A Bedtime Story

The Dragon Who Lost His Sparkle


Listen Later

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

Tinder was a young dragon with a very important job: he was the official fire-starter for all the village barbecues. His flames were legendary—a perfect mix of blue and orange that cooked marshmallows just right. But one morning, he woke up, took a deep breath, and... a tiny puff of smoke came out. He tried again. Another tiny puff. His sparkle was gone!

The villagers were worried. No sparkle, no barbecues. The Mayor of Marshmallow Valley, a plump little squirrel named Sheldon, came to visit. "Tinder," he said, patting the dragon's snout. "What seems to be the problem?"

Tinder grumbled a little puff of smoke. "I think I'm out of sparkle juice," he moaned.

Sheldon thought for a moment. "Perhaps you need to find something to inspire you! Something to make your heart feel all... sparkly again."

So, Tinder went on a quest to find his sparkle. He visited the Whisper-Weasel, who told him to listen to the sound of laughing daisies. He tried, but all he heard was a faint giggle. He visited the Wise Owl, who told him to look at the glow of a firefly. He did, but it just made him feel a little sad. He was beginning to think he would never get his sparkle back.

On his way home, he saw little Sheldon trying to light a barbecue with a single match. The match kept going out. Sheldon was huffing and puffing, and his little cheeks were getting red. He looked so silly trying to light the fire, and suddenly, Tinder felt a little chuckle rumble in his chest. The chuckle grew into a giggle, and the giggle turned into a roaring laugh. He laughed so hard that a huge, beautiful, sparkly blue and orange flame shot out of his mouth. It wasn't the sound of daisies or the light of a firefly that inspired him; it was the funny sight of his friend working so hard. He lit the barbecue in one magnificent puff, and the whole village cheered.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

A Bedtime StoryBy Matthew Mitchell