The Princess Who Tucked In the Castle
In a castle with four tall towers lived a small princess named Juniper, and Juniper had a bedtime job she had invented all by herself: every night, before she would let anyone tuck HER in, she tucked in the castle.
First, the horses. She padded down to the stable in her slippers and smoothed each velvety nose. “Goodnight, Biscuit. Goodnight, Thunder. Goodnight, Pea.” The horses whuffled softly and closed their long-lashed eyes.
Next, the guards at the gate. They had to stay awake all night, so Juniper couldn’t tuck them in — instead she brought them warm cocoa in tiny golden cups. “Goodnight, brave guards. Thank you for keeping watch.” The guards smiled all the way up to their helmets.
Then the drawbridge. Up it came for the night with a gentle creeeak, and Juniper patted the old wood. “Goodnight, drawbridge. Good pulling-up.”
Then the kitchen fire (banked down to a cozy glow), the library books (spines straightened, one bedtime story chosen and carried under her arm), and the castle cat (already asleep in a basket by the ovens, but she whispered goodnight anyway, because cats like to know).
At last, Juniper climbed the tower stairs to her own little room, where the Queen was waiting.
“Is the castle all tucked in?” asked the Queen.
“All tucked in,” said Juniper, snuggling under her covers with her chosen book.
“Then now it’s your turn, little tucker-inner.” And the Queen smoothed the blankets right up to Juniper’s chin, just the way Juniper had smoothed the whole castle.
And the princess fell asleep in the very middle of it — a warm, cozy castle where everyone, from the horses to the drawbridge, had been wished a proper goodnight.
Goodnight, Juniper. 👑
Talk about it together
- Who does Princess Juniper say goodnight to?
- Who do you like to say goodnight to before bed?
- How do you think the guards felt when she brought them cocoa?