Bedtime Cat Tales: Bones At The Park

Settle in for sleep with this relaxing bedtime story about Bones, a friendly cat who is loved by all in his neighborhood. The story will begin with an introduction, then lead you through a body scan, and then launch into the cat tale of Bones' adventure at the park. It's a fictional adventure but it is based on an actual cat - my own pet cat.

I begin by guiding you through a body scan because doing so can help you to notice and relax each part of your body, making it easy to settle in for sleep because your mind and body become peaceful and ready for rest. It's like giving each part of your body a gentle goodnight hug so you can sleep well.

Music credit: Liborio Conti

Transcript

Hi there,

Welcome to this sleepy time cattail.

My name is Susan Cuttridge,

And tonight I'll be reading for you the story of Bones at the Park.

I'm so pleased to have you here.

During our time together,

I'll guide you through a relaxing body scan,

Then tell you a story about my cat Bones.

While Bones really is my pet cat,

These tales are fictional,

Purely inspired by him and loosely based on what I think he might be up to while he's out and about,

Meandering around the neighborhood.

But first,

Let's begin with an introduction.

You might remember Bones from his debut story,

Bones the Neighborhood Cat.

It's okay if you haven't heard that one yet,

Because Bones is an easy cat to get to know.

Receiving his name when he was found 10 years ago,

So skinny,

Just skin and bones,

He quickly filled out to become healthy and strong,

And no longer just loved by the family that found him,

But by his whole neighborhood.

One could say the neighborhood has become his family.

Bones is a charming orange cat,

Known for his friendly,

Outgoing nature.

My family and I may have been the ones that found him all those years ago.

My home is no longer the only home Bones knows,

Though.

So friendly is he that everyone on my street knows him.

He confidently wanders in where he's welcomed,

Nibbling the meals and enjoying the cuddles from each friendly neighbor.

To the families he visits on his daily wanderings,

He's known by many names,

Each reflecting the special bond he shares with them.

In my house,

He's Bones,

And Mr.

Bones,

And Billy Bob Bones.

And elsewhere,

He's Sunny,

And also Pumpkin,

All depending on whose house he's wandered into.

For a found kitten who started out without a home,

He sure has made a name for himself,

Finding comfort,

Adventure,

And love in every corner of his world.

Now that you know who this story is about,

Let's get you comfy cozy in your bed.

Give your body a stretch.

Settle in ever more deeply.

Shift as you need,

Getting into that position that feels just right.

Notice your head resting softly on your pillow.

Feel all the bits of relaxation as they spread throughout your body.

Drawing in a breath,

Slow and deep,

And exhaling to release any tension that may be there in your neck and shoulders.

Let the weight of your head sink into the pillow a bit more,

Your body comfortably snuggled on the mattress.

Pull your sheets or blankets up so that you feel just warm enough.

Notice those blankets softly cuddling around you,

Like a gentle reassuring hug.

As I lead you through this body scan,

Just follow my voice,

Allowing your eyes to close if that feels right for you.

A body scan is a useful way to settle into a bit of a deeper relaxation,

All the more preparing you for sleep.

Starting with your attention at the top of your head,

Imagine a gentle warm light resting there.

You could picture it like the beam from a lighthouse,

The difference being that this light will scan through your body,

Not the ocean.

As it scans through your body,

It connects you with feelings of calm and safety.

What color do you want the warm,

Soft light to be?

You know yourself best,

So give it a color that feels right for you.

If you aren't sure,

May I suggest that orange might be a decent choice,

As that is the color of the soft fur of our sweet cat bones.

Now,

Picturing that warm light at the top of your head,

Take a deep breath in,

All the way into your belly,

And as you breathe out,

Let the warmth of the glow slowly move down from the top of your head through your face.

From the top of your head through your face,

To your neck,

To your shoulders,

Melting away any tension.

From your shoulders,

Glide the light down your arms,

All the way to your fingertips,

And releasing out,

Making you feel lighter and more relaxed with each breath.

And bringing your attention to the top of your head once more,

Breathing in,

And as you breathe out,

Let the warmth of the glow slowly move through your face,

To your neck,

And shoulders,

Melting away any tension.

And allowing the light to travel downward still,

Like a soothing stream,

Washing away worry,

Flowing gently through your back,

Your chest,

The area around your heart,

Your belly,

The light moving steadily down your legs,

Your knees,

Your ankles,

All along the soles of your feet,

To your toes,

And releasing out.

And with your breath,

Slow and deep,

Feeling completely relaxed,

Safe in this moment,

Just like Bones feels when he finds the perfect sheltered spot to nap.

Now let's join Bones on his new adventure.

One sunny morning,

After a full body stretch and a satisfying yawn,

Bones decided it was the perfect day for exploring.

After being let outside,

He wandered past his familiar homes.

Mrs.

Banks waved from her porch and gave him a loving smile.

He was a bit a ways away from her,

But Bones could still hear her kind words as she called out,

See you later,

Sonny.

You see,

Each home that Bones wandered into had a different name for him,

Which he didn't mind at all.

And as he strolled along the sidewalk that peaceful sunny morning,

Bones thought about all the names he had been given by the people in each home he visited.

He wondered why everyone wanted to give him a different name.

Maybe,

He thought,

It's because when people give me a name,

It's their way of showing they care about me.

It's like they're saying I'm part of their family,

Even if just for a little while.

He also pondered if it was because humans like to feel a personal connection with him,

Seeing him not just as any cat,

But as a friend with a unique personality.

Each name might show how they see me,

He mused,

Reflecting what they think is special about me.

Bones knew,

Too,

That humans like to make sense of the world by naming things.

Perhaps giving me a name helps them feel like they know me better,

He thought with the low purr beginning and rumbling all throughout his body.

He laid down on the warm concrete driveway where I had left from just a few minutes earlier.

He rolled back and forth,

Leisurely stretching out his body.

Then another thought came to him.

He wondered if by naming him,

Each family might feel a bit like he was theirs.

It's their way of saying I'm important to them,

He realized.

This thought made the corners of his mouth turn upwards into a smile,

The purr slightly louder,

Echoing his contentment.

He thought about how his many names brought the neighborhood together,

Creating a sense of community.

In a way,

All my names weave a web of friendship among them all,

He concluded.

Basking in the warmth of the sun and the love of an entire neighborhood that had,

In many ways,

Become his extended family,

Bones watched with slight interest as a plump bumblebee hovered over the nearby lavender growing freely in a garden.

With whimsical grace and yellow stripes as bright as the sun,

The bumblebee danced from flower to flower,

Its movements a spectacle of nature's ballet,

Buzzing softly as it twirled in the air,

Each wingbeat allowing it to dip and hover with the elegance of a skilled performer.

From flower to purple flower,

The bee gathered nectar,

Its tiny legs dusted with pollen.

Bones watched its laborious journey looking like a dance of both joy and purpose.

Slowly rising to standing,

Bones wandered back up the driveway,

And with one graceful leap,

He was across the garden,

Landing softly on the pathway entrance leading into the park.

His whiskers twitched with excitement as he ventured into the park,

A place filled with wonders and new friends.

From where he stood,

He could hear the rapid footsteps of mice,

Scurrying about from one hiding spot to the next as they scavenged for seeds and berries,

The tall ponderosa pines filled with brightly colored birds that Bones enjoyed watching,

And squirrels,

Way up at the top of the trees,

Leaping branch to branch and chattering with each other,

Calling out warnings as they spotted the orange cat down below,

Looking up at them.

Walking on,

Bones stepped off the sidewalk for a soft grassy path that tickled the pads of his feet,

His tail upright and straight with contented curiosity.

Bones relaxed into the familiar rustling sound of the trees swaying gently in the breeze and the chorus of birds singing from above.

In the distance,

He could hear the sound of someone's wind chimes,

Likely hanging in a backyard tree,

Creating a harmonic accompaniment to the sounds of nature.

Sitting at the edge of the grass where the playground began,

Bones drew in a deep breath.

The air was ripe with the scent of pine trees,

Lavender,

Honeysuckle.

He picked up the faint scent of a deer that must have wandered through the park during the early morning hours.

The fresh air made his body feel invigorating,

Picture that in your mind's eye.

Breathe in with Bones,

Filling your lungs with the fresh park air,

And as you breathe out,

Notice your body settling ever more deeply into your cozy bed.

Sitting there in the park,

Bones' ears perked when he heard a sound behind him.

Turning his head,

He saw his friend Rizzo sauntering into the park,

His fluffy gray tail slowly swishing behind him playfully.

At the young age of two,

Rizzo seemed to look up to Bones,

Following his movements,

Trying to embody the confident,

Outgoing nature that was Bones.

Rizzo was happy to see that Bones was there at the park,

And he walked over to his friend,

His tail straight and upright,

With a small crook at the top,

Almost creating the shape of a question mark,

Indicating his playful intentions.

Rizzo stopped and sat a few feet away from the orange cat,

This slight distance,

A healthy social boundary,

Ensuring an air of calm comfort between the two cats.

Rizzo had learned the social hierarchy from Bones,

And he had learned to keeping a slight distance apart,

Enables cats to keep an eye on each other,

Facilitating silent communication,

And where social cues can be observed and acknowledged without confrontation.

Rizzo had learned the social hierarchy from Bones,

And he had learned to keep an eye on each other,

Facilitating silent communication,

And where social cues can be observed and acknowledged without confrontation.

Bones greeted his friend Rizzo warmly.

He didn't care much for the company of other cats,

But he did make an exception for Rizzo.

When Rizzo had first moved in next door,

Bones had observed on several occasions Rizzo wearing doll clothes and being pushed around in a frilly blue stroller by one of the children in his family.

Bones had felt slightly embarrassed for the little kitten,

Who was all fluff back then,

But he had admired the way the kitten responded with gentle passivity,

Never running far from the child and participating in her games.

He had known from that moment that he and this kitten would one day be friends.

As Bones settled into the warm grass and the company of his friend,

He felt the sun's rays enveloping him in a cozy embrace,

His orange fur a beautiful glow as it captured the rays of sunlight.

With each breath in,

He soaked up the sun's warmth,

And with each breath out,

He sank deeper into relaxation,

Enhanced by the quiet companionship of friendship.

After some time,

Bones heard the distant sound of laughter.

Curious,

He followed the sounds with his gaze to see a group of children entering the park with their teacher in tow.

Bones watched as Rizzo sprang to his feet and darted across the park.

The cat leapt onto the fence,

Using his claws to climb to the top in one smooth motion,

And then disappearing into the safety of his yard.

Bones stretched and yawned,

And then shifted his body to sitting.

He didn't mind the company of the schoolchildren,

He had met them several times before.

Just then,

One of the children spotted him and exclaimed in delight,

Look,

Garfield is here again!

Three of the children changed directions from the playground and instead approached the orange cat.

Sitting down on the grass next to him,

They gently offered their hands to him to sniff.

One by one,

They petted him,

Their touches light and gentle,

Marveling at his soft fur and gentle demeanor.

Garfield purred loudly,

Enjoying the attention and affection.

The children shared their stories with him and he listened intently,

His eyes closing now and then.

He rolled on his back,

Purring,

Rubbing his head on the grass,

Rolling from side to side and uttering a quiet meow every now and then in response to the chatter of the children.

Once they ran off to join their friends on the playground,

Bones,

Also known as Garfield,

Walked over to the fence that separated the park from his yard.

He sat for a moment on the cool concrete slab at the base of the fence.

The sound of the birds drew his gaze upward to the high branches of the pine trees,

Towering over the playground.

He gazed around the park with its cheerful playground filled with laughing children,

A colorful slide,

All of which was framed by the majestic trees whose trunks stood like gentle guardians,

Creating a natural obstacle course,

Perfect for hide and go seek.

A low rumbling purr emanated from deep within him,

So much gratitude he felt for living in a place like this,

Full of friends and nature at its finest.

The tree branches,

Thick and welcoming,

Stretched out above the park,

Weaving a leafy canopy and shielding the ground from the hot sun.

The air filled with the lively chatter of birds turned his curiosity into keen interest.

Bones,

Also known as Garfield,

Listened intensely to the cooing of pigeons and doves,

A sound as soft and comforting as a familiar lullaby,

The rhythmic pecking of a red-headed woodpecker resonating like a drumbeat,

And the delicate chirping of the chestnut-beaked chickadees as they swooped between branches,

Adding a melody to the park's symphony,

Enchanting Bones,

Also known as Garfield,

With its sweet song.

The sounds of these birds,

Each with their unique call,

Beckoned him and urged him to venture into the treetops,

The idea of navigating through the trunks.

Standing so tall and wide felt like an exciting challenge indeed,

And the thought of climbing up,

Reaching the branches high above,

Where he could sit amidst the birds and bask in the shade,

All promised new discoveries and the joy of exploration.

Filled him with a sense of adventure,

He could almost feel the cool breeze rustling through the leaves and his fur,

Promising relief from the warmth of the sun and an opportunity to be closer to the sky.

He almost took a step toward the nearest tree trunk to begin the climb.

Almost.

After all,

Bones,

Also known as Garfield,

Is a mature 10-year-old cat,

And he thought that climb would be a lot of effort when right beside him was a tall fence,

While less of a challenge to climb was still tempting him with its own,

Tamer version of adventure.

With his bright,

Yellow eyes fixed on the top,

Bones,

Also known as Garfield,

Wiggled his backside,

Preparing for the big leap.

With a quick glance around,

He bent his legs,

Gathered up all his strength,

And suddenly sprang up from the ground,

His orange fur gleaming in the sunlight like a bolt of lightning.

As he instinctively leapt,

His legs stretched out,

His tail straightened behind him like a rudder guiding his flight.

His paws reached out,

Claws protruding,

Ready to grasp the top of the fence.

For a split second,

It was like he was flying,

Soaring through the air with ease and grace.

Then with a soft thud,

His front paws made contact with the top of the wooden fence,

His back legs kicked in the air,

Pushing him up.

With a little scramble,

He used his claws to grip the wood,

Pulling himself fully onto the fence top.

There he sat proudly,

Tail flicking with joy,

Looking out over his kingdom from his new viewpoint.

Had anyone caught sight of the slick leap,

They would have been a bit awestruck by this agile orange feline,

But for Bones,

Also known as Garfield,

He looked calm as could be,

Basking in the achievement of the magnificent leap.

In the warm golden glow of the afternoon sunshine,

He watched the activity on the playground until the teacher called out,

Indicating that it was time for them to return to school.

The children gathered up their belongings,

Their water bottles and the coats that had been discarded due to the warm heat of the spring sunshine.

As they hustled out of the park to begin their walk back to school,

One of the children broke from the group to run over to where the cat was perched high atop the fence.

Looking up,

She said,

Looking up,

She said,

Bye Garfield,

See you next time.

As the children ran off,

Bones,

Also known as Garfield,

Heard her say to a classmate,

I wish Garfield were my cat.

Bones,

Also known as Garfield,

Smiled knowingly.

After all,

He kind of was everyone's cat.

Feeling content with his day's adventures,

Bones decided it was time to return home.

He wandered daintily along the fence top,

Then hopped off onto the sidewalk that would lead out of the park.

Eventually,

The sidewalk trailed alongside Rizzo's house,

And Bones left the path to walk along the green grass of Rizzo's front yard.

Then,

He crossed the street to sniff the trunk of the maple tree in Mrs.

Banks' yard.

Once fully satisfied with the goings-on along his street,

Bones crossed back over and walked along the driveway of his own house.

Bones stalked a grasshopper that had boldly hopped into his purview,

Then ambled up the porch steps and looked into the window.

There,

Looking in,

He let out a little mew.

It didn't take long for one of his family members to spot the orange cat sitting there looking in.

The wooden door opened,

Followed by the familiar squeak of the screen door's hinges as it opened.

Bones sauntered in and was warmly greeted.

Welcome home,

Bones.

Let's get you some dinner,

Hey?

Later on,

With a comfortably full belly,

He settled into his favorite spot by the window.

Bones began to drift off into a peaceful sleep,

Dreaming of his adventures in the park and of the new friends he'd made.

As he slept,

He purred softly,

A low,

Peaceful rumbling of comfort.

Complete contentment and peace,

His heart felt happy.

As we leave Bones to his sweet dreams,

I hope you take with you into your sweetest dreams,

The warmth of the sun,

The joy of friendship,

And the comfort of returning home.

Take a deep breath in,

Drawing in peace and happiness,

And as you breathe out,

Drift off into a restful sleep.

Good night,

I hope the adventures of our sweet cat Bones leads you into a peaceful slumber,

Sweet dreams to you.

Reviews

These stories are so wonderful. We love Bones. Please record some more!