A Princess Bedtime Story for 4-Year-Olds

Princess Bea had a little table by her window. It had four small chairs. Every evening, she set out cups for a pretend tea party.

Her guests were a cloth rabbit, a wooden duck, and a bear with one blue ear.

One rainy afternoon, her friend Sam came to visit. Sam brought a toy fox wrapped in a scarf.

"Fox would like some tea," Sam said.

Bea looked at the table. Four chairs. Bea, Rabbit, Duck, and Bear already filled them.

She fetched a stool for Sam. But Fox still had nowhere to sit.

"We need one more chair," Bea said.

They looked in the playroom. There was a big chair, but it would not fit beside the little table. There was a basket, but Fox kept tipping over inside it.

Bea sat on the rug to think. Sam sat beside her. Fox rested between them.

"This is a nice place," Sam said.

Bea looked at the wide, soft rug. Then she smiled.

"What if the tea party came down here?"

Together, they spread a clean cloth on the floor. They carried the cups carefully, one at a time. Rabbit leaned against a cushion. Duck sat beside Bear. Fox rested in Sam's lap.

Now there was space for everyone.

Bea's father brought apple slices and warm milk for the children. He sat on the rug too.

"Did you find another chair?" he asked.

"We found another way," Bea said.

The rain tapped the window with tiny fingers. Everyone ate slowly. Sam gave Fox a pretend sip of tea.

When it was time to go, Bea tucked a little paper napkin into Fox's scarf.

"For your next party," she said.

That evening, Bea put her toys on their shelf. She climbed into bed and pulled up her quilt.

Her father kissed her forehead. The room felt warm and wide and peaceful. Bea pictured all her friends sitting together, and her eyes closed softly.

The End ✨