task two complete!”
Putting on pajamas was the trickiest part. Sometimes the sleeves got stuck, or the buttons were hard to do. But Leo remembered Mama Lion’s words: “Try your best, and that’s all that matters.” He wiggled and jiggled, and finally, with a little bit of effort, his pajamas were on! “Task three complete!”
Leo ran to Mama Lion, beaming. “I did it! I finished the quest!” Mama Lion gave him a big hug. “You certainly did, my brave little lion! And for completing your quest, you earn a special reward.” She reached for a shiny star sticker and carefully placed it on Leo’s forehead.
Leo giggled. He loved his star sticker. It reminded him that even though bedtime wasn’t *always* his favorite, trying his best and following instructions could be fun – and rewarding! He snuggled close to Mama Lion, feeling warm and sleepy.
“Now,” Mama Lion whispered, “close your eyes and dream sweet dreams of quests and sparkling stars.” Leo closed his eyes, clutching Barnaby Bear tight. He knew that even though the quest was over, tomorrow would bring new adventures…and maybe even another bedtime quest.