Bedtime - The Story of Super-Badger-Repair-Man (For A Very Young Child)

Hello Anais! It’s Grandpa here! And it’s time for bed now so settle
down and get warm and cosy and I’ll tell you a bedtime story while
you fall asleep. Now, tonight’s story is about a little girl, just
like you, and she was going to bed as well. The little girl was
called Polly, but Polly was a sad little girl. Can you guess why
Polly was sad? No? Well I’ll tell you. Polly was sad because her
favourite toy was broken. Her favourite toy was called Bertram Bunny
and he was a soft cuddly rabbit with long floppy ears, big brown eyes
and a shiny pink nose. Polly loved Bertram Bunny and took him
everywhere, but that night, after her bath, when she was in her
pyjamas and ready for bed she went to look for Bertram Bunny but she couldn’t find him anywhere!

“Mummy! Mummy!” she shouted. “I can’t find Bertram Bunny!”

“Don’t worry darling” said Mummy, “I’ll help you look for him, he must
be somewhere.”

And guess what, he was somewhere. Mummy eventually found him behind the sofa.

“How on earth did he get there?” said Mummy. “Maybe Slobbi-Dog” was playing with him and left him there.” (Polly also had a little dog
called Slobbi-Dog who she also loved, just as much as she loved
Bertram Bunny.)

Polly took Bertram Bunny and gave him a big hug, but then she said “But Mummy, where’s Bertram Bunny’s nose?”

Mummy looked at Bertram Bunny and sure enough, Polly was right, Bertram Bunny had no nose! Bertram Bunny’s nose was missing! She looked again behind the sofa, she lifted up the cushions and looked under them, she even got down on her knees and looked under the sofa, but Bertram Bunny’s nose was nowhere to be found.

“I’m sorry sweetheart, I can’t find Bertram Bunny’s nose anywhere.
Maybe Slobbi-Dog ate it. Slobbi-Dog’s a naughty dog.”

“That’s alright Mummy” said Polly, but Mummy could see Polly was very sad.

“Slobbi-Dog’s a naughty dog.”

“Yes he is.” Said Mummy. “But come on now darling, it’s your
bedtime.”

Mummy picked up Polly and Bertram Bunny (without his nose) and carried them both upstairs. She tucked Polly into bed and put Bertram Bunny in beside her. But then Polly said “No Mummy, I don’t want Bartram Bunny in bed with me tonight. It will make me too sad because he hasn’t got a nose and I might cry.”

“That’s alright darling “said Mummy. “I’ll just put him here on the
chest of drawers and then you’ll see him as soon as you wake up.”

“OK Mummy,” said Polly, “But he still won’t have a nose.”

“Well you never know” said Mummy. “It might turn up. Maybe Slobbi-Dog didn’t eat it. I’ll get Daddy to help me have another look around
when he gets home. Don’t worry. But it’s time for sleep now.
Goodnight poppet, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite!”

Mummy gave Polly a big goodnight kiss then went downstairs, closing Polly’s bedroom door behind her.

Polly closed her eyes and tried to get to sleep, but she couldn’t stop
thinking about Bertram Bunny’s nose. Did Slobbi-Dog really eat it?
But if he didn’t where could it be? And even if they found it how
could they fix it back on? How would Bertram Bunny be able to smell
anything without his nose? Maybe Daddy would be able to fix it, he
had a big box with lots of tools inside.

Then, just as she was feeling very, very sleepy, she thought she heard a noise. “What was that?” She thought. It sounded like a soft
snuffling or grunting, a little like the noise Slobbi-Dog made when
he was hunting for the chocolate doggie treats that Mummy had hidden in the garden. But it couldn’t be Slobbi-Dog, he was downstairs
watching TV with Mummy and Daddy. She opened her eyes and to her surprise she saw a dim light over by the chest of drawers where Mummy had put Bertram Bunny. She opened her eyes wider and to her amazement she saw what looked like a furry animal bent over the chest of drawers, and it had Bertram Bunny in its hands and was staring at it intently. She wasn’t scared because it looked like a friendly animal. It had grey fur and a black and white stripey head, but what was really strange was that it seemed to be wearing goggles and it had on an orange jacket and had tools, just like Daddy’s, hanging
down from a belt round its waist. She sat up in bed and called softly
across the bedroom.

“Hello! Who are you and why are you in my bedroom?”

The creature jumped and looked around startled.

“You’re (snuffle) supposed to be asleep. (snuffle).” Polly could tell
already she liked this creature, whatever it was. It had a kind
voice.

“Well I’m not asleep. What are you doing?”

“I’m not (snuffle) doing anything” said the creature.

“Oh yes you are, I can see you.” said Polly.

The creature paused for a moment, then he said “I’m not supposed to
tell you (snuffle). I’ll get in trouble. It’s a (snuffle) secret.”

“I don’t like secrets.” said Polly. “Tell me what you’re doing
or I’ll shout for my Mummy and Daddy. Why are you holding Bertram
Bunny?”

“I’m (snuffle) repairing him.” said the creature.

“Repairing him?” said Polly.

“Yes” said the creature, still snuffling. “It’s what I do. I go into
children’s bedrooms at night while they’re asleep and repair
their broken toys. I’m putting a new nose on Bertram Bunny.”

Then suddenly Polly remembered that she’d seen this type of creature
before, in one of the story books that Mummy and Daddy read to her
from.

“Are you a badger?” she said.

“Yes I am.” he replied. “Have you got any toast?”

“No,” said Polly. “I had beans on toast for tea but I ate it all.”

“That’s
a shame,” said the badger, “I like toast.”

“Sorry” said Polly.

Then the badger said “You’d better go to sleep (snuffle). I’m not
supposed to do my repairs unless (snuffle) the children are asleep.”

“Oh, OK” said Polly. She snuggled down in bed and closed her eyes. But before she went to sleep called out again softly:

“Can I call you Super-Badger-Repairman?”

“Yes, (snuffle), you can.” said Super-Badger-Repairman.

“I’m called Polly” said Polly.

“I know (snuffle)” said Super-Badger-Repairman.

“Goodnight Super-Badger-Repairman.” said Polly.

“Goodnight Polly (snuffle),” said Super-Badger-Repairman.

When Polly woke up the next morning she was excited. She jumped out of bed and went straight to her chest of drawers. And there, sat on top of the drawers was Bertram Bunny with a brand new shiny pink nose. Polly was delighted. She picked up Bertram Bunny and ran downstairs to show her Mummy and Daddy. She was so happy that she played with Bertram Bunny all day long. And that night, just as he was getting ready for bed, she asked her Mummy, “Mummy, I’m hungry. Can I have a slice of toast please?”

THE
END