transcript

Speaker 1:
[00:10] Hello and welcome back to Koala Moon, a podcast of original bedtime stories and sleep meditations for kids, designed to make bedtime a dream. In tonight's tale, our curious little Koko and Kira are trying out yet another new hobby. I know, aren't they great at trying new things? First it was tennis, then ballet, and this time we're going to join them on a trip to Sweet Pine Ranch where they'll learn all about horse riding. It turns out there's a secret path between the ranch and Sleepy Forest, which means that Sweet Tea can clip-clop down to see them whenever she wants. Isn't that marvellous? If after listening to this you want more Koko, head over to Koala Tots because there you can listen to a sweet story of when a very, very young Koko meets a freshly born baby lamb called Lavender and they soon become fast friends. But back to tonight, before we head to Sleepy Forest to find them, let's just relax back into bed and get ready to listen. Try to let your whole body go floppy and heavy on the mattress. See if you can steady your breathing a bit. Breathe in and out, in and out. Relax your face, your forehead, your shoulders, and hips, knees, hands, and feet. Everything. There we are. Your body is nice and heavy, and you feel lovely and warm. Let's go join them now. This is Koko and Kira Visit Sweet Pine Ranch by Luke Prendergast. Deep in the heart of a faraway forest stood a cozy wooden cabin. Inside the cabin lived a family of koalas. There was Koko and his parents, and his grandparents, and also Koko's little sister, Kira the Panda. Oftentimes, Koko and Kira would play a game out in the forest, where one of them would pretend to be some great big animal, and the other one would pretend to be a tiny little one, and they'd ride around on each other's backs. For instance, Kira would pretend to be an elephant, and Koko a little chimpanzee. He'd climb onto her back, and she'd lumber around, flapping her arm about in front of her face as though it were an elephant's trunk. Or else, Koko would pretend to be a moose, finding two slender twigs from a silver birch tree, and affixing them to the top of his head like antlers. And Kira would then pretend to be a little field vole, and off they'd go, lumbering through the forest. The only problem, of course, was that they weren't different sizes. In fact, they were pretty much identical in shape and stature to one another. So whoever was playing the bigger animal, carrying the burden on their back, would get tired quickly, and then the other would have to hop off and stand around waiting for the other to catch their breath, before hopping back on and carrying on with their game. All that stopping and starting wasn't what it would be like if they were actually riding an elephant or a moose, or any other animal for that matter. But it was no big deal, really. One afternoon, Koko and Kira were joking around in the forest when they bumped into a young horse called Sweet Tea. This time, Kira was riding on Koko's back. Koko was pretending to be an antelope, bouncing this way and that while Kira, a poor little sparrow, held on for dear life. When Sweet Tea appeared in front of them, her chestnut coat glistening in the soft spring sunlight, the two of them completely lost control. Koko hopped one way, Kira went the other, and they ended up in a giggly heap on the floor. Oh dear! said Sweet Tea, giving a laughing little neigh. That's not how you all ride at all. If you're going to wibble wobble around like that, then no wonder you end up tumbling down on the ground all in a tangle. Koko and Kira looked up at Sweet Tea still giggling. They were covered in bits of leaf and dirt and moss from the forest floor. Sweet Tea lowered her head down to them and helped them up. And one by one, they dusted themselves off. What you two need, Sweet Tea went on, once Koko and Kira were back safely on their feet, are some proper riding lessons. Riding lessons, Kira repeated, what do you mean? Why, said Sweet Tea, blowing a raspberry with her lips. Horseback riding lessons, of course. Haven't you ever heard of horseback riding lessons? Koko and Kira glanced at each other, then looked back into Sweet Tea's confused face. They shook their heads. Well, I never, said Sweet Tea. Horseback riding is everything that Sweet Pine Ranch is all about. The fact was that Sweet Tea didn't come from Sleepy Forest at all. She came from a ranch in Sweet Pine, Texas, in the land populated not only by animals, but by humans as well. No one had quite worked out how Sleepy Forest and the world of humans were related to each other. Some speculated that they existed together in the same world. Others disagreed and argued that they were two different worlds altogether. Most said that it was likely one of those mysteries would simply never be solved. Either way, it didn't so much matter for Sweet Tea how her world and Sleepy Forest were related because she had the ability to move between the two of them rather easily. You see, not long ago, Sweet Tea had found a beautiful arch in the woods on Sweet Pine Ranch, a natural one of red and yellow roses growing together over the pine trees. And she had discovered that on trotting under the arch, she was no longer in Sweet Pine, Texas, but had passed through some magical portal and had ended up in Sleepy Forest instead. That's how she met Koko and Kira and how they all became friends. Sweet Tea could go back and forth between Sweet Pine and Sleepy Forest as much as she wanted. It was easy as pie, but Koko and Kira, up until now, had never gone to visit the Sweet Pine Ranch. Say, said Sweet Tea, shaking her mane as a bright idea struck her, why don't you come and visit Sweet Pine Ranch, and we can teach you how to ride properly? Koko and Kira's eyes shone. Yes, please! They cried in unison. So Koko, Kira and Sweet Tea trotted off through Sleepy Forest, back to the cosy cabin where the family of Koalas lived. Koko and Kira's parents were glad to see the young Chestnut mare and gave her a slice of freshly made cinnamon carrot cake to eat. There was nothing Sweet Tea loved more than a juicy carrot. Then they told their mum their idea about visiting Sweet Pine Ranch and learning how to ride. Their mum pressed her paws together under her chin. She thought that was a wonderful idea. And, she said, going over to the store cupboard in the corner of the kitchen, she believed they had some old boots that would be just perfect for Koko and Kira to ride in. And out of the cupboard, she pulled two pairs of brown leather riding boots, which, after being dusted off a little, shone as good as new. Those will be perfect, Sweet Tea agreed. And so, Koko and Kira pulled on their new boots. Very smart indeed, opined their father. And a moment later, they were headed out with Sweet Tea. She led them through sleepy forest amongst the shivering birches and the dark ancient oaks who were more like kindly great-great-grandparents than trees. Until, at some point, Koko looked around, blinking in wonder. The birches and the oaks had disappeared. Instead, they were surrounded by tall pine trees, the likes of which he'd never seen in sleepy forest before. Their trunks were narrow as poles and the same soft brown as Sweet Tea's coat, but rough and pockmarked. And at their crowns, they bloomed into sparse domes of needly leaves. They were really rather beautiful, Koko thought. Sweet Tea, he whispered, with wisps of surprise in his voice. Have we left the sleepy forest? Yes, Sweet Tea replied with a little smile. We sure have. We passed out of Sleepy Forest a while back, and now we're in Sweet Pine Ranch. Look. And she pointed with her nose up ahead. They had broken out of the line of pines, and up ahead spread a rolling meadow, sprinkled with buttercups and daisies. At the bottom of the slope stood a grand ranch house, with red painted window frames and a veranda encircling the outside. Down from the house rose the higgledy-piggledy stable yard, and this is where Sweet Tea led Koko and Kira. With each step closer they took they could see more. The rows of stables with their swinging doors and bolts, some of them empty, some of them occupied by the curious heads of horses munching hay. There was a central courtyard with bales of straw stacked on one side, a green hosepipe curled up in the corner, and many multi-coloured rosettes piled up all along the walls, signs of all the competitions the horses and ponies of Sweet Pine Ranch had won. Sweet Tea led Koko and Kira around the stable block, introducing them all to the horses. There was Smokey, the old grey stallion, and Daffodil, a young palomino. There were the two sisters, Snowdrop and Star, one white as the snow and one black as night, who had their noses tucked into a bucket of apples. And then there was Buck, an excitable young colt who cantered about in delight to meet two new friends. And, of course, Sweet T told them, there's Georgia, our beloved human who lives in the ranch house there and takes care of us. But she's off visiting a friend in Arkansas for the weekend, so it's just us here for now. You'll have to come back again and meet Georgia. She's just wonderful. But for now, it was time for them to learn how to ride. With a clippity clop, Snowdrop and Star arrived beside them. We'll help Sweet T teach you today, they said. First of all, Snowdrop and Star showed Koko and Kira all about tack. They led them to a small room that smelled of leather and dust, and their rows of saddles hung from brackets on the wall. Koko and Kira lifted one off each and laid them on Snowdrop and Star's backs, just like they were shown. Then they took a couple of bridles, which they had to admit were rather confusing. There were so many strips of leather that could easily get into a tangle. But Sweet T helped them out, showing how to slip the bridle over the horse's heads and lay the reins over their withers. Then Sweet T led Koko and Kira over to another small room, which was filled with riding clothes for humans. There were special stretchy trousers, which Sweet T told them were called Jodpas, and boots and jackets and lots of hard hats. Sweet T took down a number of hard hats and tried them on on top of Koko and Kira's heads, until she found the ones that fit perfectly. The most important thing about horseback riding, she told them, is safety. Then she opened a box that was full of colorful silks to be slipped over their hard hats. Koko chose a baby blue one with yellow stripes, while Kira chose a purple one, decorated with big white stars. Once they had all their gear on, they stepped back to show Sweetie the results. She gave them a gentle nay of approval. You look just the part, she told them both. Sweetie led Koko and Kira back out to the stable yard. The golden afternoon sunlight rippling across her chestnut coat. Snowdrop and Star were still waiting for them, looking smart in their tack, and they all walked over to a rectangular riding school that had been marked out in the grass. Now it was time to get on. Sweetie showed them both how to lift up their booted feet and slip them into the dangling stirrups. Then, with a one, two, three, they hoisted themselves up, Kira rather gracefully on to Snowdrop's back, and Koko with a little more of a wobble up on to Star's. They slipped their other boots into the stirrups and took up the reins, and then Snowdrop and Star began to walk slowly in circles around the school. Ooh, Kira giggled, it's rather bumpy. I feel like I might slip off, Koko agreed. But soon enough they got used to the motion, the gentle rolling gait of the horses as they plodded across the grass. The feel of Snowdrop and Star's shoulder blades rolling beneath their legs. Until at last it felt as though they were at one with the motion of the horses. As though they were not two separate beings, but one. Good, Sweet Tea said, that's exactly how you should be feeling. Now, she added with a wry little smile, are we ready to trot? Trot, Koko repeated, which was meant to be a question, but when Star heard the word, she thought it was an encouragement, and off she began to trot. When Snowdrop noticed Star trotting, she followed suit, and then Koko and Kira were both bouncing along turbulently, giggling and unable to get their bodies under control. Sweetie laughed to see them bouncing all over the place, and Snowdrop and Star slowed down. Here's the trick with trotting, Star told them. It's a one-two motion, and on each beat, you've got to rise up and down in your seat. Bums up, bums down, bums up, bums down. Bums up, bums down, Koko repeated. Okay, said Kira, I think we've got it. And when they gave it another try, it was all a lot more graceful. Up, down, up, down, the sleepy forest siblings said in time to the trotting. And once they'd got that rhythm right, it was pleasant and almost easy. They felt like boats bobbing calmly over gentle waves of the sea. Soon enough, they were both trotting around the grassy school with Snowdrop and Star as though they were seasoned riders, as though they'd learnt to ride long before that very day. Well, said Star, coming back to a steady walk, I think they're ready. Don't you, Snowdrop? Oh, I think so, Snowdrop agreed. Wouldn't you say, Sweet Tea? I most certainly would, Sweet Tea concurred. Koko and Kira blinked around. Ready? They asked. Ready for what? Ready? Sweet Tea told them. To go out on a hack. They blinked some more. A hack? What was that? For an answer, Snowdrop and Star stepped out of the grassy school and began walking across the meadow. Sweet Tea led the way. Kira looked down at the ground. Beneath her, Snowdrop's hooves brushed through the long grass, and she saw butterflies dancing around her ankles, and buttercups and thistles and some beautiful red flower she didn't recognize swaying in the breeze. The sun was low in the sky now, beyond the approaching pine woods, which cast long fingers of shadow towards them. The sunset turned the tops of the pine trees orange. Sweetie's voice sailed over from up ahead. A hack, she explained, is what we call it when we go for a ride outside of the grass school, across the fields, through the woods, up mountains, down roads over rivers. All of that is hacking. And today we're going to take you for a hack through the sweet pine woods. Once they were in the woods, both Koko and Kira noticed it. A cool tranquility. A sleepy, calm, drifting, like a presence between the pine trees. It wasn't so warm under here. They were shaded from the texan heat by the trees, and the shadows were dark and rich. Dry brach and crunched under the horses' hooves, and the occasional twig, and birds twittered up in the trees. Somewhere, far away, came the friendly barks of a dog. Are you two ready for another trot? Sweet Tee asked. Definitely, said Koko. I'm ready, Kira agreed. Off we go then, Sweet Tee said. And then, they were trotting through the woods, the gentle breeze on their faces, the smell of pine trees and fallen leaves and mulch filling their noses. The horses trotted up a muddy track, crested a hill and followed the line of a ridge where, below them, they saw the gleeful twinkle of a river stream. Koko peeled his eyes and saw a school of big pink salmon fluttering beneath the blue surface of the water, almost as though they were trying to keep up with the horses. And all along, Koko and Kira kept up their rhythmic bounce, their gentle up, down, up, down. When the horses settled back to a walk, Snowdrop looked over her shoulder and said to Kira, You're a natural, that was the perfect trot. Thank you, Snowdrop, Kira said, and she gave the horse a friendly pat on her white neck. Now the sun was truly setting, and a purple and yellow twilight suffused the woods. The birds had changed their tune from daytime churping to their evening songs, the long, sweet notes of nightingales echoing all around. Koko gave a big yawn, and tried to cover it with one of his paws, but not before Star noticed it. It's okay, Star told him. If you're sleepy, you can take a nap. It's not safe to nap on all horses, of course, but don't worry, I've got you. I'll make sure you're safe with me. Oh, thank you, Star, Koko said. And he lowered his head onto Star's neck. Soon he was napping softly. And Kira, who was also feeling pretty sleepy, did the same, laying her head against Snowdrop's soft neck. Soon she, too, was fast asleep. And most peculiarly of all, during their little nap, Koko and Kira shared the same dream. They both dreamt that they were riding horses once again, but this time the horses were not real but made out of clouds. They were up in the sky, the great lilac expanse of sky, surrounded by big fluffy mushrooms of clouds. Their horse clouds rode through the sky, as soft as blankets, as light as air. And all around them, the other clouds began to form shapes. Owl clouds and chipmunk clouds, gecko clouds and giraffe clouds. They had all come out to see Koko and Kira riding. And they all smiled at them and waved and told them what brilliant riders they both were, riding their cloud steeds through the night sky. When Koko and Kira woke up from their naps, still feeling groggy and rubbing their eyes, they found that they were no longer in the Sweet Pine Woods, nor were they at Sweet Pine Ranch. Instead, they were surrounded by some very familiar trees. And there, in front of them, a very familiar cabin. Oh, Kira sighed rather happily, We're home. We certainly are, Sweet Tea whispered. The two of you fell asleep, and it was getting late. So we thought we'd ride back through the Rose Arbor and bring you back home. Thank you, Koko told her. And very softly he slipped off Star's back and put his arms around her neck. And thank you to you too, Star, for teaching me how to ride. Kira was doing the same, giving Snowdrop a big grateful hug. Their mum had emerged from the cabin and they went to her, and she put each of her paws on their shoulders. And together they said goodbye and watched as the three horses, Star and Snowdrop and Sweet Tea, made their way back through Sleepy Forest, back home to Sweet Pine Ranch. Did you two have a wonderful time? Their mum asked them. My, my, you both seem very tired indeed. Come on now, up to bed with the both of you. Koko and Kira slipped off their smart leather boots and climbed the stairs. Barely able to keep their eyes open, they brushed their teeth and combed their hair and washed their faces and then crawled into bed. The bed covers were so soft and welcoming, and the starlight drifting through the window seemed to sparkle on their skin. Koko gave his arms a big stretch so that his fingers touched the cabin's wooden wall, and stretched out his legs so the tips of his toes touched the bottom of his bed. Kira gave a big sigh and wrapped herself up in her duvet, snug as a bug in a rug. What a wonderful day, she said to Koko. It really was, wasn't it? Koko replied, I can't wait to go back to the Sweet Pine Ranch and learn more about riding. Me too, said Kira. I want to get much better at trotting. And then there's all kinds of other things, like cantering. And jumping, Koko added. Kira yawned, here, she said, and jumping. For a few minutes there was silence, only the sound of the breeze stirring the leaves outside and an owl hooting somewhere far away. Kira was already asleep. Koko could tell by her breathing, the gentle rise and fall of her body beneath the covers of the other twin-sized bed, so like the rise and fall of their bodies while they were learning how to trot. So Koko turned over, gave a yawn. And closed his eyes. Sleep came to him quickly. He felt himself drifting down.