Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - The Sunshine House (Premium)

Episode Date: December 17, 2019

This is a preview episode. Get the full episode, and many more, ad free, on our supporter's feed: https://getsleepy.com/support. The Sunshine House  Narrated by Simon Mattacks. Discover a mysterious house on a peaceful island.     About Get Sleepy Premium: Help support the podcast, and get: Monday and Wednesday night episodes (with zero ads) The exclusive Thursday night bonus episode Access to the entire back catalog (also ad-free) Premium sleep meditations, extra-long episodes and more! We'll love you forever. ❤️ Get a 7 day free trial, and join the Get Sleepy community here https://getsleepy.com/support. And thank you so, so much.  Tom, and the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hi, Thomas here. You're listening to a preview episode. You can enjoy the entire story tonight by subscribing to our supporters' feed. There you'll get access to the entire back catalogue, bonus episodes, and more, and it's all completely ad-free. Click the link below to learn more and thank you so so much. Me and the team really appreciate your support. Picture a single drop of rain, just one one heavy on the bottom and lighter on top, just about to drip from the needle of a spruce tree. The needle is one of many, clustered tightly on a long brown branch. Together they form a dark green cloak, covering the tree from tip to roots.

Each needle holds its own translucent raindrop. The tree hangs heavy with droplets, which glisten when the sun peeks out from behind the heavy grey clouds above. Standing just beside the thick trunk of this particular spruce tree is Emily and Emily believes. Emily started coming to this little patch of forest. The first time she visited the great northwest with her cousin, all those years ago. She was little then, and each tree a towering presence, beautiful in its largeness, but also a little intimidating.

She used to crouch beneath the lowest branch she could find and give it a shake, laughing as the raindrops came pouring down over her head and face. She could always count on the trees to have their ready-made showers, as it was nearly always raining in this part of the world. It's one of the things Emily has always loved about this place. It's practically made of rain. Walking down the forest path, her hiking boots kick up patches of moss and leaves. As it turns over under her feet, she smells freshly fallen rain, a new green growth.

New green things always seem to be growing here. It's a wild place. Today, Emma is heading for the library. She's using the trail that Chris crosses behind most of the small town to get there from her cousin's house. She prefers walking amongst the trees rather than on the hard pavement. It's a cute town full of brightly painted houses that stand out against the near, constant grey of the sky. But to Emily, the woods are always better. She's going to the library for a very specific reason.

Today is the day Emily has decided she'll finally find the sunshine house. Like everyone who spent time in this town, she's heard the stories. Around the campfire every summer, neighbors talk about the magical house that can only be found by those who really, truly believe it exists.

She's heard her cousin's friends whisper about the time they almost found it. She's heard the old fisherman boast about the time they definitely found it, but can't quite remember where it was. To Emily, it seems like everyone in this town wants to have found the house, It seems like everyone in this town wants to have found the house, but she's not convinced anyone actually has. That is, except for Mrs. Gunderson. Last week, Emily was walking to the tiny coffee shop just down the road when she saw Mrs. Gunderson peaking out her window. Her lace curtains were drawn, but the old widow was peaking at her from behind a tiny corner

she'd lifted up. Emily waved. Mrs. Gunderson smiled and motioned for her to come inside. The widow's house was small and cramped, but cozy. This is Gunderson offered Emily a cup of tea from an ancient Chinese tea pot, decorated with tiny pink roses. It was good, some of our tea, strong, sweet and spicy. She led the flavors settle around her tongue before swallowing.

Mrs. Gunderson had heard Emily was looking for the sunshine house, really looking for it, she said. Not just pretending to look as most people did. And then Mrs. Gunderson said something that took Emily by surprise. I found it. Three simple words that for the first time in all the stories and all the campfire tales, Emily actually believed. I found it. It's real," Mrs. Gunderson said. You just have to look hard enough.

And then she changed the subject to the always predictable weather. They sat together and chatted about the rain for another few minutes as Emily finished her tea. As she was getting up to leave, the widow patita on the shoulder. I started the library if I were you, the old woman said. And with that, she ushered Emily out the door.