Bedtime Story - Anna & The Whale

Unwind for sleep with this gently narrated bedtime story of a girl and a whale who join hearts. Surrounded by people who have lost their faith, Anna has a gift for imagining life better. When a baby whale’s life is on the line, Anna’s imagination is put to the ultimate test. Can her ability to dream overcome impossible odds and save her doomed friend? Find out, or fall asleep... Based on a true story, written and voiced by Susannah for the child and the dreamer in us all.

Transcript

Snuggle up,

Make yourself comfortable,

And let's begin.

Anna and the Whale Anna loved whales.

More than anything,

She wanted to meet and befriend one.

But Anna lived in the Arizona desert,

And the nearest whales were a long way away.

Luckily,

She had an amazing imagination.

She'd been training it since she was very young.

She began,

Like lots of us do,

With cloud gazing.

She would lie on her back on the red rocks behind her house and look up at the sky.

For hours,

She would watch all sorts of faces and animals emerge from the fluffy whiteness,

And then transform into something new.

Recently,

She'd taken her imagining to a whole new level.

It was after a long shower one day when her bathroom was filled with a giant cloud of steam.

Anna drew a small circle on the mirror with her fingertip and looked through it into the reflection of her eye.

She softened her gaze and breathed gently.

As she did,

An underwater kingdom began to emerge.

Anna was enchanted.

She saw hazy crystal pyramids rising up from the ocean floor.

Then,

A group of lacy sea dragons danced by.

And finally,

Way in the distance,

She made out upon a exquisite humpback wales.

Anna couldn't believe her luck.

It was the best thing her imagination had ever seen.

And she rushed downstairs and into her dad's workshop to tell him all about it.

"'Dad,

Dad,

' Anna called out as she tumbled through the door.

"'I've seen whales in the bathroom mirror.

' Her father looked up from the garbage disposal unit he was trying to fix.

"'Anna,

What on earth are you talking about?

' he said.

"'Whales,

' Anna cried.

"'There's a portal to the ocean right in our bathroom.

' Her father shook his head and sighed.

"'Anna,

' he said gently,

"'you really must stop your daydreaming and try to live in the real world.

"'Especially now Mom's no longer with us.

Remember,

Honey,

There are dreamers and there are two—' "'I know,

' Anna interrupted.

"'And you want me to be a doer like you.

But Dad,

Even you were once a dreamer,

Too.

"'Remember when we used to hunt for dinosaur eggs in the canyons?

"'Or look for flying prairie dogs in the night sky?

' "'We never play games like that anymore,

' she said,

Her lower lip starting to quiver.

"'And you've stopped calling me Anna Banana.

' Her father smiled sadly and stroked Anna's hair.

She was right,

Since his wife's death,

So much of the fun had gone out of their lives.

The following month was Anna's eleventh birthday.

Her father knew she loved whales more than anything and that they both needed a break.

So he used his savings to buy her the best birthday present ever.

It didn't look like much,

Just a plain envelope on the breakfast table that read,

"'Happy Birthday,

Anna.

'" But when Anna opened it,

She discovered plane tickets and reservations to the reservations to swim with humpback whales in the South Pacific.

She let out a cry of joy,

Leapt up onto the kitchen counter,

And did a jubilant dance,

Spilling her milk in the process.

"'Anna,

Get down at once,

' her father scolded,

Trying to mask his amusement with a frown.

That night,

And every night until the trip,

Anna practiced snorkeling in the bath.

She imagined the beautiful whales she would get to meet and communed with them through her portal,

Letting them know she was on her way.

Finally,

The day came,

And Anna and her dad flew on three different planes to get to their destination.

Within just a couple of hours of touching down,

They were sitting on a boat in wetsuits,

Masks,

Snorkels,

And fins,

Ready for their first whale encounter.

Anna was really excited,

But secretly afraid,

Too.

The thought of being in the water with creatures the size of a bus was scary,

But she used her imagination and pretended to feel brave.

The boat's captain was legendary for spotting whales when no one else could.

"'There's a mother and calf at eleven o'clock,

' he called out from the helm.

Anna rushed to the front of the boat,

And sure enough,

Saw mist spurting up from a whale's blowhole,

Followed by its beautiful glistening back,

Arching above the surface.

"'That's the baby,

' the captain told her.

Even the baby looked huge to Anna.

"'We have to earn their trust,

' the captain said.

"'Make sure you slip into the water very carefully so you don't scare them away.

'" Everyone scrambled to the edge of the boat,

Dripping over each other's fins.

Anna tried her best to slip in gently,

But in her enthusiasm,

Ended up making a big splash.

She looked apologetically back at the captain,

But he didn't seem to mind,

And neither did the whales.

"'I must look very small and un-scary to them,

' thought Anna.

As she put her mask in the water,

Anna saw the huge mother whale dive down with a flip of her tail and come to rest about five yards below the surface.

Then the baby did its own mini tail flip and went down to join its mother.

It nuzzled up next to her and began to nurse.

Anna watched in awe.

She didn't feel frightened one bit.

The whales were so peaceful and gentle that Anna felt safe and at home.

Back at the resort that evening,

Anna swapped whale swimming stories with the other guests.

One lady had swum with a playful baby whale who'd found a palm frond on the water's surface.

He was tossing it around with his fins like a ball,

The lady laughed.

Anna imagined what fun that would be.

That night was stormy,

And Anna had lots of wild whale swimming dreams.

She tossed coconuts with them,

Then oranges,

And even watermelons.

She tried to teach them to play piggy in the middle,

But the whales all wanted to be piggy,

So there was no one to catch the melons.

The next morning,

Anna ran down to the beach before breakfast to see if she could spot any blowholes or breaching whales on the horizon.

The water was calm,

And she saw no sign of her beloved buddies.

But on the opposite shore,

On a small uninhabited island,

She did see a large object lying on the sand.

She ran back up to the resort and nearly bumped into the boat captain who was staring through his binoculars in the same direction.

There is something on the other beach,

She told him breathlessly.

I know,

He replied,

It's a baby humpback that must have been washed ashore by the storm.

Can we go see it?

Anna pleaded.

We can,

He answered,

But I warn you,

We can't.

He answered,

But I warn you,

It's probably dead.

Anna wondered to herself,

Why is it that grown-ups often use their imaginations to see things in the worst way?

She preferred to imagine the whale was still alive and just resting.

Soon,

Anna,

Her dad,

And a few other guests climbed into the captain's boat to take a closer look at the baby.

As they approached,

They discovered it was moving.

Every now and then,

The whale would flap its tail or shift a fin or breathe out through its blowhole.

They stood nearby,

Watching the stranded creature,

But no one was quite sure how to help.

Then the captain spoke up.

We need damp sheets to protect it from dehydration and sunburn,

He said.

Two volunteers went back to the resort to get some old sheets,

Which they soaked with seawater and threw over the whale's back.

The tide was on its way out and the distance between the whale and the water was increasing.

To keep the sheets wet,

Anna's dad organized several people to form a chain and carry buckets of water from the sea to douse the whale with.

Anna thought the whale liked the feel of the water on its back.

Be careful not to cover its blowhole with water or it could drown,

The captain warned.

Like us,

Whales need to breathe.

Hours went by and the tide went further and further out.

There was now a stretch of more than ten yards separating the baby whale from the water and everyone's spirits were sinking.

The whale seemed to be growing weak and weary.

It had closed its eyes and was breathing less often.

Isn't there some way we can pull the whale back into the water,

Anna begged the captain.

That whale probably weighs fifty times as much as you do,

He replied.

Even a dozen strong men wouldn't be able to move it.

Well,

What about putting ropes around it and pulling the rope?

Suggested Anna.

I'm afraid not.

We could break its back if we dragged it,

Said the captain.

Our only hope is to wait until high tide and see if we can help it back in the water then.

Trouble is,

Anna's dad cautioned,

There's so much coral for it to get past and a probable end to the tide.

The whale was emptiness all around it.

Young and bleed to death.

Anna chose to see things differently.

She imagined that if they were patient,

A carpet of water would rise up and unfurl beneath the whale,

Helping to carry it back out to sea.

Just as she was envisioning this,

A group of young men pulled up in a fishing boat.

They walked up the beach towards the whale,

And Anna felt a lead weight in her stomach.

She saw two of the men were carrying machetes.

Anna had heard that some people eat whale meat,

And she wondered if these guys were looking for a free dinner.

One of the men picked up a shovel and struck the whale across the back to see if it was still alive.

The whale flinched and let out a groan.

The captain grabbed the shovel from the man's hands and threw it aside.

He yelled at the fisherman to get away and leave the whale in peace.

The captain was fierce when he was angry,

And the man looked sheepish and backed away.

Anna admired the captain.

She was glad he was a doer.

Do you think the whale can survive?

She asked him.

He looked down and shuffled the sand between his feet.

I wish it could,

He said.

But baby whales need to drink about 500 quarts of their mother's milk a day to stay strong and healthy.

This baby has already been away from its mother for hours.

Even if we could get it back in the water,

It's probably too weak by now to find her.

Anna felt frustrated.

She didn't have any whale milk,

And she was growing concerned for her thirsty friend.

The men with machetes were sitting close by,

Watching like hungry vultures,

And the mood was getting bleaker.

Anna overheard her dad talking to the captain.

They thought they were talking in hushed tones,

But Anna's hearing,

Like her imagination,

Was excellent,

And she could make out every word.

I think the humane thing to do is to euthanize it,

Her dad was saying.

Even if we get it back in the water,

Chances are it won't find its mother and will starve to death.

I think we should put it out of its misery now.

They began discussing how they might put the whale down,

And it made Anna shudder.

She was afraid with so many doers imagining bad things,

The poor baby might not survive,

So she decided to do something herself.

She sat down next to the whale and put her hands gently on its head.

As she did,

The whale opened its eye and looked into Anna's.

It was a dark and timeless eye,

And even though the whale was just a baby,

Anna felt it was also very wise.

I'm here to help,

She said.

The whale breathed out and sprayed Anna with a light mist from its blowhole.

It smelled sweet like a milkshake and made Anna smile.

The captain and Anna's dad watched intrigued as the little girl sat cross-legged beside the whale.

With her hands pressed against its body and her head bowed,

Anna closed her eyes and became very still.

First of all,

You need protection,

Anna thought.

She envisioned a circle of golden light around the baby whale,

With only helpers allowed inside.

She pretended the men with machetes were holding bananas instead,

And that their hearts were filling up with love.

She imagined that,

Rather than wanting to hurt the whale,

They now wanted to help.

When Anna opened her eyes,

She noticed about a dozen people had gathered around the little whale.

Two of the fishermen had even joined the helpers.

They were pressing their legs up against the whale's body to anchor it on the sand,

So it wouldn't be scraped onto the coral when the tide came back in.

That's a good start,

Thought Anna,

But it's not enough.

I need to somehow get inside her.

Then I'll be able to feel what she's feeling and really know how to help.

Anna was sure the whale was a girl,

Even though everyone insisted on calling her it.

By now her whale friend was barely moving or breathing.

Anna knew she was going to have to act fast and put her imagining skills to work like never before.

She closed her eyes again and took a deep breath.

In her mind's eye,

She saw herself growing smaller and smaller until she could pass through the whale's eye and into its body.

As she merged into the whale,

Anna noticed how slowly her heart was beating.

She began to feel very tired and very hungry.

She didn't like the rough feeling of the sand on her belly or how hard it was to make even the smallest movements with her fins.

The sand crabs running over her skin made her itch.

Most of all,

She ached to be with her mother again.

She was a brave whale,

But hopelessness was seeping in fast.

In an instant,

Anna knew how she could help.

But as soon as she tried to get back into her own body,

She felt a sharp tugging in the center of her chest.

She realized somehow her heart and the whale's had become entwined.

The only way to get back out was to leave behind a piece of her heart and take a piece of the whale's heart with her.

Anna hesitated,

Afraid,

Then remembered something her mother had told her from her hospital bed.

The important things in life you can't figure out with your head,

Anna.

You have to feel them instead.

When something feels right to you,

Here,

The mother had touched the center of Anna's chest,

Always trusted.

Anna felt into her heart,

Which was now also the whale's heart,

And realized it did indeed feel right.

So,

She took a big breath,

And she and the whale both arched their heads back at the same time.

Within moments,

Anna was back in her own body again.

She felt a little disoriented,

But also filled with a strength and determination like she'd never known before.

It's going to be okay,

Little friend,

Anna told the whale,

And she meant it.

She then imagined lots of warm,

Creamy whale milk filling up the baby's stomach,

Helping her to feel comforted.

She also imagined energy from the sun streaming into the whale's body,

Bringing her the strength and the courage she would need.

As she did,

Anna noticed surges of energy and warmth in her own body too.

Anna was imagining things so intensely,

She hadn't noticed how much the water around her had risen.

When she looked up,

The captain was saying,

I don't think we're going to get a better chance than this.

Everyone was nodding in agreement.

Let's make a sling with the sheets to guide the whale over the coral,

Anna's father suggested.

So,

The helpers took the sheets off the whale's back and began to slide them under the head and belly.

The man who'd hit the whale with the shovel earlier was helping now too.

As he was trying to slide the sheet under the whale's belly,

He got too close and was whacked by her tail.

He fell backwards into the water,

Laughing.

Looks like she's still got some kick in her,

He said.

Anna smiled herself,

Now he knows how it feels.

The water had risen to above the halfway line on the whale's body and she'd begun to float.

Very carefully,

The helpers turned her head away from the beach and started to move her feet,

Carefully navigating the jagged coral reef until they were waist deep in water.

Anna,

Who was holding onto the sheet near the eye of the whale,

Could barely touch the ground with the tips of her toes,

But she didn't mind.

It's almost time,

She whispered to her friend,

Who lay very still in the sling.

Pull the sheets away,

The captain called out,

And the team slid the sheets out from under the whale.

Go,

Little friend,

Go,

Anna cried.

With a strength that took everyone by surprise,

The baby whale swooshed its tail and took off,

Propelling herself through the water with amazing speed.

Anna,

Her dad and the captain jumped in the boat and headed out towards the ocean,

Catching up with the little whale and riding along next to her.

The little baby was so excited to be in the water again that she did a small breach and then started to swim in the wrong direction,

Heading towards the opposite shore.

Oh no,

Said Anna's dad,

I've read most beached whales end up losing their bearings and restranding themselves.

Everyone,

Even Anna,

Was afraid this might happen.

But Anna remembered her secret ability.

She closed her eyes and as quickly as she could,

Imagined the baby whale swimming away from the shore.

When she opened her eyes,

A group of children on the beach had joined hands and run into the water towards the little whale,

Blocking her from coming ashore.

They then turned her around and gently guided her out to sea.

Soon the boat was able to get beside the whale once more and steer her into deeper waters.

This time she swam strongly,

As if her purpose and direction were finally clear.

The sun was starting to set,

But the baby whale's mother was nowhere to be seen.

If this whale doesn't find its mother it won't survive,

Said Anna's dad.

It will either starve to death or be eaten by sharks.

Once again,

Anna saw things differently.

She imagined the whale swimming off into the night ocean and being met by her mother,

Who joyfully welcomed the little one back to her side.

She saw the baby whale snuggling up next to her mother and enjoying the most delicious welcome home drink.

As Anna was imagining this,

The captain lowered a hydrophone into the water.

He turned up the volume and Anna could hear the sounds the little whale was making.

At first they sounded squeaky,

Like she was trying to clear her throat.

Then they grew louder as her song became more confident.

Anna laughed aloud and the others in the boat began chatting about what the whale might be saying.

Shhh,

Said the captain.

Listen.

Everyone hushed up and then they heard the sound of deeper whale voices singing back.

Whales can hear each other over a distance of 12 miles or more,

He said.

Maybe,

Just maybe,

The whale community is guiding this little one back to its mother.

Anna imagined that the whale's mother and friends,

Who'd been hunting for the baby all night and all day,

Were racing towards her calling,

Come this way,

Little one.

And the baby whale was answering,

I'm coming,

I'm coming.

Night was falling and it came time for the captain to turn his boat back to shore.

Anna waved goodbye to the beautiful little whale and watched her disappear into the distance with strong,

Steady tail strokes.

She didn't know if she would ever see her again,

But somehow it didn't matter.

She could feel the glow of the whale's heart inside her own and that made her happy.

Back at the resort,

The guests shared their stories of the day's events late into the night.

Anna noticed that each person's story was a little different and together made up one big story that was even better than hers alone.

The next morning,

Anna ran down to the beach again.

She looked across to where the baby whale had become stranded and saw nothing but sand.

That's a good sign,

She thought.

Later,

She and her dad went out on the whale swimming boat with the captain.

This time,

Anna was the first to spot a couple of whales in the distance.

They seemed to be swimming straight towards the boat.

The captain stopped the engine and the whale swam closer.

When they were just a few yards away,

They began leaping up out of the water and slapping their huge fins and flukes with great enthusiasm.

I've never seen anything like it,

Marveled the captain.

One whale did a massive breach that sent water flying high into the air and over the boat.

Anna's dad got soaked from head to toe.

He and Anna laughed so hard that tears ran down their cheeks.

I guess the wind's making them frisky,

Her dad exclaimed.

No,

Dad,

They're celebrating and saying thank you for helping the baby back to its mother.

Anna's father gave her a huge,

Wet hug.

You may well be right,

Anna Banana,

He laughed.

Anna Banana's heart knew for sure she was.

Museums.

Reviews

A beautiful journey through grief and the power of positive thought.

Such a beautiful and touching story. Peace to all the Whales and those protecting them 🙇‍♀️🐋

Thank you🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻What wisdom and heart in this story. Made me cry for joy. The power of imagination within creation🙏🏻🌟💫🌟✨🌟🙏🏻

Lovely story - to interesting to make me fall asleep 🕊️

Wonderful beginning! I fell asleep 😴 so I’ll have to hear the end later as I woke early and fell back into peaceful sleep! Ty !!!! 💫❤️🙏

What a beautifully moving story! I’d love to hear more about its background!

Thank you - I just ordered the book and look forward to reading it to my grandchildren. It must have been a life changing event for you.