The little town of Snoozeville was known for its sleepy men. Not sleepy in a bad way, oh no! They were sleepy in a cozy, ready-for-bed kind of way. Every evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the men of Snoozeville started their bedtime routines.
Mr. Bumble, the baker, would carefully place his freshly baked loaves on the cooling racks. He’d then hum a gentle tune while sweeping the flour dust from his apron.
Mr. Grumbles, the librarian, would organize his books, making sure each one was tucked neatly on its shelf. He’d give a little pat to his favorite, a big, dusty tome about faraway lands.
And Mr. Nibbles, the greengrocer, would water his plants, whispering goodnight to each leafy sprout. He’d arrange his colorful fruits and vegetables in neat pyramids, ready for the next day.
One evening, a little lost firefly buzzed into Snoozeville. She was far from home and couldn’t find her way back. She zipped around the town square, her light blinking frantically.
Mr. Bumble, just finishing his sweeping, noticed the flickering light. "Goodness me," he said, "a lost little firefly!" He knew how important it was to get a good night's sleep, even for fireflies.
Mr. Grumbles, hearing Mr. Bumble’s voice, peered out from the library. He brought a large, empty jar, carefully placing it over the firefly so she wouldn't bump into anything in the dark.
Mr. Nibbles, seeing the commotion, hurried over with a juicy strawberry. "Perhaps she’s hungry," he suggested kindly. He placed the strawberry inside the jar.
The firefly, feeling safe and cared for, settled down on the strawberry. The three sleepy men worked together, using Mr. Grumbles' book of star charts, to figure out which direction the firefly needed to go.
Mr. Bumble, with his keen baker's eyes, spotted the constellation the firefly described. He pointed towards a distant hill, "That way, little one!" he said.
Mr. Nibbles gently lifted the jar, and Mr. Grumbles carefully carried it towards the hill. The little firefly buzzed with gratitude. When they reached the top, they released her. She blinked her light brightly, a tiny thank you, before zipping off towards home.
The sleepy men smiled. They had helped someone in need, and now, it was finally their bedtime. They yawned, said goodnight to each other, and headed home to their cozy beds, ready for a good night’s sleep. Just like the little firefly, and all the other sleepy creatures in the world.