bedtime story
Tomás, terrified, almost fainted 
The Ghost of the Mill 
And what it was will make you laugh! 
That evening, like so many others in the orchard, the Chicago Air Motor windmill turned slowly in the gentle breeze. The blackberries were ripe, and the large tree offered us shade while the children settled at Uncle Augustine’s feet, who already had his twig in his mouth and his hat firmly on.
«Today I’m going to tell you something that happened to Tomas when he was younger,» he said with a mischievous smile. «Although he was very scared at first… now he laughs every time he remembers it.»
Tomás, a little older now, covered his face with his hands while the other children looked at him with curious eyes.
«A scary story, Uncle?» asked Rita, the smallest of the group.
«Well… it depends on how you look at it,» said Uncle Augustine with a chuckle. It turns out that one night, after everyone had gone to sleep, Tomás eavesdropped on the ghost stories his grandmother was telling his sisters. I was there too, of course. She talked about the “Boy with the Green Lamp,” the “Scarecrow of the Creek,” and even the “Faceless Horseman.”
Tomás quietly covered himself with a blanket in the living room, pretending to be asleep… but his eyes were wider than the ranch gate.
The children laughed. Tomás just nodded, remembering that night well.
“When Grandma finished telling the stories, she looked at me out of the corner of her eye and said loudly, ‘That boy is already asleep. You better send him home before the night watchman catches him.’ And I knew she was talking about Tomás. So I touched his shoulder, and he pretended to wake up.
“I didn’t want to leave!” Tomás protested. “The story was so good!”
—I know, boy! But the best part comes now. You see. The path from the mill to Tomás’s house isn’t very long, but that night there was no moon. Only the whistling of the wind and the creaking of the mill accompanied his steps. Tomás walked with his heart heavy, imagining the Faceless Horseman coming down the hill or the Scarecrow dragging his chains along the path.
The children’s eyes widened.
—He was walking quickly, looking around, when suddenly… he heard something. Tac, tac!… slow footsteps. He stopped. The mill turned once more, creak, and the wind fell silent. Then, in front of him, two enormous eyes shone in the darkness. Fixed. Round. Like two lit lanterns!
—AAAAH!—Rita shouted, hugging her cousin.
—Tomás shouted even louder!—Uncle Agustín said, laughing. He ran out like a bat out of hell, crossed Grandma’s yard, went through the door, and hid under the table, shaking like jelly.
«And what was it, Uncle?» a boy asked, without blinking.
«Well… we all went out with lamps, thinking the ghost himself had appeared. But do you know what it was?»
Everyone shook their heads, holding their breath.
«It was Pancracio!» said Uncle Agustín, bursting into laughter. «Don Eulogio’s donkey!» He had gotten loose and was strolling calmly around the mill. His eyes reflected the light from the house, and he looked like a ghost, but he was actually looking for fallen blackberries.
The laughter was not long in coming. Tomás laughed too, now without shame.
«Since then, Tomás isn’t afraid of ghosts anymore… but every time he sees a donkey, he cracks a little smile,» Uncle Agustín concluded with a wink.
The children applauded and asked for another story. But first, Grandma Doña María arrived with sweet bread and a pot of hot atole.
«And now, for a snack!» she said affectionately. «No story is ever enjoyed on an empty stomach.»
And so, amid laughter, blackberries, and bread rolls, that night was etched in the children’s hearts… like one of the many times fear dissolves with the light of truth.
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When Music Came Back to the Village 
A Children’s Story about Dreams, Passion and Hope 
One sunny afternoon, Sofia and Tomas were playing hide-and-seek at Grandma’s house when, in the old attic, they found a dusty case. Intrigued, they opened it and inside they discovered a beautiful dark-wood violin.
«Look at this, Sofia!» exclaimed Tomas. «It’s a violin, but we’ve never seen Grandma play it.»
Filled with curiosity, they ran down to the kitchen, where Grandma was kneading sweet bread.
«Grandma!» said Sofia, showing the violin. «Is it yours?»
Grandma was silent for a moment. Her gaze scanned the instrument with a mixture of nostalgia and melancholy.
«Yes, it’s mine,» she replied softly. «Many years ago, I used to play it at all the village festivities.»
«How incredible!» said Tomas. «Why didn’t you ever tell us?»
Grandma sighed and put the wooden spoon back on the table.
«Because I don’t play it anymore. I made a promise a long time ago.»
The children looked at each other in confusion. That answer only increased their curiosity. Later, they went to find Uncle Augustine, who always had the best stories.
«When we were young,» he told them, «your grandmother was the best violinist in town. She played at all the parties and her music brought joy to everyone. But when your grandfather fell ill, she promised him she would never play without him again. She said that without his lifelong companion, music was meaningless.»
The children felt a lump in their throats.
«But, Uncle, Grandma is still here… and so is the music,» Sofia said determinedly.
The next day, they convinced Grandma to dust off the violin.
«I don’t know if I can still play,» she whispered, running her fingers over the strings.
«Just try,» Tomas urged. «Music shouldn’t stay asleep forever.»
But Grandma hesitated.
«It’s not just the promise,» she confessed. «My hands haven’t been as steady for years. Arthritis has made my fingers stiff and clumsy. I don’t know if I can move them like I used to.»
The children fell silent. They had never thought of that.
«But, Grandma…» Sofia took their hands tenderly. «What if you try little by little?»
Grandma sighed. She looked at the violin, then at her grandchildren, and finally smiled sweetly.
«Okay, I’ll try.»
She took a breath and placed the violin under her chin. With trembling hands, she slid the bow over the strings.
At first, the sound was faint, but soon a sweet, vibrant melody filled the air.
The sound floated through the streets, and the neighbors, hearing it, came out of their houses. Soon, the entire village was gathered around Grandmother, tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces.
«It’s Doña Maria’s music!» exclaimed an old man. «I thought we’d never hear it again.»
The children watched in amazement as Grandmother closed her eyes, letting the music flow as if time had never passed.
As the last note faded, applause erupted in the plaza.
«It’s never too late to recover what we love,» whispered Uncle Agustín.
Grandmother smiled, the violin still in her hands.
«Maybe… it’s time to play more often.»
That night, music filled the village again, and Grandmother’s heart as well.
And from then on, every evening, the children ran to the courtyard to hear her play, reminding her that dreams never fade; they just wait for the right moment to shine again.
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The Sheep Who Dreamed of Flying 
| A Story About Not Giving Up and Believing in Your Dreams
In a meadow full of flowers and hills, lived Luna, a curious sheep with a big dream: she wanted to fly like the birds. Every morning, Luna watched the hawks and sparrows fly across the sky in admiration and said to herself: “One day, I will fly too!”
The other animals in the meadow did not understand her wish. Clara, the hen, would mock her, saying: “Sheep don’t fly! They are only good for giving wool and eating grass.” But Luna did not let those words discourage her. She believed that if she tried hard enough, she could fulfill her dream.
One day, Luna decided to make her first attempt. She climbed the highest hill and jumped with all her might, flapping her legs as if they were wings. But instead of flying, she rolled down the hill until she landed among the bushes. Just then, Bruno, the wisest hawk in the meadow, watched her and said: “You don’t fly just by wishing. You need effort and creativity.”
Luna didn’t quite understand Bruno’s words, but she decided to keep trying. That’s when she met Nico, the rabbit inventor. Hearing her dream, Nico got excited and built a flying machine made of wood and leaves. “With this, you’ll fly without a problem!” he said confidently. But when Luna climbed in and turned on the machine, it just spun and spun, until it broke into pieces.
Disillusioned, Luna began to doubt her dream. Maybe Clara was right and sheep were only made to graze. Tito, the shepherd dog, seeing his sad friend, approached her and said: “Luna, you must not give up. If it’s your dream, you must keep looking for a way.” His words filled Luna with a new determination.
Days passed and as she watched the birds, Luna remembered something she had seen on her travels through the meadow: hot air balloons that humans used to fly. Maybe she could do something similar! With Nico’s help, Luna collected branches, old fabrics, and of course, her own wool. They worked together for days until they managed to build a hot air balloon that floated gently over the meadow.
Luna was filled with excitement. “I’m going to fly!” she said to herself as she climbed into the basket of the balloon. Tito and Nico released the ropes and the balloon slowly began to rise. Luna felt the wind and saw how the meadow became smaller and smaller. She was flying!
The animals in the meadow looked at her in amazement. Clara, the hen, couldn’t believe it and whispered: “Who would have thought that a sheep could fly?” When Luna descended, everyone greeted her with joy and admiration. Even Bruno, the wise falcon, congratulated her: “You have shown that with effort and creativity, any dream can come true.”
That night, as all the animals gathered to celebrate Luna’s achievement, she looked up at the stars and smiled. Not only had she fulfilled her dream, but she had also taught others that with determination, anything was possible.
Stolen Shadows: The Story of the Boy Who Saved the Magic Kingdom
This time I have a mysterious story about something strange that happened in a small town. I think you’ll like this story. Make yourselves comfortable and pay attention.
In a small, picturesque town called Snow-Shadow, life used to go on peacefully, with its cobblestone streets and brightly colored houses reflecting the joy of its inhabitants. But one day, something strange began to happen. People noticed that their shadows, those dark figures that always accompanied them, began to disappear without a trace. At first, it was just one or two people, but soon, the entire town was affected.
Without a shadow, people felt strange, as if something vital had been taken away from them. The mystery of the missing shadows soon became the main topic of conversation, and no one knew what to do.
Among the town’s inhabitants, there was a boy named Mateo, a curious and brave ten-year-old boy, who couldn’t stop thinking about the missing shadows. Unlike the adults, who simply feared the unknown, Mateo was determined to discover the truth. While others avoided leaving their houses at dusk, when shadows were most visible, Mateo decided to investigate. He knew that something magical was happening, and magic always had a reason, even if it wasn’t always obvious.
One night, armed only with a flashlight and a small backpack, Mateo went out into the forest surrounding the village. The trees stood tall and dark, but Mateo wasn’t afraid of the darkness; in fact, he was convinced that he would find answers in it. After walking for a while, he came to a clearing where the moon illuminated the ground with a silvery light. Suddenly, he saw something moving among the bushes: a small, luminous figure. At first, Mateo thought it was an animal, but as he got closer, he discovered that it was a magical creature, a thin, shiny being, with translucent wings like those of a dragonfly.
«Who are you?» Mateo asked, showing no fear.
The creature looked at him with large, sad eyes.
“I am Cloud, a shadow collector,” the creature answered in a soft voice. “I have been taking the shadows of the village because I need them to save my world. My home, a kingdom deep in the forest, is in danger, and only the energy of the human shadows can restore the lost balance.”
Mateo, although intrigued, could not help but feel sorry for the people of the village. He knew that living without a shadow was like losing a part of themselves.
“But what will happen to the people without their shadows?” he asked with concern.
“I don’t want to hurt them,” Cloud answered, lowering his head, “but if I don’t collect enough shadows, my world will disappear forever.”
Mateo understood Cloud’s plight. Then, with his childlike cunning, an idea occurred to him.
“What if we find another way to help you? Maybe you won’t have to steal people’s shadows. Maybe there is something else we can do to save your kingdom without harming others.”
The creature looked at him hopefully, as if he had never considered that possibility before. Together, Mateo and Cloud returned to the forest, deeper than Mateo had ever been. There, deep inside, they found a source of magical energy that had been ignored for centuries. Cloud, with Mateo’s help, used his light to activate the source, which began to shine with a warm, golden glow.
“We did it!” Cloud exclaimed happily. “With this energy, I will be able to restore my kingdom without needing the shadows of humans.”
Mateo smiled, satisfied that he had found a solution that would benefit everyone. The next day, the shadows began to return to their owners, and life in Snow-Shadow returned to normal. No one knew exactly what had happened, but everyone noticed that, since then, Mateo walked with a shadow that seemed a little brighter and more alive than the others.
From that day on, Mateo knew that the world was full of mysteries, and that with courage, ingenuity, and a little magic, there would always be a way to solve them. And so, the small town of Snow-Shadow never forgot the story of the boy who brought back the shadows and saved a kingdom in danger.
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