Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Dreamy Dinner on Maple Street

Starting point is 00:00:01 Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy. My name's Thomas and I'm your host. Thanks so much for being here this evening and trusting in us to help you get a good night's sleep. Tonight's story was written by Alicia Stefan and I'll be narrating it for you. It's a follow-up to a story we released in September 2025 called A Dreamy Day of Good Deeds, in which a series of neighbours spent an autumn day performing tiny good deeds for one another. Numerous listeners commented that they wanted to know what would happen next for this friendly cast of characters. Tonight, we're going to visit those lovers.

Starting point is 00:01:02 people where many of them live on Maple Street, taking goodwill a step further. They'll be working together to stage a festive outdoor dinner on a beautiful summer evening. So my friends, let's prepare to listen by taking some time for ourselves at the end of another day. ensure that you're resting comfortably and feel free to follow any rituals or routines that tend to help you unwind. Maybe that's focusing on the breath, slowing it down a little to relax the nervous system, or perhaps you like to gently work through anything that's on your mind,

Starting point is 00:02:07 putting your thoughts in order by giving them acknowledgement. and then tidying them away for another time while you ease yourself into the peace and comfort of the night. I'd like you to just take a moment to consider the good deeds you do in your day-to-day life, recognize the acts of kindness you undertake, or the positive words you speak about others. Sometimes these acts may be so ingrained in your sense of self that you almost forget how much those little moments matter, be it holding a door open for someone, offering a friend, relative or partner, some help at home, giving advice to those less than know on a topic that you understand well, or praising. praising someone on their efforts or their character, maybe even apps that don't directly affect another human being, but help our nature and wildlife as just scratching the surface of the various ways we may enact good deeds. But these little moments of kindness and goodwill

Starting point is 00:03:48 are what makes society and the world a better place. Let this be a moment. Let this be a moment to pay yourself a little respect and appreciation for all you do to put a smile on people's faces making someone's day that little bit brighter or making the world a healthier place that's the essence of our story tonight which we're now ready to hear so picture a leafy street somewhere in a quiet town. Summer has arrived and the neighbourhood has blown off the dust and stepped outside. This is where our story begins. Bonita was in no hurry as she approached her apartment building on Maple Street. She had finished all her errands and was looking forward to a relaxing evening at home. cooking one of her favourite meals.

Starting point is 00:05:40 But first, she wanted to enjoy the weather, which was absolute perfection, in her opinion. She was the type of person who loved all the seasons in their turn. Every year, she looked forward to a crisp autumn and a cozy winter, but she was always excited to see the first buds and tulips of spring as well. And of course, the gentle warmth and lush green canopies of early summer made her feel ecstatic when it was time. Not too hot and not too cold, and with lots of sunshine.

Starting point is 00:06:37 This was one of those afternoons that made her feel like life was full of promise. She planned to throw the windows wide open when she went upstairs to her apartment, number 3A. But on the way, she was soaking up the late afternoon sun for just a few more minutes. Reaching the front door, she found she was smiling to her. and her smile grew even bigger when she saw that her neighbor Ellie from Tuay was in the downstairs hallway. Ellie had a few pieces of mail in her hand and she was reading something on her phone as if she'd paused the process of going upstairs. Bonita greeted her friend warmly and the younger woman

Starting point is 00:07:53 looked up from her phone with a pleased expression. Bonita commented on how lovely the weather was, and Ellie agreed. Then she motioned to her phone and said she had been looking at some pictures a friend had sent her. Apparently in her friend's town, they had staged a huge dinner party in the street. With fancy dishware and musicians and everything, she held up the phone for her neighbour to see. Bonita leaned over her shoulder as she scrolled through the pictures. She saw a very long table, draped in white tablecloths and lit by candles. The diners seemed happy, leaning in talk to each other, or raising their glasses in a toast. What a marvellous idea, Ellie mused out loud. As the two women stood there, the front door opened again, and Mark from apartment 1B came inside.

Starting point is 00:09:32 They all said their hellos, and he leaned between his neighbours to see what they were scrutinising on Ellie's phone. The two women explained to the photographs as Ellie swiped through them. Mark was just as impressed with the dinner pictures as they were. Bonita stood up straighter with a thoughtful look. Then she said, you know, I don't see why we couldn't do something like that. Both Ellie and Mark looked at her blankly. They had the expressions of people who were surprised, but in a good way. I'm serious, Bonita said, motioning at the glass door of the apartment building, she added. I mean, could the weather be more perfect for an outdoor dinner?

Starting point is 00:10:48 Ellie and Mark regarded each other a little dubiously. then Mark smiled, shrugged his shoulders and said decisively, I don't see why not. Ellie added, it doesn't have to be fancy exactly. We could make it festive, but perhaps we could do a potluck, where everyone brings a favourite food of their own. All of a sudden, the three of them looked delightedly at one another. It was settled. They would give it a try. Within moments, they had a plan.

Starting point is 00:11:43 Benita would contact the town office to see if they could get a permit to close the street on a night that was two weeks away. She was hopeful that it could be done, as it was a small side street, and events had been staged there before. Meanwhile, Ellie would make up flyers, inviting their neighbours and directing them to an online sign-up sheet for the potluck, and Mark had a role to play too. He was going to talk to his choir group about borrowing some tables and chairs they had in storage, humming with anticipation. The three neighbours parted. Mark disappeared behind the door of 1B to make his contacts. Ellie parted from Benita on the landing by 2A.

Starting point is 00:13:00 As she let herself into her apartment, she was already eager to get into her design program on the computer. Bonita was the last to arrive at her own apartment on the third floor. she opened her windows and inhaled the fresh air. Putting on some music to listen to while she cooked, she'd get an early start at the town office in the morning. There was a bit of a rain shower the next day, but it didn't keep Benita from boldly sallying forth

Starting point is 00:13:49 to see the clerk at the town office in person. Bonita was perfectly comfortable with email and phone calls. But she firmly believed that when you needed something done quickly, you were best served by going in person as she pushed her way through the doors of the old brick building, feeling a little damp from the rain. She was pleased to see that the person on duty was someone she knew from her yoke, her acquaintance Joan was standing at the front counter, engrossed in some type of record keeping, as Bonita stepped to the desk, wiping the rain from her face. Joan looked up and stuck a pencil

Starting point is 00:14:56 behind her rear. She brightly asked Bonita what had brought her in on this wet morning. Bonita raised her eyebrows dramatically and said she had a very important mission. She proceeded to explain what she needed. Joan made a slightly skeptical face and pursed her lips. Having a street blocked off was certainly possible, but it normally required 30 days' notice. Bonita gave her a baleful look, and they stared at each other for a few moments. Finally, they both started laughing. Joan told Bonita that she would grant the request. But Benita owed her a cup of tea after yoga the following week.

Starting point is 00:16:12 Beaming at her success, Bonita agreed, and then invited Joan to the dinner. This seemed to surprise Joan. But her gracious acceptance showed that she was thrilled to be included. Outside again, despite the rain. Bonita almost felt like skipping. She watched her glossy rain boots as she stepped over cracks and puddles in the sidewalk. And she hummed to herself the entire way home,

Starting point is 00:16:56 arriving back at Maple Street. She surveyed the length of the road with its small apartment buildings. She imagined a long row of tables in its centre. Pitter-patter. The rain gently sounded on her umbrella as she arrived at her own apartment building, folding it up and giving it a light shake

Starting point is 00:17:36 over the mat in the entrance. She impulsively walked to Mark's door at 1B and gave it a light knock. Mark took a moment to glance through the peephole and then quickly opened the door with an expectant look. Behind him, a small grey cat with a neat white chest eyed her curiously. In her excitement, Bonita dispensed with formalities. She told Mark that Joan at the town office had agreed to process their request and that the dinner was on full speed ahead. After all, she reasoned. If Joan had accepted an invitation to the dinner, she had a vested interest in making sure it happened.

Starting point is 00:18:46 Though she hadn't invited her with ulterior motives, Benita. added with a laugh, Mark stepped into the hall and carefully closed his door behind him, leaving the little cat to her own thoughts inside his apartment. Then the two neighbours bustled up the stairs to Ali's door. As they did, Mark told Bonita that he'd already heard back from his choir director, and that the loan of the chairs and tables had been approved. Bonita and Mark could hear music coming from Ellie's apartment, so they knew that she would be there, knocking with a jaunty tap-tap. They waited together for her to open the door. When she did, she happily invited them both in to share their news. With the permitting process and the tables and chairs approved,

Starting point is 00:20:10 they felt comfortable getting the word out. They decided they would agree on the details, and post the flyers as their next step. Ellie was a very practical person, So she immediately broached the tedious topic of dishware. On one hand, disposable plates and cutlery would be most sensible. But they all agreed that wouldn't feel very special. Furthermore, it will create a mountain of waste at the end of the dinner. They could try renting or borrowing dishware, Mark suggested. But even if they could pull that off without any budget,

Starting point is 00:21:12 who would wash the dishes at the end? Each of the three friends made a comical grimace at the question, as they knew that nobody would want to take that job on. Then Benita had an idea. If this was to be a pot luck, she said, why not have everyone bring their own favourite dishes and cutlery it would be easy enough with all the dinner guests living right there on maple street and then they could bring whatever was most special and useful for them personally mark andelli thought this was a splendid idea and the problem appeared to be solved the three neighbours spent the late morning huddled

Starting point is 00:22:18 around Ellie's table. While she created their flyers on some design software, the flyers would be simple. They would invite the neighbours sharing the date and time and then direct them to the online sign-up sheet for more details. But for those who might not be technologically savvy, Bonita offered to share her phone number, so they could sign up or ask questions that way. Children and pets were welcome, of course. This was to be a family event where nobody was excluded while the flyers were piling up on Ellie's printer. They debated how to organise the sign-up sheet. In the end, they decided they would just create a few general meal areas for people to choose from. They would have appetizers, main course items and desserts. They simply asked each attendee to share

Starting point is 00:23:48 specifics about what they were planning to bring. They could do this in the comments box next to their selection on the sign-up sheet. The three neighbors wrapped up their work around lunchtime, so that they could return to their jobs and errands, but not before Ellie handed the colourful flyers to Bonita, who had shared that she was free that afternoon. She would go to each apartment building to hang up the posters. After lunch, the sun came out. Bonita felt a surge of delight. as she stepped outside once again. This time with her small stack of flyers, as she walked next door, she noticed how raindrops clung to all the bright green leaves over her head. The damp pavements

Starting point is 00:25:08 emanated a summertime smell that took her back to her childhood, reminding her of long, happy days of unstructured time. Her good mood got even better when she reminisced on this. Bonita was standing on the step of the building next door when a young man with a dog parked his truck on the side of the street and approached with his key. Bonita didn't know him, but she introduced herself as his neighbor. He responded in a friendly manner, saying that his name was Andy, and his lovely dog was called Freya. Bonita smiled at Freya, who wagged her tail. Then Benita explained the purpose of her flyer and asked if Andy would mind putting it up inside the lobby of his building. He took the poster and perused it.

Starting point is 00:26:34 smiling, what a fun idea, he said with enthusiasm. He told Bonita that not only would he display the flyer, but he'd sign up to bring a dish himself. He added that he was known for making a fantastic lasagna. Bonita expressed her gratitude. This was exactly the type of response she'd been hoping for. They parted amiably, and she went on to the next address. As she visited each small apartment building, she sometimes happened upon a resident,

Starting point is 00:27:31 handing them a flyer. If not, she went ahead and taped one on the outside of the front door, and hoped for the best. Along the way, she met several really lovely people who had found. formerly been strangers to her. That made the entire plan even more worthwhile, she thought to herself. Bonita was a little tired by the time she got home. But she was hopeful that their dinner was going to work. Her expectations were modest. Perhaps 15 or 20 people would come. That would make for a fine evening, dinner under the stars, she mused. It was a project worth pursuing. That night,

Starting point is 00:28:44 Bonita, Ellie and Mark all went to bed with the perfume of early summer, softly drifting into their apartments. When they awoke early to the songs of the birds outside, they each wondered separately if anyone had added their names to the online sign-up sheet. Mark waited until 9am, which he felt was a reasonable hour, and went to knock on Ellie's door. She had created her sign-up sheet, so he knew she would be able to check and see if anyone had given an RSVP yet. He needn't have worried it was too early. It turned out that Ellie was an early riser, and she'd already finished her breakfast and started her workday at home. She said that Mark's arrival gave her just the excuse she needed for a break, and she invited him in to sit down.

Starting point is 00:30:12 Just as she was pouring him a hot beverage, there was another knock on the door, outside. they found Bonita, looking both sheepish and eager. Once inside, Bonita gladly accepted a mug of tea. Then, the three neighbours huddled around Ellie's computer to see if anyone had visited the online sign-up sheet. They had each been secretly hoping for one or two people. But to their delight, there were five entries already. As promised, Andy was on the list with his lasagna, but there were also four other neighbours contributing a veggie tray,

Starting point is 00:31:17 a plate of brownies, and a green salad. Bonita clapped her hands in delight. Their dinner would happen, even if it was fewer than ten people, The night of the event was now in less than two weeks. In typical fashion for early summer, the weather was on a bit of a roller coaster as the big night grew nearer. One day, it was very warm, hinting at the hotter season that was coming. Another day, it seemed like all the April showers had been dumped in the month of June.

Starting point is 00:32:11 but as the evening of the dinner approached, the weather forecast became promising, and the friends were very hopeful that it would be a beautiful night. Meanwhile, the responses continued to trickle in. It seems like one neighbour was talking to another up and down the street. The list of contributions grew and grew, and before, the three organizers knew it. The number of people were attending the dinner became quite large. It was so large, in fact, that Mark became a little concerned about the number of tables and chairs they'd need to transport to Maple Street. A quick call to the choir director was sufficient

Starting point is 00:33:21 to confirm there were enough available for everyone, but there was also some discouraging news. The person who had offered to drop the tables off couldn't fit all of them in his van. Once again, Mark, Ellie and Bonita put their heads together. Both Mark and Ellie had cars, but they were small ones, as they pondered. the problem in silence at Benita's kitchen table. An idea came to her. She remembered meeting Andy and how he had climbed out of a truck. Perhaps he could do them a favor and help them move the tables. Ellie opened up her laptop and found Andy's email address in the sign-up sheet. together they composed a message asking if there was any way he could help it was all they could do at the moment

Starting point is 00:34:45 they would have to wait for his response meanwhile bonita called the town office and received a wonderful update Joan confirmed that her request to block the road had been approved. She said that on the day of the party, the police would stop by and put down traffic cones and signs to notify drivers of the street closure. This was a relief because it meant that no matter what happened with obtaining the tables, They could at least gather outside safely, even if we all have to sit criss-cross on the ground, Mark said solemnly, and then they laughed at the idea of all the adults in a circle, cross-legged with plates. Luckily, the problem of the table delivery was soon solved as well.

Starting point is 00:36:09 Andy wrote back to them and said he'd be happy to. assist with transporting everything. They agreed on a time, the morning of the event, and it seemed like everything was falling into place. Now that the basics were all settled, Ellie got ambitious. Wouldn't it be lovely, she said, if they could come up with some table linens. Bonita and Mark agreed. But there was no buy to rent any, they decided to send an email to everyone on the list, asking if anyone had tablecloths they could contribute, even if the coverings were mismatched. It would be more elegant and special than having nothing at all, a few days passed before they got any answer, and they had almost

Starting point is 00:37:24 resigned themselves to bare tables. But then, they got an email from a woman down the street whose name was Gabriella. She had recently hosted a wedding shower. Not only did she have many matching white tablecloths, but she also had glass jars filled with battery-powered fairy lights, which had been used as centrepieces. She said she would bring them outside when the tables were being set up on the day of their dinner. The friends clapped their hands with excitement.

Starting point is 00:38:16 It was amazing how everything was coming together so perfectly. The day of the community dinner dawned mild and cloudless. The forecast couldn't have been more pleasant. In the morning, Mark met Andy outside, with hot drinks in travel mug. The two of them drove to a nearby storage unit, where Mark's friend from the choir was waiting with a van. Together, they loaded all the necessary tables and chairs into the two vehicles. Then Andy led the way back to Maple Street, with the truck windows down and their precious cargo in the back. Mark and Andy felt like all was right with the world. There wasn't much that could derail their plans now when they arrived back home. Mark rang the doorbells of 3A and 2A,

Starting point is 00:39:47 and Benita and Ellie came outside to help unload the furniture onto the sidewalk. The street It wouldn't be closed until early afternoon, but they knew that everything would be fine just sitting there in the meantime. After all, there was hardly a neighbour who wasn't in the know about the evening's festivities, as they finished piling everything up. Other residents came by, pushing strollers or walking dogs. They all offered their greetings, and many of them said they would be coming along later for the dinner party. Andy had brought his dog Freya outside while they were working.

Starting point is 00:40:53 And she sat politely near the front steps, wagging her tail. She was excited to see so many friendly faces. and gladly accepted all of the petting and attention that they offered her. The rest of the preparations unfolded without any problems. Around 2 p.m., a friendly police officer dropped off the cones and signs at either end of the street. Bonita happened to be outside at the time, and warmly invited the officer to the party, and as soon as the traffic had been stopped, Andy, Mark, Benita and Ellie got to work setting up tables and unfolding chairs. As they did, Gabriella emerged from her apartment building,

Starting point is 00:42:06 with an armful of matching white tablecloths, one by one, The friends shook out to the linens and watched them float down gracefully onto the waiting tables. Then Gabriella went back into her building and returned again with a large shallow box full of mason jars. Each person took a couple of jars in their hands and then placed them in regular intervals down the entire length of the long row of tables. Inside, the strings of battery-operated fairy lights sat waiting for dusk. When they would be activated, a little breathless, the friends all stood back and admired their work. It was perfect. At the appointed hour, the doors up and down the street started opening and closing, one by one, and in twos and threes, the neighbours emerged from the little apartment buildings.

Starting point is 00:43:48 As requested, they carried plates, glasses, and cutlery. The organisers watched eagerly, as a great variety of these place settings were positioned on the table. There were plain white dishes and contemporary ones in colours like blue and green. There were plastic dishes for the smallest children. In a few cases, people had even brought out China place settings. Bonita overheard one neighbour saying to another that one should never save precious things only for fancy occasions. she thought about that and became determined to use her keepsakes more often. It was a nice prospect as the tables were filling with people. The food arrived as well.

Starting point is 00:45:04 And what a feast it was being laid out before them. Andy's lasagna was sitting there, as well as the promised green salad and the very first of the vegetable tray. But there were so many more delicious options, pierrogies and sandwiches, scalloped potatoes and empanadas, and more and more dishes were deposited into the center of the table. True to her promise, Joan showed up as well, along with a tray of beautifully frosted cupcakes. Everyone was so involved in admiring the food that Mark had to point out it was dark enough to illuminate the centrepieces. E and Ellie began weaving in and out of the party goers and clicking the little buttons that turned on the lights. The result charmed to the entire

Starting point is 00:46:27 company, and many cries of approval went up from the assembled guests. Maple Street was glowing from the centre, with its buildings softly fading into the twilight on either side, as the gentle summer evening fell around him. The murmur of many conversations arose, plates and cutlery clinked in the background, but even further beyond, the chorus of the crickets began. Ellie smiled from ear to ear, thinking how much it reminded her of bygone summer picnics and other good times. And here she was at the loveliest outdoor dinner she'd ever experienced. how wonderful many new acquaintances were made across those low-lit tables, as neighbours tasted each other's favourite foods and found new things in common. As the evening progressed, empty serving dishes

Starting point is 00:48:07 vanished inside with their owners, and the desserts took centre stage. Children propped their chins eagerly at the edges of the tables, making off with sweet treats, while adults discussed the merits of choosing one delicacy over another. At one point, the police officer stopped by and accepted a brownie, and just when the party might have flagged, or the guests drifted away. A man from one of the buildings down the street brought out a guitar and struck up a tune. It was as if the whole group of guests had been waiting for this moment, and a cheer of approval went up. The children danced exuberantly, while the adults swayed in time to the music,

Starting point is 00:49:22 whispering to each other in ongoing conversation. Later, Bonita, Ellie and Andy would lie in their beds in 3A, 2A, and 1B, all feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment in what they had put together as Andy's little grey cat curled up next to him. he resolved to borrow the tables and chairs again for a future neighbourly gathering. Separately, Bonita and Ellie were imagining events for other seasons as well. A cookout in the fall perhaps, or a gathering around a fire pit in the winter after creating such a beautiful street dinner.

Starting point is 00:50:33 It seemed like anything was possible, and with those dreams circling in their heads, the Maple Street neighbors drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Dreamy Dinner on Maple Street

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