A Bouncy City Guest

Pip was a little sheep with curly white fleece. He wore a tiny blue bell on his collar. *Ting-ting*, sang the bell with every step. Pip lived on a quiet farm on a hill. Today, a boy named Leo visited from the big city. Leo wore a bright yellow sun hat and shiny red sneakers. But Leo was very restless. His feet went *tap-tap-tap* on the porch. He tapped his fingers on his knees. "The city is loud and fast," Leo said. "I do not know how to sit still!" Pip gently nudged Leo's knee with his warm, black nose. The sun was sinking low over the savanna. Pip wanted to show Leo the farm before bedtime. Pip softly chanted, "Tip-tap, soft and slow, where the sleepy breezes blow." Leo smiled and followed Pip toward the open gate.

Under the Giant Baobab

Pip trotted out onto the warm red dust. *Puff, puff*, the dry soil puffed around his hooves. Leo walked beside him under the wide baobab tree. The tree had a huge, round trunk. Its green leaves made cool shadows. "Look at that cricket!" Leo cried. *Boing, boing!* Leo began jumping in the air. He waved his arms and laughed loudly. He was still far too bouncy for bedtime! Pip did not jump. Instead, Pip rubbed his woolly side against the smooth tree bark. *Scritch, scratch*. Pip took a long, slow breath of warm evening air. "Tip-tap, soft and slow, where the sleepy breezes blow," Pip hummed gently. Leo stopped bouncing. He looked down at his dusty red shoes. His shoulders began to drop. He rubbed his eyes.

The Golden Hill Path

Pip turned toward the rising hill. The sunbaked savanna was turning soft and amber. The distant hills looked like sleeping giants under the glowing sky. *Crunch, crunch*, went Leo's sneakers in the dust. *Ting-ting*, went Pip's sweet little bell. The cool night air began to whisper through the dry grass. *Swish, swish*, the grass danced. Then, Leo stopped right in front of a flat, smooth rock. The rock had stayed warm from the sun all day long. Sweet green grass grew all around it like a soft green pillow. Leo took off his yellow hat. He let out a big sound: *Haaah*. His feet did not want to tap anymore. "The hills are going to sleep," Leo whispered in wonder. The sky turned from bright gold to a calm, dreamy purple.

Safe and Asleep

Pip climbed onto the soft grass beside the warm rock. He folded his little legs under his woolly belly. Leo sat down right next to Pip. Leo leaned his head against Pip's fluffy side. Pip was as warm as a fresh blanket from the dryer. *Hush, hush*, whispered the evening wind through the baobab branches. The distant hills were dark and peaceful now. Pip's bell gave one last tiny sound: *ting*. Leo pulled his sweater close. "Tip-tap, soft and slow, where the sleepy breezes blow," Leo murmured softly. His eyelids fluttered and closed. Pip rested his chin on his front hooves. The crickets sang a quiet bedtime song across the red earth. Both little friends were safe and warm on the savanna hill, fast asleep under the silver stars.