0:00:07 > 0:00:10Hello. My name's Adjoa.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13I had a lovely surprise this morning.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16A letter came in the post from my friend who lives far away.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20Isn't it lovely to receive letters full of news?
0:00:20 > 0:00:24Well, tonight's story is about someone who receives
0:00:24 > 0:00:26lots of letters from his friend, too.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29Shall we find out what they say?
0:00:29 > 0:00:33This story is called Herman's Letter.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35And it's by Tom Percival.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42Herman and Henry had been best friends
0:00:42 > 0:00:45for as long as anyone could remember.
0:00:45 > 0:00:51From tiddlywinks to climbing trees, they did everything together.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54They had great fun inventing their own games.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57And they even had a secret club with a secret code
0:00:57 > 0:01:00and a top-secret handshake.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05Everything was just perfect...
0:01:06 > 0:01:09..until Henry had to move away.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12The two friends were devastated.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15But they promised to write to each other
0:01:15 > 0:01:19and to stay best friends forever.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23It wasn't easy for Henry to settle into his new home.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25He missed Herman terribly.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29As soon as he could, he wrote his first letter.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33"Dear Herman, How are you?
0:01:33 > 0:01:37"My new home is kind of OK but it's not the same without you around.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41"The weather here is nice and sunny and I've made some new friends.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43"In fact, they've just called round.
0:01:43 > 0:01:48"Must dash. Lots of love, your best friend, Henry."
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Herman knew he should've felt happy for his friend,
0:01:51 > 0:01:59but inside, he just felt horribly, terribly, awfully jealous.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02It just wasn't fair.
0:02:02 > 0:02:07Henry was off making new friends while Herman was left on his own.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10"Dear Herman, I can't believe
0:02:10 > 0:02:12"that summer's already here.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15"It's so lovely and warm where I am.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19"In fact, I don't think it's rained once. Can you believe it?
0:02:19 > 0:02:22"We went for a barbecue yesterday and I paddled in the sea
0:02:22 > 0:02:27"and ate ice cream all day. I can't wait to hear what you've been up to.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31"Please write soon. Love, Henry."
0:02:31 > 0:02:33Herman had meant to write back.
0:02:33 > 0:02:38But how could he possibly tell Henry how miserable he was?
0:02:39 > 0:02:42"Dear Herman, Guess what I did today?
0:02:42 > 0:02:46"I had a ride in a hot-air balloon. It was amazing!
0:02:46 > 0:02:49"You could see for miles. I wish you could have been there.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53"That would have made it even better. Love, Henry."
0:02:55 > 0:02:58So hours, days and months passed by
0:02:58 > 0:03:02and it was nearly time for Herman to hibernate.
0:03:02 > 0:03:07He settled down in his comfiest armchair, pulled up a blanket
0:03:07 > 0:03:10and was just about to close his eyes
0:03:10 > 0:03:15when WHOMP...something clattered through the letter box.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Oh, it was a letter!
0:03:17 > 0:03:20A letter from his best friend.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23"Dear Herman, I hope you are well.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26"I haven't received ANY of your letters.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30"There must be a problem with the post or something.
0:03:30 > 0:03:35"I miss you so much! You're my best friend in the whole wide world.
0:03:35 > 0:03:41"Please say you'll come and visit me soon. Love, Henry."
0:03:41 > 0:03:44Herman had never felt so happy.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Henry missed him too.
0:03:46 > 0:03:51He wrote a reply and rushed out through the snow to post it.
0:03:52 > 0:03:57But he was too late! The Post Office was shut for winter.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01Herman groaned. What was he going to do?
0:04:01 > 0:04:08Then he had a brilliant and rather bold idea.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12He would deliver the letter himself!
0:04:12 > 0:04:17Herman packed a suitcase and set out into the swirling snow.
0:04:17 > 0:04:22He walked and walked and walked
0:04:22 > 0:04:26until his cosy home was just a distant memory.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32He strolled past penguins.
0:04:32 > 0:04:37Tiptoed through caves. Sh!
0:04:37 > 0:04:41And leapt over the creaking crevices. Woo hoo!
0:04:41 > 0:04:47Then he climbed and climbed and climbed up steep cliffs.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49SCRAPE!
0:04:49 > 0:04:51And frozen waterfalls.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53SCREECH!
0:04:53 > 0:04:55Until finally...
0:04:57 > 0:05:03..he reached the top of the tallest mountain he had ever seen!
0:05:03 > 0:05:05Oh, bother!
0:05:05 > 0:05:11Poor Herman. His journey had just gone from bad to worse.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16Luckily, Herman was a very resourceful bear.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22But sometimes things don't go according to plan.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24BUMP!
0:05:24 > 0:05:26DOOF!
0:05:26 > 0:05:30Whoa! Aah!
0:05:33 > 0:05:37Herman bashed his head on a tree trunk. And everything went...
0:05:37 > 0:05:39black.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44HERMAN SNORES
0:05:45 > 0:05:50Herman's snoring attracted a lot of attention.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52But nobody knew quite what to do.
0:05:52 > 0:05:57Then somebody noticed Herman's letter.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59It was obvious.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01What they needed was a postman.
0:06:03 > 0:06:08Later that afternoon, Henry was very surprised to receive...
0:06:09 > 0:06:11HERMAN SNORES
0:06:11 > 0:06:17..a strange snoring box. He was even more surprised when he opened it.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21A letter! Shall we see what it says?
0:06:22 > 0:06:25"Dear Henry, I miss you too!
0:06:25 > 0:06:29"I'd LOVE to visit, but I'll be hibernating all winter.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32"I'll come and see you as soon as I wake up in the spring.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36"Your best friend forever, Herman."
0:06:37 > 0:06:40Henry read Herman's letter and chuckled.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44He didn't mind Herman dropping in unannounced.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46After all, they were best friends.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49HERMAN SNORES
0:06:49 > 0:06:53But he'd forgotten just how loud Herman's snoring was.
0:06:55 > 0:07:01Suddenly, spring seemed like a very, very long way away.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05But when it did come...
0:07:05 > 0:07:08BRR-RING!
0:07:08 > 0:07:11..it was brilliant!
0:07:14 > 0:07:20That story was called Herman's Letter and I hope you enjoyed it.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24Henry had to wait a very long time to receive his letter.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28It was worth the wait, though, because in the end,
0:07:28 > 0:07:31he got a letter from his best friend and a visit, too!
0:07:32 > 0:07:36And now, it's time for you to have a big sleep.
0:07:36 > 0:07:42Maybe not as big as Herman's. And I'll see you again soon.
0:07:42 > 0:07:43Sweet dreams!