23 October, 2025 | keystroke
A bedtime story for my wife, who missed them.
Once upon a time there was a puppy, living all alone in a big castle. The castle was so big, and filled with worn tapestries, dulled windows and dusty suits of armour throughout.
But no matter how loud the puppy barked, it wasn’t enough to fill the great halls, and it was lonely.
One day, the puppy decided to leave the castle and it came across a sheep tending to its fields. The puppy asked the sheep:
“Your fields look so big and empty, how do you not feel lonely?”
And the sheep replied:
“When I work the fields I must do what is best for the soil, rooting out weeds and planting crops when the time is right. With good stewardship, the land keeps me company.”
And it offered to come with the puppy.
Next the puppy went to the forest and came across a deer grazing. The puppy asked the deer:
“Your forest looks so dark and scary, how do you not feel lonely?”
And the deer said:
“Every day I tend to the creatures of the forest, checking on them and keeping them in touch with each other as I frolic through the trees. Their happiness keeps me company.”
And it offered to come with the puppy.
Finally the puppy found a den with a fox resting inside. The puppy asked the fox:
“Your den looks so cramped and cold, how do you not feel lonely?”
And the fox spoke:
“I work hard for my food, hunting enough game to bring back to feed my kits. At night, their cries with full bellies let me know I’m not alone.”
And it offered to come with the puppy.
The puppy went back to the castle with its new friends, and when they arrived they got to work.
The sheep helped tidy up the castle, repairing the tapestries, dusting off the armour and polishing the windows until the sun shone brightly through. Then it filled the great hall with enough tables and chairs for the whole kingdom.
The deer went out and found everyone, talking to them about a great feast being thrown tonight and telling them to tell their friends. Soon a great crowd of all the kingdoms subjects gathered outside the castle.
The fox hunted and foraged hard, bringing back enough food for the feast. It took the food to the kitchen and spent all evening preparing it, and as night fell it was laid out upon the great tables.
With everything ready, all the subjects were invited inside, and filled the halls with the sound of talk, feasting and merriment. For the first time the puppy saw the castle full of life and friends, and it knew it was no longer lonely.
The end.
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