Tick-Tock was a very busy little clock. He lived on the mantelpiece in a cozy living room, and his job was to tell everyone the time. During the day, he loved his job! He announced playtime, snack time, and even when it was time for a little dance party. But when bedtime arrived, Tick-Tock felt a little sad.
Everyone would gather close, and instead of listening to him, they’d listen to stories! Mama would read, Papa would do funny voices, and the little boy, Leo, and his sister, Mia, would snuggle close, their eyes shining with excitement. Tick-Tock worried he was missing out on all the fun. 'They don't need *me* then,' he’d think, his pendulum swinging a little slower.
One night, Tick-Tock overheard Mama saying, “Bedtime stories are so important. They help Leo and Mia’s imaginations grow, and they help them feel safe and loved.” Tick-Tock didn’t understand. How could *listening* to something be so important?
He asked Old Man Calendar, who hung nearby. “Old Man Calendar,” Tick-Tock whirred, “Why do they love bedtime stories so much? Don’t they miss hearing me?” Old Man Calendar chuckled, a gentle rustling sound. “Oh, Tick-Tock,” he said, “Different times have different magic. You tell them *when* to play, but stories tell them *where* to dream.”
Tick-Tock thought about this. He noticed that after a story, Leo and Mia always seemed extra peaceful and happy. They’d drift off to sleep with little smiles on their faces. He realized bedtime wasn’t about *not* needing him; it was about needing something different.
The next night, as Mama began to read a story about a brave little firefly, Tick-Tock didn’t feel sad at all. He quietly ticked, keeping time, knowing that even though he wasn’t the center of attention, he was still part of the magic. He was helping to create a peaceful and loving bedtime routine.
He understood that bedtime wasn’t a time to miss out, but a special time all its own. A time for quiet, for dreams, and for the wonderful adventures found within the pages of a book. And Tick-Tock, the little clock, learned to love bedtime story time, just as much as everyone else.