The Spring Fair ✨ Cozy Bedtime Story For Better Sleep

[00:00:10] Hello and welcome back to Sleep Wave. I'm your host, Carissa, and I'm delighted to have you here tonight. We've got a lovely story tonight to help soothe us to sleep. This is our weekly free episode. If you've been enjoying the show, we'd love to invite you to become a subscriber. It's simply the best way to enjoy the show and make sure you're not missing out on the extra episodes and bonuses exclusive to subscribers. Check out the details below your podcast player.

[00:00:37] Tonight, we travel to the picturesque village of Upper Hexton, where the Trussick sisters are busy preparing for the Spring Fair. There's plenty on offer to entertain, from a scarecrow catwalk to a kelly. There's also an intriguing mystery to solve. Who left the basket of gifts for the children at the door of the village hall?

[00:01:01] Before we begin our only ad break, which helps make this show possible. To listen ad-free, follow the link in the show notes. If your family enjoys the stories here on Sleep Wave, and you're looking for something to listen to during the day, I think you'll love this. It's a podcast called The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian.

[00:01:22] It's a serialized science fiction story about an 8-year-old and his friends exploring space and solving mysteries, told in 15- to 20-minute episodes that are perfect for car rides or for winding down at the end of the day. The podcast is recorded by Jonathan Messenger and his son Griffin in the basement of their home and has a similar warm narrator feel that we have here on Sleep Wave.

[00:01:47] It's built a whole host of loyal fans and even a shout-out from Time Out magazine, who pointed out how much fun kids have following the cruise adventures, exploring new planets, meeting aliens, and helping shape what happens next. It's one of those stories kids can get completely drawn into, and one I'm sure you'll enjoy listening to with them.

[00:02:11] So, if you're looking for a story podcast to share with your family, look for The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian on Apple Podcasts or head to gzmshows.com for more info. And be sure to tell them Sleep Wave sent you. And now, before we head to Upper Hexton, try to focus on your breath. Notice your breaths in and out. In and out.

[00:02:39] Then, take a moment to observe the gentle movement of air as you exhale. On your next inhale, just take in the air, cool and clean. Now, feel your chest rise slightly as your belly softens and expands.

[00:03:03] On the exhale, the air leaves without any resistance, carrying away any tension, letting it float upwards to drift away into the night. Let your shoulders sink a little deeper as you relax.

[00:03:26] And let any worries leave your mind as I begin tonight's story. In the pretty village of Upper Hexton, spring seemed to creep up slowly every year.

[00:03:51] First, the buds came, swelling on the trees with the promise of life. Then, there were the wildflowers that bloomed every year all around the town. They began to peek out and say hello as soon as March arrived. The birds sang a little louder, and the mornings became that little bit brighter. Then, all of a sudden, the town seemed quite transformed.

[00:04:21] The bees and butterflies began to fly around. The grass became a fresh, bright green. The town's gardening committee always planted hundreds of bulbs, so tulips came up in all different colors, from fiery reds to soft pinks. There was a breeze in the air, and it wasn't chilly.

[00:04:47] Instead, it was gentle, lifting and sweeping through the town with a lovely freshness. The sky seemed whiter in spring, like it was wrapping the world up in a soft blue blanket. Yes, Upper Hexton was truly beautiful at this time of year. The Trussick sisters, Emily and Daisy, adored spring.

[00:05:16] Ever since the two were little girls, their parents had marveled at how the sisters loved running around in the fields in the sunshine, always energized and playful. Emily loved spring because it was warmer. She enjoyed the feeling of the sun on her skin, and the sense that the town was coming to life.

[00:05:42] Daisy, her sister, also loved springtime, and her favorite thing was all the new baby animals, wobbly lambs, and spring chicks. Upper Hexton was known around the area for the abundance of ducklings that always appeared each year, emerging from all the speckly blue eggs and swimming around in circles in the village pond.

[00:06:11] The ducklings were often photographed, and there were lots of postcards of them in the village shop. It was a feeling of new beginnings, something to celebrate as the season of winter came to a firm end. So, how to celebrate? Well, Upper Hexton was a place where many fairs were held throughout the year.

[00:06:37] There was always a huge Christmas fair, and the Lannoxes threw their acclaimed fair every March. But in all the history of Upper Hexton, there had never been a specific spring fair until this year. The Trussac sisters decided to organize the fair for April.

[00:07:01] The town had never had a springtime fair before, but as soon as word got out, excitement spread. It felt like just the right thing to bring everyone together and have a day of celebration and community. Emily designed a poster advertising the fair and put it up in the village shop. Soon, everyone was talking about it.

[00:07:31] The sisters met up most nights after work to plan for the fair. With cups of tea in hand, they plotted how they could bring everything they loved about the season to the event. They wanted this new fair to be a celebration of color and new life, with activities for children and adults alike. Something joyful and vibrant.

[00:07:59] They took the task of organizing it very seriously. Mr. and Mrs. Lannox were delighted about the news of a spring fair. A family experienced in throwing events. Mrs. Lannox volunteered their daughter, Lily, to help build anything the sisters might need. If you need a hand, do let us know.

[00:08:24] Mrs. Lannox said, though she realized deep down inside she was excited to go as a guest, to not organize anything for once and to simply enjoy it. Lots of the villagers were eager to help, and preparations began around the village. The village hall was decorated with bunting. Mrs. Lannox was pleased when Emily asked to use her special rainbow bunting,

[00:08:54] and she made more in emerald green and bright cherry red. Emily and Daisy scoured vintage shops for vases in every possible color, painted or glass, to fill with florals. They wanted the decorations to be a real talking point. Finally, the day arrived, and the weather was perfect.

[00:09:23] Emily and Daisy walked from their homes to the hall beneath a bright, cloudless sky. This was why they loved spring. On the way, they had even spotted a lamb frolicking in the field. Upon reaching the village hall, the sisters noticed something unexpected at the door.

[00:09:48] They approached, curious but not surprised to find something waiting for them. It sat there on the step, looking very intriguing. It was a big basket tied with a pink bow. Inside, there were beautiful wooden ducks, painted in muted greens and chestnut browns with subtle brushstrokes.

[00:10:17] Each had carved feather lines, a leather string, and a tag reading, Upper Hexton Spring Fair. They were pull-along, and their carved, webbed feet rotated as they moved. Daisy counted, and it looked like there would be one for each child attending the fair. She picked up a duck, enjoying its satisfying weight.

[00:10:45] She remembered similar ducks from her childhood, and just knew that the village children would love them too. Who could have sent them? She asked Emily in amazement. I have no idea, Emily said. But they're beautiful, aren't they? They all look handmade. And they were. There were tiny differences between each one that confirmed it.

[00:11:14] In her head, Emily knew she would be trying to figure out who had left the ducks here all day. But at the same time, she felt a flurry of excitement and wonder. Upper Hexton was the kind of place where, if you stayed long enough, slight peculiarities began to come about. The river that ran past the edge of town never froze completely in winter.

[00:11:44] And sometimes, if you wished for something hard enough as you closed your eyes at night, and felt your eyelids growing heavy, it would happen. It wasn't a loud type of magic. But it was enough that Emily wondered if some kind of magical force had left the ducks. Emily smiled and grabbed one side of the basket.

[00:12:10] The sisters carried the ducks into the fair. Emily and Daisy set out trestle tables in the hall, filled buckets with flowers and deranged faces. There were bright yellow daffodils, multi-colored tulips, pastel primroses, scented cowslips, tiny blue forget-me-nots, and their favorite, bluebells.

[00:12:41] Anna and Ravi from the pub arrived to coordinate the food, and it felt like everything was coming together. All they needed were the guests. Emily and Daisy took deep breaths and opened the doors, letting in the fresh spring breeze. They were a little nervous about the day beginning, but mostly excited. The villagers were there, waiting.

[00:13:11] Older people, children, and parents. Nearly everyone who was waiting was smiling or laughing, like the idea of the fair had made their day. The residents walked in and marveled at all the work the sisters had done. At the door, Jasper Cairns, the retired artist, handed out postcards with wildflowers painted on one side,

[00:13:39] and raffle numbers printed on the other. The ducks were set out at the beginning, and everyone was hypothesizing about who had sent them. It must be Lily Lennox, Daisy said. She's so handy, I'm sure she made these. No, I don't think it was Lily, Emily said, thinking about the magic she had considered earlier. She was good friends with Lily,

[00:14:08] and she thought she would have known if Lily had made the ducks. Then it was time for the first activity of the day, the scarecrow catwalk. The older children had come dressed as scarecrows, with hay in their hair, a bustle of oversized shirts and undegrees. The catwalk began, and Emily and Daisy took their roles as judges seriously.

[00:14:35] Examining every outfit and option. It was little Sophie Trenton in her homemade outfit, with lots of patches sewn on in all manner of colors, who won in the end. She had perfected the details, with straw poking out of sleeves and trouser legs, a floppy farmer's hat, and a mini toy crow perched on her shoulder.

[00:15:06] She held a rake that was far too big, further enhancing the adorability of the whole look. The children who weren't participating still wore a range of springtime costumes, including bees, butterflies, and even flowers. The effect was a glorious rainbow. Then, it was time for lunch.

[00:15:33] Everyone went over the trestle tables to eat, and the sisters received many compliments on how brilliant the decorations looked. When everyone was seated, Anna and Ravi served up a spring feast. They used cheery crockery in different colors that added to the joyous sense of spring. First up was a huge smoked fish plate

[00:16:02] in the middle of the tables for everyone to share. The delicate fish came with crisp oat cakes, local cheeses, and a drizzle of blossom honey. Then, it was time for the main course, which was truly spectacular. Anna presented towering bowls of delicious salads with bright leaves and sliced peppers

[00:16:32] topped with crispy chicken, salmon, and lots of fragrant herbs. Everyone agreed they were absolutely delicious. For dessert, the couple dished out shortbread served with cream and dark chocolate. It was a simple, comforting end to the meal. The adults chatted away, and the children had their ducks.

[00:17:00] Everyone was delighted with the ducks. They continued to ponder over who could have made them. However, during the meal, no one owned up. Mrs. Lannox was sitting at the top of the table near Daisy and Emily. You've done a brilliant job, she said warmly. That means a lot coming from you, Daisy replied.

[00:17:28] Mrs. Lannox was the queen of events in Upper Hexton, so to get a seal of approval from her meant you'd done a good job. After the meal ended, with tummies full, there was plenty organized to keep everyone entertained. There was a face painting stall set up to one side. Daisy had made lots of pictures showing different face paints she could do. She was a dab hand.

[00:17:56] The first child who came up, Cassie Lane, was dead set on being painted as a sheep. This wasn't even an option Daisy had considered, but she agreed with Cassie. What could be more spring like? After the other children saw Cassie with her face painted cream and the black tip on her nose resembling a snout, they all wanted the same.

[00:18:23] So, there ended up being lots and lots of sheep wandering around the fair. They pottered around the place making sweet little bleats and boughs. There was even a pie tasting stall. It was run as a competition and some of the more ambitious cooks had decided to enter their best baked efforts. Then, a pot painting stall opened featuring lots of different herbs

[00:18:53] including basil, thyme, and rosemary, all in pretty little terracotta pots. But possibly the star activity of the afternoon was the Bee Hotel building workshop. It was the thing everyone flocked to. Emily was running it and she began by assigning lots of roles. Bee architect, mud inspector, bamboo engineer, roof designer.

[00:19:23] They used a variety of materials to create a forest treehouse for the village bees, complete with a bark exterior and twig balconies. They used bamboo canes and pine cones on the side as well as straw to insulate the structure. They filled it with nesting materials like canes, hollow reeds, and untreated wood to make the Bee Hotel

[00:19:52] truly cozy. Emily painted a tiny sign for the front, Honeycomb Heights. The Bee Hotel would go in the village community gardens where many Upper Hexton residents grew vegetables. After all this hard work, crafting, and building, it was time for a mid-afternoon refreshment. Saskia, a brilliant baker, set up a table

[00:20:21] with some of her favorite creations and rang a big bell, calling everyone over for some sweet treats. She'd enlisted the children from around the village to help with baking, and there was something for everyone. The residents marveled at the red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing, and Saskia's famous carrot and orange cake that was served up at every fair

[00:20:50] that took place in the village. Everyone dug into the cakes, helping themselves to cups of tea to wash down the delights. The afternoon sun was low in the sky, coming through the windows and giving the village hall a beautiful glow. The gentle sunlight was warmer than the morning light, but not yet heavy with summer's weight. Everyone sat around,

[00:21:19] enjoying the tea and cake, chatting softly. Then it was time for the raffle. The residents had their raffle numbers on the back of their wildflower pictures from Jasper Cairns. There were lots of prizes to be won. There were gift cards for the local coffee shop, the garden center, and the bookshop. There was a spring candle set, a watering can,

[00:21:49] and dark green gardening gloves. Lily Lanix had donated a whole day of her time to build a bookshelf for one lucky resident, and this was the most coveted prize. After the raffle, everyone received a small envelope of seeds to spread wherever they wanted, donated by the gardening society. The day was coming to an end, and Emily couldn't stop smiling.

[00:22:18] Every time she saw Daisy, she grinned. So many people came up to them and congratulated them on the fair. It had been a truly brilliant day, with an afternoon debate over who had created the beautiful ducks, but Cassie Lane was the one who discovered it. She picked up her duck, and she looked closely at the underside.

[00:22:46] There was a tiny engraving of a wildflower. She held up her raffle tickets, which also had the wildflowers painted on the front. She ran and sought out Emily. Look, she said, pointing at the tiny engraving. Emily took the duck from Cassie. You've solved it, Cassie grinned with delight. The wildflower engraving matched the painting

[00:23:16] on the raffle ticket, so it must have been Jasper Cairns. Jasper was enjoying his cup of tea and finishing off his large piece of carrot cake. He felt very relaxed. There was a sense of peace to the afternoon now that the main activities had taken place. The children were running around with face paint on, enjoying their toy ducks, and the adults were chatting and catching up.

[00:23:46] The murmur of conversation was very relaxing, and he felt his body soften and his back relax. Emily came up with a smile. The ducks! It was you! Jasper smiled mischievously. I knew someone would solve the mystery. Who was it? Cassie, Emily said. She saw the engraving you did. Cassie came over.

[00:24:15] You made them? You made all of them? Jasper nodded. Well done. Very observant of you. Yes, I did. I just made one, and I thought it was rather jolly looking, and I thought, why not make one for every child in the village to remember the day. But it must have taken you so long, Cassie said as a question. Jasper looked at her closely, and his response

[00:24:44] was soft and slow. You're right, it did. But you'll see, if you enjoy a task, sometimes there's nothing better than letting yourself fall into the routine, completing the task to the best of your ability, taking great joy in the repetition as you do it again and again. Have you ever had that? Cassie thought hard.

[00:25:14] She thought about how much she loved drawing and the pleasure she took in getting her pencils out and laying them down carefully. She understood the satisfaction of creating something beautiful. Can you show me how you made the first duck? She asked shyly. Of course, Jasper said, delighted. It would be an honor. Emily watched the conversation. She realized

[00:25:43] the kind man's efforts were more delighted than anything magical. While Jasper and Cassie had been talking, the band were setting up in the corner for the final act of the spring fair, the Kili. family. Everyone helped push the tables to the side and the band began to warm up. There was the sound of flutes and the residents gathered in the center of the village hall.

[00:26:12] They began with the gay cordons, with the children joining in and dancing out of time as a warm-up. Then it was time for the dashing white sergeant. Emily and Daisy had a chance to dance with nearly everyone, swapping partners as the dances continued. After this, it was time to strip the willow, which had been Mrs. Lanix's request.

[00:26:42] It was her favorite of all the dances as it reminded her of her wedding. Everyone danced for hours as night fell, and there were some delicious bottles of beer to quench the villagers' thirst. And then, just like that, the fair came to an end. Daisy sat to one side of the hall, enjoying the sounds

[00:27:11] of the keely as the final songs played. The fiddle had a delicate lightness to it as it swept through the room. Behind the sounds of the fiddle there was the lovely low level of the guitar, the music felt so comforting. The way melodies circled back onto themselves punctuated with laughter from the crowd. The dances were slow now, and Mr.

[00:27:41] and Mrs. Lannox had lit candles around the hall. The flickering flames were magical. Daisy let her mind wander, not thinking of anything in particular, just letting her thoughts move around. She thought about her body, her legs felt tired in that satisfying, comforting way. She breathed in and out.

[00:28:11] She pushed her back into her chair. She thought of spring, of all the things she loved about it now that the day was coming to an end, and she felt that warm sense of satisfaction of seeing everyone come together, old and young, to enjoy a day full of pleasures. She felt her arms relax, and the crown of her head softened like her

[00:28:41] mind was releasing any tension at all. Then her forehead eased, and the space around her eyes grew open and calm. Her mouth rested, her face was very still. Her neck lengthened, and the small muscles loosened and became fluid. A slow wave of ease drifted

[00:29:10] down her neck, untying tiny knots at the base of the skull. Her shoulders began to drop, drifting downwards and back, letting go of the weight they had been carrying. Daisy felt her arms grow heavy in a very pleasant way.

[00:29:40] Her fingers gently uncurled, resting in an easy, natural curve. her breathing slowed as the music continued, fading away into the background as a pleasant hum. Her chest rose and fell smoothly

[00:30:10] without effort. With each breath out, her body moved deeper into a long stillness. At last, she felt her feet relax and her souls felt connected to the floor, steady and supported. The ground felt solid

[00:30:39] beneath her and she sat, breathing in and out, in and out. she let her eyes close as people moved around her and didn't think of anything at all. She just allowed that sense of satisfaction to warm her body and make her feel

[00:31:09] completely and utterly. she enjoyed the simple pleasure of sharing the space with people of all different ages. Now, with her eyes closed, she felt cocooned entirely in her own world. Often, when this happened, she felt

[00:31:38] words move around in her mind. She let them move, thinking of nothing in particular, not allowing anything to stick. And the word that floated back and forth in her mind was community. The word community began to expand, and Daisy felt it grow.

[00:32:10] The word felt warm, steady. It seemed to flicker like a flame, and then it settled and glowed like the embers at the end of a warming fire on a cold day. Her breath deepened, and the dancing continued around her. For a few

[00:32:40] moments, she sat in this calmness, breathing gently, letting the idea of community settle into her body like a song.