Visit the “A Bedtime Story” show website to submit your story ideas for a future episode!

Robby was a tiny robot with big dreams. He lived on the beach, powered by a small solar panel on his back, and his biggest dream was to build the most magnificent sandcastle the world had ever seen. He was a meticulous builder, with tiny metal arms that could scoop sand with incredible precision. But there was a problem. Every time he worked, a new wave would crash and wash all his progress away.

"Oh, beep boop!" he’d sigh, his tiny red light flashing in frustration. He spent his days in a cycle of scooping and rebuilding, only to see it all crumble. The seagulls watched him with a mix of pity and amusement.

One afternoon, a crab named Pinchy scuttled up to Robby. Pinchy had a big purple shell and a very concerned look on his face. "Why do you keep building your castle so close to the water?" he asked, waving a claw. "The tide will always come for it."

Robby explained his dream of a giant, glorious sandcastle. Pinchy clicked his claws together. "You're using the wrong sand, little friend. You need the wet sand, the heavy, clump-together kind! And you must build farther up the shore."

Robby had never thought of that. He had been so focused on scooping the dry, fluffy sand that he’d never even considered the wet stuff near the water's edge. He followed Pinchy's advice and moved his construction site higher up the beach. The crab showed him how to mix the sand with a little seawater to make it firm.

Working together, they started to build. Robby scooped the wet sand, and Pinchy helped pat it down with his claws. They didn't build the biggest sandcastle in the world, but it was sturdy. They built walls and towers, and Pinchy even found beautiful, colorful shells to decorate it with. It was the best sandcastle Robby had ever seen. He realized that a good friend and some good advice were more important than building the biggest castle in the world. He just needed a partner to help him, and Pinchy was the best partner a robot could ask for.