0:00:06 > 0:00:08Hello, I'm Tom.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Do you like dogs?
0:00:10 > 0:00:14Me too. I absolutely love dogs, and tonight's bedtime story
0:00:14 > 0:00:17is about a very special little waggy-tailed friend
0:00:17 > 0:00:21looking for someone to play with. And it's called Fleabag
0:00:21 > 0:00:25and it's written and illustrated by Helen Stephens.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28There once was a dog who had no name.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31And he had no home.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33What he did have was fleas.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36SCRATCHING But they weren't much company.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39He lived all alone in the big city, and found his dinner
0:00:39 > 0:00:42wherever he could.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45He liked to bark at the huge blue things that thundered past.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49TRAIN RUMBLES PAST WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!
0:00:49 > 0:00:53And run in the big green place, where he saw lots of other dogs.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56The other dogs all had people to take for walks.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00He wished that he had a person, too. BARKING
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Sometimes, he tried to join in the other dogs' games,
0:01:03 > 0:01:06but their people called him Fleabag.
0:01:06 > 0:01:07Told him to shoo!
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Then one day...
0:01:09 > 0:01:13he saw a boy with a ball, but no dog.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17The boy's big person was busy, and he had no-one to play with.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19That didn't seem right.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23So when the boy threw his ball, the dog ran as fast as he could
0:01:23 > 0:01:26across the green stuff, through the pink things
0:01:26 > 0:01:27and caught it.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29FLEABAG PANTS That was fun.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32He'd never done playing before.
0:01:32 > 0:01:33The boy looked very pleased.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36He tickled the dog under the chin.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39The dog liked that, he'd never been tickled before.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42"Don't touch him, Bob," said the boy's big person.
0:01:42 > 0:01:43"He's all mucky."
0:01:43 > 0:01:47"I don't mind," said Bob. "I like him."
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Over the next few days, the dog looked out for his boy
0:01:51 > 0:01:54and the boy looked out for his dog.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56The boy's big person was usually
0:01:56 > 0:02:00too busy to notice, and they became great friends.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02But then one day...
0:02:02 > 0:02:06the boy didn't feel like playing.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08He was too sad.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12He told the dog that his family were moving house the next day.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15They were going far away and he wouldn't be able to play
0:02:15 > 0:02:17with the dog ever again.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21The dog waggled his eyebrows as if he understood,
0:02:21 > 0:02:24but he didn't really.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27Then the boy's big person called out, "Come on, Bob, home time.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31"Leave that little Fleabag alone now."
0:02:31 > 0:02:34"I have to go with my mum," said the boy.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36"I'll miss you."
0:02:36 > 0:02:38And he shook the dog's paw.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44Then the boy followed his mum, and the dog followed his boy
0:02:44 > 0:02:45all the way home.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53That night, the boy couldn't sleep.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56When he looked out his window, he could see his dog,
0:02:56 > 0:02:57sitting far below.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00"I can't leave you behind," he thought.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04And he decided to do something very scary.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08He picked up his suitcase, which was already packed for the move,
0:03:08 > 0:03:10stuffed a few biscuits in his pockets,
0:03:10 > 0:03:12and he tiptoed out of the flat.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15He was scared as he scampered down the stairs.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18He was scared as the heavy door shut behind him.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21DOOR SHUTS And he was scared as he ran
0:03:21 > 0:03:22to meet his friend.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26"Come on, boy," he said bravely, "we're running away!"
0:03:26 > 0:03:29The dog was very confused.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32What was his boy doing outside in the dark?
0:03:32 > 0:03:35He should be safe indoors with his big people.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37FLEABAG WHIMPERS He sat very still.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39"Come on," said the boy.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41But the dog wouldn't move.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43"Biscuit?" said the boy.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46But the dog wouldn't budge.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48"I'll just have to carry you," said the boy.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52But the dog wriggled free and tried to pull his boy back home.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Then he ran round and round and round barking.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!
0:03:57 > 0:04:00"Shh," said the boy, "You'll wake up Mum and Dad."
0:04:00 > 0:04:02That seemed like a good idea.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06So the dog went, "Woof, woof, woof! Woof, woof, woof..."
0:04:08 > 0:04:10..until a light went on...
0:04:10 > 0:04:12and a worried face looked out.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16The boy's big people seemed rather cross and they sent him
0:04:16 > 0:04:18straight back to bed.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20Then one of them said,
0:04:20 > 0:04:25"I suppose this little Fleabag can sleep here tonight."
0:04:25 > 0:04:28"I think he deserves to," said the other.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30"He did look after Bob."
0:04:30 > 0:04:32The dog was very excited.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36He'd never slept in a real bed before.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39The next day, the family took everything out of their flat
0:04:39 > 0:04:42and put it in an enormous van.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46Then, when the van was full, they got into the car.
0:04:46 > 0:04:47The dog was worried.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51Were his people going somewhere without him?
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Then the man said, "Come on, little Fleabag,
0:04:54 > 0:04:56"hop in, you're coming with us."
0:04:56 > 0:05:00And that's how the dog with no name found a home.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04The dog soon settled in. Dad got rid of his fleas, which was good.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06Mum got him nice and clean,
0:05:06 > 0:05:08which wasn't so good.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Then Bob got him nice and dirty all over again.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15The dog listened while his family tried to think of a name for him.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17"Scruff," said Mum.
0:05:17 > 0:05:18"Spike," said Dad.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20"Ga-ga," said the baby.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23But the only name that stuck...
0:05:23 > 0:05:24was Fleabag.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28LAUGHTER AND BARKING
0:05:28 > 0:05:31What a lovely little dog. It's a perfect name for him as well.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35I'm sure Fleabag will be going on lots of adventures
0:05:35 > 0:05:36with his new family.
0:05:36 > 0:05:41But now it's time for you to go on an adventure of your own,
0:05:41 > 0:05:42in your dreams.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47So cuddle up to your snuggly friend and drift off to sleep.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50I'll see you soon for another bedtime story.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53Sweet dreams.