Lee Ingleby - First Week at Cow School CBeebies Bedtime Stories

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Elephant. ELEPHANT TRUMPETS

And cat. CAT MEOWS

Oh, hello. I'm Lee. I was taking the register

to make sure everyone's here for tonight's bedtime story.

What's your name? Yes, you're down here, too.

I'll put a tick next to you. Good.

Everyone is present which means I can start tonight's bedtime story.

It's about school. And it's by Andy Cutbill and Russell Ayto.

The story is called First Week At Cow School.

It was Monday morning.

Marjorie, the cow, was straightening Daisy's ribbons

when ding-a-ling, the farmyard bell rang.

"Welcome to cow school, children," trilled Miss Goldtop, the teacher.

Marjorie was feeling jolly proud. It seemed only yesterday

that her daughter amazed everyone by hatching from an egg.

Just then the chickens popped up. "Good luck, Daisy," they called.

Daisy gave her mum a kiss and skipped inside.

Quickly, Marjorie rushed to the window.

Inside, Miss Goldtop was calling the register.

"Bernard?" "Moo, Miss."

"Malcolm?" "Moo, Miss."

"Pauline?" "Moo, Miss."

"Daisy?" "Cluck-cluck, moo, Miss."

"Now," said Miss Goldtop, "let's start with a bit of hoof painting."

All the cows got stuck in straight away

and soon there were great big splodgy pictures everywhere.

But Daisy's picture was a little... different.

The next day was Tuesday.

"Cowpat training," sang Miss Goldtop.

All the small cows jumped to it.

There were big pats and round pats,

and steamy pats...

and then there were Daisy's pats.

Small and hard

and rather like raisins.

On Wednesday, there was cud chewing lesson.

All the cows stampeded into the yard and immediately started chomping.

But chomping somehow wasn't Daisy's cup of tea.

Thursday was MOO-sic and MOO-vement.

"Swish those tails," said Miss Goldtop, "Swat those flies."

All the little cows had a marvellous time, swish, swish, swish!

But Daisy's tail wasn't really long enough to swish.

Besides, she preferred to eat the flies.

Outside, the mums were starting to gossip.

"Daisy's rather alternative."

"Those funny legs and pointy feet."

"It's almost as if she wasn't a cow at all."

On the way home, Daisy was looking a little glum.

"What's up?" asked Marjorie.

"All the other cows are so talented," said Daisy,

"but I don't feel very cow-like at all."

Just then, the chickens popped up.

"Not very cow-like?"

They spluttered, "Well, we'll soon see about that."

First thing on Friday morning,

the chickens had a very important pow-wow in Miss Goldtop's office.

Everybody tried to listen at the door.

Finally, Miss Goldtop emerged.

"Today," she said, a little shaken,

"flying lessons."

Well, the whole class was dumbstruck.

No-one had been told about flying!

Soon, there were cows charging everywhere, hopping up...

and down, flapping their hooves wildly

and not one got an inch off the ground.

Apart from Daisy.

With a single flap, she gracefully popped into the air,

looped the loop and landed on the bottom of the bunk.

Everyone was completely gobsmacked.

So was Daisy, in fact.

"Well, bless my soul," gasped Miss Goldtop.

"Daisy can fly!"

Marjorie rushed into the classroom.

"What a talent," she whooped, scooping up her baby.

"You're the most talked-about cow in history!"

clucked the chickens, relieved.

Daisy smiled at her mum.

"Yes," she said.

"Although, when I grow up, I'd like to be...

"a chicken."

"Now that would be something special," cooed Marjorie.

And she promptly got a peck on the cheek.

And that story was called First Week At Cow School.

Well, if Daisy's a cow, then I think I could be...a hippopotamus.

What would you be?

It's definitely past Daisy's bedtime,

and it's probably time for you to go to bed too.

So I'll say good night.

And, maybe, if you look out of your window,

you might spot a cow flying over the moon.

Night-night.

See you soon.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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