Mackenzie Crook - Tappity Tap - What Was That? CBeebies Bedtime Stories

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CBeebies bedtime story.

So, I need to make sure that I close the curtains, turn off the lights...

Oh, hello. I'm Mackenzie.

I'm just making a list of things to remember before I go to bed.

Owl, Mouse and Rabbit, in tonight's bedtime story,

have a list that they put together at their very important meeting,

so I thought I should have one too.

The story is by Claire Freedman and Russell Julian

and is called Tappity-Tap! What Was That?

Deep in the woods, Owl, Mouse and Rabbit

were having a very important meeting.

"This is a very important meeting," said Owl,

"we need to do something about the monster of the woods."

"I'm scared!" cried Rabbit.

"No-one's safe while it's around!" squeaked Mouse,

"I've heard he's big and horribly hairy."

"And very scary," trembled Rabbit.

"Don't panic!" said Owl, handing round notes he'd written.

"I'm sure we've nothing to worry about,

"but just in case I have a plan."

"What to do if the monster of the woods

"comes calling on a dark, stormy night. Number one, lock the door.

"Number two, pull the curtains shut.

"Number three, pretend you're not at home.

"Remember," said Owl, "the monster probably won't call at all."

"He will if it's dark and stormy," shivered Rabbit.

"And if he's hungry," added Mouse.

"Don't worry," said Owl, "if we follow my plan we'll be safe."

That night it was dark and it was stormy.

Owl woke up with a start.

CRASH! BANG! CRASH!

"It's only the thunder," he thought.

HOWL! HOWL! HOWL!

"It's only the wind," he told himself.

TAPPITY-TAP!

What was that?

Quick as he could Owl locked the door,

pulled the curtains shut and pretended he was not at home.

"Let me in," called Rabbit,

"I thought I heard the monster and I'm drenched!"

"Come in," said Owl, "it's only a nasty, noisy storm."

Rabbit scurried inside.

TAPPITY-TAP!

What was that?

"Quick," cried Owl, "the plan!"

They locked the door, shut the curtain and pretended to be out.

"Let me in," called Mouse, "I thought I heard the monster, I'm freezing."

"Come in, Mouse," said Owl, "it's only a noisy, nasty storm."

Mouse curled up by the fire, Owl made some nice, hot cocoa.

"See," he said, "we're all safe now."

TAPPITY-TAP-TAP!

What was that?

Rabbit dropped his mug in fright.

"Is that the Mouse knocking on the front door?" he whispered.

"I'm already here, silly," Mouse squeaked.

"Is it Owl, then?" Rabbit gulped.

"I'm here too," Owl cried.

They looked at each other.

"Oh no," they whispered together, "it must be...

"THE MONSTER OF THE WOODS!"

"Stay calm," shouted Owl, "remember my plan."

So they locked the door,

pulled the curtain shut and pretended they were not at home.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

The banging got louder and louder.

Sniffle, snuffle, squeak.

"That doesn't sound like a monster," frowned Rabbit, forgetting to hide.

"Sounds like crying," said Mouse, nervously opening the curtains.

"Whoever it is sounds frightened," agreed Owl, "maybe they need help."

He peeped through the peep-hole. Slowly Owl unlocked the door.

THUNDER

A tiny, bedraggled, furry...thing stood on the doorstep.

"Who are you?" Everyone gasped.

"I'm the monster of the woods."

"You?" said Mouse, "You're not very big."

"Bigger than you," it said.

"You're not horribly hairy either," added Rabbit.

"It flattened in the rain," it replied.

"And you're not scary," said Owl.

"It's true," the monster sighed,

"I don't know why everyone's frightened of me."

CRASH! BANG! The monster leapt into the Owl's arms.

"I hate thunder," he whimpered.

"There, there," Owl patted him kindly, "we're all safe now."

It was the next very important meeting. Owl handed round notes.

"Before we begin," Owl beamed, "let's welcome the monster of the woods."

The monster giggled, "But my friends call me Snuggles."

And everyone agreed, Snuggles was the perfect name. The end.

And that story was called Tappity-Tap! What Was That?

Hmm, I'll need to make sure I invite Snuggles

to our next very important meeting too.

I'll just pop him onto my list

and while I do it's time for you to go to bed,

and I'll see you soon for another story. Night, night.

Now, is there anyone else I need to invite?

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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