Hector and Sunny Help Bizzy The Dizzy Dog 🐶🐕 Best Bedtime Story Podcast

[00:00:10] [SPEAKER_01] Hello and welcome back to Koala Moon, a podcast of original children's bedtime stories and meditations designed to make bedtime a dream. Welcome Ivy from Brisbane, Australia, who loves Hector and Sunny. And welcome Petra and Georgina from Calgary, Alberta, that's in Canada. Thank you for joining us here in the Coco Club, the land of ad-free listening and extra bonus stories each week.

[00:00:38] [SPEAKER_01] Oh, and of course, the one and only place to ensure your story ideas get into the show. Like this Hector and Sunny story that's coming up. It all started from a message from Coco Clubber Charlotte. Hey Charlotte. She told us about her mischievous pup, Bizzy, and we thought he, Hector and Sunny would have a lot of fun together. We hope you love it, Charlotte. Before we begin, a quick message for the grown-ups. If you'd like to support our podcast,

[00:01:07] [SPEAKER_01] enjoy ad-free listening, unlock four bonus stories per month, and much, much more, you can join Coco Club. Subscribe in just two taps via the link in the show notes. But now, here's a quick word from our sponsors. Those of you who struggle to get sleepy at the end of the day, and I know there's a few of you, you might find you have plenty in common with Bizzy, a very energetic hound.

[00:01:36] [SPEAKER_01] Unbelievably, it's even possible that you'll pick up a few relaxation tips from Sunny, of all dogs, who rather surprisingly knows a thing or two about chilling out. So without any further ado, let's get into it. This is Hector and Sunny Help Bizzy the Dizzy Dog by Luke Prendergast.

[00:02:02] [SPEAKER_01] Down at the end of the road lay a great expanse of grass, which everybody called the playground. That was because down at the playground there was a lot of fun to be had. There were swings to swing on, slides to slide down, merry-go-rounds to spin around and make you dizzy. There were benches to sit and have a natter on, and buttercups to pick and hold under your chin, and trees to climb when your parents weren't looking.

[00:02:31] [SPEAKER_01] And in the summer, when the sun was shining, people took lunches in picnic baskets and lay blankets out on the grass and collapsed upon them, bathing in the sun's warm rays. Yep, those were the weird and wonderful things that humans got up to at the playground. But for dogs like Hector and Sunny, it was even better. The playground was a canine haven.

[00:02:57] [SPEAKER_01] There were tree trunks to sniff, holes to dig, patches of long grass to run through. There were bushes to hide in, mud to roll in, fences to crawl under. There were squirrels to bark at and chase and birds to creep up on, so that they went fluttering into the air in a rush of feathers, squawking and looking over their shoulders crossly.

[00:03:22] [SPEAKER_01] Oh yes, birds simply hated it when you caught them by surprise. And of course, Hector and Sunny liked going down to the playground, because it was a great opportunity for them to see all their friends. All the neighbourhood dogs took their owners for walks down to the playground. And while the humans did their human things, the dogs could play.

[00:03:47] [SPEAKER_01] There was Spooky and Ruby, two puppies always chasing a ball so big it could barely fit in their mouths. Ruby trotted around with it proudly, and whenever she dropped it on the floor, Spooky just picked it up again and carried on trotting, quite as if nothing had happened at all. And there was Bruce the poodle, whose owner braided his hair with lots of brightly coloured ribbons,

[00:04:12] [SPEAKER_01] and got rather frustrated when Bruce would run through a hedge and cause all the ribbons to come undone. When that happened, Hector and Sunny couldn't help but melt into laughter. And there was also Belomo, who loved coming to the playground so much, that whenever it was time to go home and his owner chased him down and scooped him up in her arms, he'd just wriggle out, and the whole chase would have to start all over again.

[00:04:41] [SPEAKER_01] Oh yes, Hector and Sunny had a lot of very fun friends down at the playground. But their favourite of all of them was Busy. Busy had a black coat that shone like velvet in the sun, and a white flecked patch on his neck and chest that made it look like he was wearing a bib. He had an inky black nose, which was often wet and shining,

[00:05:08] [SPEAKER_01] and a long black tail that was never caught lying still. It was always wagging. And that wasn't the only part of Busy that wouldn't stay still. Of all the dogs who met down at the playground, Busy had the most energy. Sometimes when they were alone and discussing their friends, Hector and Sunny would wonder to each other what had come first, Busy's name or Busy's nature. Because that was just the thing.

[00:05:37] [SPEAKER_01] They'd never met a dog who was more busy than Busy. Long after all the other dogs got tired and lay down panting on the peripherals of the playground, Busy was still running about to and fro, chasing imaginary butterflies. He raced along the grass, bounded up to new arrivals with his tongue hanging out,

[00:06:01] [SPEAKER_01] and enjoyed collecting up twigs from all reaches of the park and building them into wobbly twig mounds. This afternoon, Hector and Sunny had been down at the playground for almost an hour, while Sunny's mum enjoyed a cup of coffee with Busy's owner. The two of them sat on the bench, their hands wrapped around their steaming paper cups of coffee, and lost themselves in telling each other stories about their neighbours.

[00:06:30] [SPEAKER_01] In the meantime, Hector and Sunny and Busy had run around like crazy, chasing their tails and barking up trees and wrestling sticks from one another. Until, at last, Hector and Sunny collapsed in a panting heap on the soft spread of grass. Come on guys! Busy yipped, eyes needle bright, tail whipping back and forth. Let's carry on playing! Come on! Let's play tag!

[00:07:00] [SPEAKER_01] Tag! He lunged forward and pressed his nose lightly onto Hector's. Tag! You're it! But when Hector tried to reply, all he let out was a big yawn and lowered his head to his paws. We're tired, Busy, Sunny said. We've been rushing about non-stop. Aren't you tired?

[00:07:25] [SPEAKER_00] Tired? Tired? Busy replied. What's that?

[00:07:31] [SPEAKER_01] Sunny laughed. Surely you must get tired sometimes, Busy, she said. At night, at least, when it's time for bed. Busy shook his head. Nope. Not me. I'm never tired. I feel wide awake. Until the moment I fall asleep and then the moment I open my eyes again, I just got to do something.

[00:07:59] [SPEAKER_01] Hector raised his head.

[00:08:03] [SPEAKER_00] So, wait, he said. You never feel sleepy. Busy shook his head. Hmm, not really. Sunny blinked at him. You never like to chill? Zonk out? Kick back or relax?

[00:08:27] [SPEAKER_01] Busy shook his head again. Hmm, why would I want to chill or zonk or kick when there's always so many other things to do? He said. Oh, Busy, Hector replied. Because there is nothing in the world so lovely and so important as relaxing.

[00:08:54] [SPEAKER_01] That's right, Sunny agreed. That's what the world's all about. Up and down, day and night. Yin and yang. You can't properly enjoy being active and busy unless you also spend some time relaxing and recuperating. Those two things go hand in hand. They complement each other.

[00:09:22] [SPEAKER_01] Busy had been listening closely to what Sunny was saying. And when she came to a stop, he was looking at her with the soft light of understanding in his usually wild and glittering eyes. I think I know what you mean, he said. I don't get tired in my body because, well, there's always somewhere to run to or something to chew.

[00:09:49] [SPEAKER_01] But sometimes, I do admit, I get a bit tired in my head. It's like I'm going too fast so I get dizzy and I don't know how to slow down. Sometimes I feel like I'd like a little… Oh, I don't even know the word. Busy trailed off, but Sunny stepped in for him. Peace? She asked.

[00:10:16] [SPEAKER_01] Busy's eyes lit up and a toothy smile appeared on his face. Yes, that's it, he said. That's it exactly. Peace.

[00:10:30] [SPEAKER_00] Well, friend, Hector said.

[00:10:34] [SPEAKER_01] In order to get some peace, you need to spend some time relaxing. You need to take it easy. Busy nodded. But then a frown spread itself across his brow. I see exactly what you're saying, Hector, he said. I need to take it easy. But the only problem is… I don't know how.

[00:11:02] [SPEAKER_01] The three dogs stood or lay in silence for a few moments as the sounds of chirruping birds and the low hum of distant car engines took the place of all of their talking. Then Sunny stood up. She looked over at their owners and then looked at Hector. Say, Hector, I've had an idea.

[00:11:30] [SPEAKER_01] Hector knew that it was best to listen closely to Sunny when she had an idea. So he turned his full attention on her. What is it, Sunny? He asked. Look over there. Our owners are still deep in their chit-chat. They'll probably be sitting there for hours and hours. If history has anything to go by.

[00:11:56] [SPEAKER_01] So why don't we try to teach Busy here how to relax? I bet there's no dog on the planet who knows how to chill out better than we do. Surely we'll be able to teach Busy something. Now Hector's tail was wagging back and forth. That's a brilliant idea, Sunny. What do you say, Busy?

[00:12:24] [SPEAKER_01] Busy nodded his head and grinned.

[00:12:27] [SPEAKER_00] That, he said, sounds like a brilliant plan. All right then, said Sunny.

[00:12:35] [SPEAKER_01] Follow me. And with that, she padded across to the other side of the playground, with Hector and Busy following close behind. She paused at the edge of some trees, where a shaft of rich golden sunlight fell between the branches and spilled like a yellow pool across the grassy ground. Here we are, she said.

[00:13:01] [SPEAKER_01] There's nothing more relaxing for worn out hounds like us than lying flat out in a puddle of warm sunlight. Oh, sighed Hector. You're right, Sunny. Sunny. There's something just so deliciously peaceful about the touch of sunlight on your coat.

[00:13:30] [SPEAKER_01] Sunny nodded. All right, Busy. Watch and follow as I do. First, step out. And she stepped out into the sunlight, so that it caught and dazzled in her russet coat. Then, she went on. You flop down thus. And she flopped down onto the grass.

[00:13:57] [SPEAKER_01] And then, she concluded, you close your eyes and relax. Simple as that. Okay, now you've seen me do it, you have a go. Busy did as Sunny had shown him. He stepped out into the sunlight. He flopped down into it and he closed his eyes. He prepared for the relaxation to come.

[00:14:27] [SPEAKER_01] And for some time, it appeared to work. Yes, there was something undeniably pleasant about lying in a pool of sunlight. At first, Busy felt the soft fingers of sunshine warming his coat and then sinking through his skin and warming him deep down inside of his belly.

[00:14:53] [SPEAKER_01] He heard the birds twittering and the breeze rustling through the leaves above him. And the low murmur of humans talking from somewhere far off. He felt his eyes behind his eyelids growing heavy. His breathing growing deep and heavy. And then he felt something land on his nose. He opened his eyes.

[00:15:22] [SPEAKER_01] It was a tiny green dragonfly and it wanted to play. In a moment, Busy was up and leaping across the playground after the fluttering silver wings of the dragonfly. Hector and Sunny sat up and watched him go. Oh dear, Sunny said. I guess that didn't work. Hmm, Hector agreed.

[00:15:52] [SPEAKER_01] I guess we'll just have to come up with something else. When Busy had lost the dragonfly, he returned to Hector and Sunny. His eyes lit up and his tail swishing back and forth. That was fun, he said. Except, oh dear, I didn't manage to relax. I think I almost did.

[00:16:17] [SPEAKER_01] But then I got distracted and oops, now I'm wide awake. Hector scratched behind his ear with his back paw. As he often did when he was thinking hard about something. He scanned across the playground until his eyes lighted upon the swing set in the other corner. An idea occurred to him.

[00:16:44] [SPEAKER_01] All right, time for another approach, he said. Follow me. And with that, the three of them trotted across the grass until they reached the edges of the human playground. They slipped through the squeaking gate and went up to the swing set. No one was in the human playground today.

[00:17:08] [SPEAKER_01] The school day hadn't quite yet finished and so all the neighbourhood kids were still busy filling their brains with knowledge in their classrooms. Which meant that the dogs had free run of the area. From the top bar of the swing set hung two normal swings, one seesaw swing and one swing that contained a blue netted basket. Which Hector liked to call the boat.

[00:17:34] [SPEAKER_01] There is nothing more relaxing, Hector told busy now, than being rocked back and forth to sleep. Hop into the boat and we can swing you gently back and forth. And you'll feel like you're being swayed on the waves of a soft and gentle sea. Go on, he encouraged him.

[00:18:03] [SPEAKER_01] In you get. And so busy, after taking a little glance around the playground to make sure that no human nearby was going to tell him off, jumped into the blue swinging basket and curled up inside it. Ho-ho, he said. It's already very comfy in here. Hmm, what did I tell you? Hector said happily.

[00:18:33] [SPEAKER_01] And just wait until you start rocking. Close your eyes now. Busy closed his eyes. And a few moments later, the swinging basket began to rock back and forth.

[00:18:53] [SPEAKER_01] Hector and Sunny were either side of it, gently nudging it with their noses to make it swing gently from side to side. And just as Hector had said, as soon as the rocking started, images of waves began to wash into Busy's mind.

[00:19:14] [SPEAKER_01] He remembered the times his owner drove him to the beach, where he could lie in the sand and watch as the waves came rolling into the shore, so that the tide lapped back and forth, back and forth. And then, oh, it was enough to send you off to sleep.

[00:19:38] [SPEAKER_01] Busy stretched out his legs, nestled down into the swinging blanket, and felt so close to the verge of taking it easy. But, when he stretched his legs, the swing swung a bit harder. And then, when he pulled them in and stretched them out again, it swung even harder.

[00:20:09] [SPEAKER_01] And then the rocking boat reached the peak of its arc. And as it began to fall, a whizzing feeling went through Busy's tummy. He started giggling. The funny tummy feeling went away until, at the top of the next peak, it came back. He started giggling more. Oh, he giggled. That's tickling my tummy.

[00:20:38] [SPEAKER_01] This must be what humans feel like when they're on fairground rides. He he he. Hector and Sunny exchanged confounded glances. It's too swingy, Hector told Sunny. I know, Sunny said, raising a bushy eyebrow. Busy's kicking and making the swing swing harder.

[00:21:09] [SPEAKER_01] That's why he's getting a tickle in his tummy. Which means, Hector said, if Busy won't stay still and relax, then the boat won't work. So Hector stuck his head forward and grabbed hold of the swinging boat with his teeth.

[00:21:31] [SPEAKER_01] Holding it tight, he brought it to a steady stop so that Busy could hop out and stare at them both, grinning. Wow, he said. That was fun. But not very relaxing. He let out a little sigh. Maybe I'll never be able to take it easy.

[00:21:54] [SPEAKER_01] But the idea of not being able to achieve something she'd set out to do did not sit well with Sunny. Whenever she committed to something, she wanted to see it through. And she'd committed to helping Busy learn to take it easy.

[00:22:15] [SPEAKER_00] You know what this calls for, Hector? She said. What? Hector asked. She gave him a long stare. The doggy den. The doggy den? Yipped Busy. What's the doggy den?

[00:22:36] [SPEAKER_01] Ah, sighed Hector, nodding. Yes, of course. Why didn't I think of it earlier? The doggy den. You'll see soon enough, Busy. Come on now. Follow us. And with that, the three of them crossed back over the playground.

[00:23:00] [SPEAKER_01] As they went, they all three of them glanced over their shoulders at their owners, who were still immersed in conversation. Now, Sunny's owner was patting Busy's owner on the arm. And a moment later, Busy's owner let out a tinkling laugh. They were quite busy then. They wouldn't notice the dogs had gone anywhere. Hector and Sunny led Busy out of the playground.

[00:23:30] [SPEAKER_01] They looked both ways before crossing the road, then trotted up the street to Sunny's house. Sunny led them around to the back garden, where there was a flap in the door that her owner had made so that she could get in and out easily. In they went, passing through Sunny's kitchen, down the corridor and into the living room.

[00:23:57] [SPEAKER_01] Busy took a brief look around and then whispered,

[00:24:01] Wow!

[00:24:03] [SPEAKER_01] What's that?

[00:24:06] [SPEAKER_00] That, my friend? Sunny said proudly.

[00:24:10] [SPEAKER_01] Is the doggy den. At the side of the living room, next to Sunny's owner's plush reclining armchair, rose what can only be described as a bedtime fort, designed exclusively for pooches. The doggy den was a big, soft mass of fluffiness, with patches of blue and beige and brown cloth.

[00:24:39] [SPEAKER_01] And through its opening, Busy could see that its inside was filled with soft cushions and blankets and snuggly, cuddly toys. It's magnificent, he said. Sunny grinned. She loved it when her fort got the appreciation it deserved. It certainly is.

[00:25:04] [SPEAKER_01] And it's where Hector and I spend our absolutely most relaxing naps. And now, it's your turn to try it. Go on, get in. Busy slinked into the doggy den and found a particularly plump, soft-looking pillow basket.

[00:25:26] [SPEAKER_01] He got into it and curled up, finding that the pillow appeared to have been shaped perfectly for his body. He'd never felt anything so cozy. He was just padding it down and resting his head on the squashiest part of it, when a noise drifted in from outside. It was a woman's voice. What's that? He asked.

[00:25:53] [SPEAKER_01] And a moment later, Sunny's head appeared in the opening of the doggy den. That's the radio. My human always puts on the radio when we all have a nap. There's nothing like the soothing sound of people talking calmly on the radio to help you drift off to sleep. Sometimes, they're talking about the weather. Sometimes, about gardening. Sometimes, they're just telling a story.

[00:26:23] [SPEAKER_01] But whatever it is, the sound of a friendly voice is just what you need to take it easy. She gave a big grin and then added, All right, make space. We're coming in. Soon, Hector and Sunny were curled up beside Busy in the doggy den.

[00:26:49] [SPEAKER_01] From outside, the muffled voice of the woman from the radio came drifting in. Busy could only catch the odd word or phrase, Short evening showers. Warm night. Shepherd's delight. There was something very peaceful about the crackly, constant voice.

[00:27:16] [SPEAKER_01] He felt as though he were being watched over by some radio-bound guardian. He snuggled down into his cushion. Already, the sound of Hector's heavy breathing was filling the doggy den. The golden retriever's eyes were closed. And the hairs beneath his nose were rippling in time with the steady rise and fall of his stomach.

[00:27:46] [SPEAKER_01] Wow, thought Busy. Hector certainly did fall into his nap pretty quickly. He turned to say something about that to Sunny. But he found that she had fallen asleep too. Her tender eyelashes fluttering as though she had dropped down into some pleasant dream.

[00:28:13] [SPEAKER_01] An unfamiliar, beautiful feeling was moving all through Busy. It was as though his body had become very heavy, but in a happy, restful way. He stretched out his limbs, yawned and sank further into his cushion. He felt so cosy, so relaxed.

[00:28:42] [SPEAKER_01] And it was only when he thought that word, that he realised what the feeling was that he'd been feeling. He was relaxed. For the first time in as long as he could remember, Busy was chilling out. So this, he thought, is what they meant by taking it easy.

[00:29:11] [SPEAKER_01] Well, he could get used to this. Busy rested his chin on his front paws and closed his eyes. He could still hear the radio lady, though he was no longer listening out for her words. He could feel Hector and Sunny's warm bodies beside him.

[00:29:36] [SPEAKER_01] And against the backs of his eyelids, he could feel the soft evening light brushing gently. His breathing grew more and more steady. Dreams of dappled sunlight and falling leaves and squirrels nibbling nuts on branches began to swirl around his head.

[00:30:04] [SPEAKER_01] And with that, young Busy fell asleep. It would be some time later that Sunny's owner and his owner would come home. And Sunny's owner would chuckle and whisper. Ah, there they are. And then she would add to Busy's owner. But let's leave them napping for a little while.

[00:30:33] [SPEAKER_01] They look so calm and cuddly in there. Come on, you and I can have another cup of tea in the kitchen. And then the two of them would creep out of the living room and down the hallway. Careful not to disturb the three pups snoozing in the doggy den.

[00:30:58] [SPEAKER_01] After all, as they say, it's best to let sleeping dogs lie. The other hand is down or something about, when the idol is first and that it's best to let it go back Prochized when the size of the sun would be clear.

[00:31:07] It's the magic of lapping. The magic of Francisco is the magic, however, in this world. At this moment, the secret of the mirror is that the magic of the nurse and the more I am. The magic of reverse looks at the nature of the dappled light, the picture of the church, the air will go off the inside. Thank you.