Children’s bedtime story about hope and joy
In a large forest, there lived a little bear. He wasn’t very fond of talking to others and preferred to stay home all day. His home was filled with all kinds of strange and interesting things, like a cuckoo clock, a crystal ball, and little figurines. But the thing the little bear loved the most was his candy jar.
The candy jar had been left to him by his grandmother when the bear was very young. Back then, his parents had gone out to find food but never returned.
So, his grandmother raised the little bear and told him that his parents had simply gone to another world, a world full of blooming flowers and lush green grass. She said that when his parents returned, she would leave and return to her old home.
But just last month, his grandmother, who was already quite elderly, passed away. Since then, the little bear had often gazed out the window, hoping to see two familiar figures walking toward him, but they never came. Before his grandmother left, she gave him a candy jar made of ceramic that gleamed and shone. A note stuck on the jar read:
“Little bear, Grandma hopes that the candies inside this jar will become your friends.”
The candies inside the jar were indeed magical, and the little bear cherished them as if they were his friends.
When the little bear was happy, he would eat a red candy, which made him even happier.
When he was angry, he could eat a blue candy, and his heart would calm down.
When he was sad, he could eat a green candy, and he’d regain his confidence.
…
Ever since the little bear got this candy jar, he stayed home, holding it close. He never went out to play with the other animals and never said a word to them. While the other animals played games like “hide and seek” on the grass, the little bear stayed at home with his candy jar.
But one day, the little bear felt strange. He wasn’t happy, he wasn’t sad, and he wasn’t angry. He just felt empty, as if everything around him had disappeared.
He opened the candy jar and ate a candy, but his mood didn’t improve. So, he grabbed a handful of candies and stuffed them into his mouth, but the emptiness remained. The little bear looked at the colorful candies in the jar but felt like they had lost their color, just like how he felt inside.
“Sigh, what should I do?” he wondered.
The little bear looked outside, and the clouds seemed to be smiling down at him. So, he decided to go for a walk to clear his mind. He put on his coat, took his precious candy jar with him, and set off.
The little bear reached a stream and looked down at his reflection, gently tapping the stones on the shore. His reflection wavered in the water, appearing and disappearing. But his mood didn’t improve—he still felt empty inside.
The little bear kept walking. Flowers on the roadside waved at him, and he picked one, bringing it to his nose to smell. The flower smelled lovely, but it didn’t lift his spirits. He sighed and tossed the flower away.
At that moment, he felt nothing. It was as though the entire world had vanished, leaving only him behind. Loneliness quickly swept over him, and the little bear finally realized that ever since his grandmother had passed, no one had been there to keep him company. Now, he was a lonely, abandoned little bear with no home.
Just then, cheerful laughter came from afar. Who was it? What were they doing? The little bear’s curiosity was piqued, so he followed the sound and hid behind a rock.
Under a big tree, a group of small animals was having a picnic. They were sharing their food and playing games, laughing and having fun. The little bear watched them longingly but didn’t dare go over to greet them.
Just then, a little fox eating cookies noticed the bear hiding behind the rock.
“Hi there, little bear! Why are you hiding back there?” asked the fox.
The little bear, feeling shy, stepped out from behind the rock and instinctively hid the candy jar behind his back. He didn’t want anyone to see his treasure.
“Hi… I’m just out for a walk,” the little bear said.
“Why not join us for the picnic and some games? You’re welcome to come!” said the little fox, pulling the little bear over to the big tree.
“Hey, everyone! We have a new friend!” the fox called out.
All the animals immediately rushed over, surrounding the little bear. He became even more nervous and hugged the candy jar tightly, not wanting anyone to see it.
A little cat nearby took out a small cookie from her pocket and placed it in the bear’s hand. “This is a cookie I brought from home. Everyone loves my cookies—try one!”
“Oh, thank you.” For some reason, the bear’s cold heart suddenly felt a bit warmer.
“Little bear, I brought some cheese from the mill. Here, have some!” said a little mouse.
“Little bear, I…”
The warm-hearted animals all shared their snacks with the bear. He looked at them, each one smiling brightly. His heart, once filled with loneliness, began to feel warm and full. The empty feeling was gone.
The little bear took out the candy jar from his arms and placed it on the grass.
“This was my grandmother’s candy jar. The candies inside are really delicious. Everyone, please have some.”
He opened the lid of the candy jar, and a sweet, milky aroma instantly filled the air.
The animals eagerly enjoyed the magical candies. One after another, the tasty candies quickly disappeared. The little bear stayed and played “hide and seek” with his new friends for hours until dusk when they reluctantly said their goodbyes.
“Come again tomorrow!” the fox shouted as the little bear left.
Out of breath, the little bear sat on the grass, looking at the now-empty candy jar in his hand. But his heart was filled with happiness. His grandmother’s wish had come true—the candies had left the jar and transformed into his new friends.
The shiny candy jar reflected the colorful clouds in the sky. The clouds, tinged with shades of red and purple, seemed to reflect the bear’s emotions. As he gazed at the fiery clouds, he imagined seeing three familiar figures smiling at him from the sky.
Loneliness and sorrow had long left his heart, flying far away beyond the mountains, never to return.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
