Bedtime Story (17/10/2018)

Although Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year, I've always loved the Autumn.  So, this week's story is a love letter to that season!

As always, you can also listen to this story as a podcast.

An Autumn Walk

Jasper hadn't wanted to leave the house;

It was warm and he had games to play!

But Mum said it was time to walk the dog,

before the sun sank at the end of the day.

"We're walking him earlier and earlier,"

Jasper told Mum with a groan.

He knew it was because the days had got shorter.

He couldn't wait to be snug back at home.

Outside, the sun was still shining bright,

But a chilly breeze tickled his nose.

"It's a beautiful day to be walking," Mum said.

Jasper just shrugged: "I suppose."

He did like the crisp leaves under his feet

And the way that they crunched when he walked.

And he liked the trails of silvery breath

That came from his mouth when he talked.

He supposed his scarf felt quite nice as well,

As he tugged it halfway up his face.

And he liked finding shiny, smooth brown conkers,

Dotted all over the place.

Jasper could already see the moon in the sky,

Although the sun had a long way to set.

He watched out for pumpkins on people's doorsteps,

Though it wasn't quite Halloween, yet.

He saw stumpy little mushrooms,

Popping out of the ground in groups.

And as the cold wind swirled round his ears,

He thought of his Mum's hot, thick soups.

Jasper picked blackberries as he walked along,

As a tasty Autumn treat.

He thought of his Nan's blackberry crumble;

His favourite hot pudding to eat!

He found some sycamore helicopter seeds,

"You can make those fly," Mum said.

And Jasper twirled them up into the air,

Laughing as they fell past his head.

The sun was starting to sink, now

And the sky was no longer bright blue.

There were streaks of orange, with wispy clouds

And a beautiful, dazzling pink hue.

Jasper watched a hungry squirrel,

As it searched for a fallen nut to munch.

He hoped he wouldn't scare it away,

As through leaves he continued to crunch.

Jasper was getting tired now,

But home would soon be in sight.

The sky was getting steadily darker

And soon, it would be night.

As they opened their front door, 

Jasper suddenly felt sleepy and snug.

He patted the dog and stretched out his arms

To give his mum a hug.

"That was a fun walk," Jasper admitted.

"I saw so many interesting things.

I think Autumn might be my favourite season,

Because of the beautiful sights that it brings."

Jasper settled down with a blanket

And a bowl of warm soup and a roll.

He gazed happily out of the window,

Remembering his Autumnal stroll.

THE END