Hello everyone. This is Ria with a quick note. This is a preview of an episode exclusive to

Little Stories Premium. Little Stories Premium gives you more of the stories you love, an ad-free

listening experience, and access to Little Stories for Sleep, an exclusive bedtime podcast featuring brand new sleepy stories, perfect for that last track on a bedtime playlist.

Subscribe or purchase a gift subscription by visiting little stories premium.com. Now, on to the show.

This is Ria. Welcome to Little Stories for Tiny People. Our story today is a sweet one. It's about appreciation. And it's also a bit lengthy. So we're going to jump right in. It's called Mr. O'Possum goes on a search. Take it away, Eleanor.

Remember, there are no pictures. You have to imagine the pictures in your mind. You can imagine them however you want. Okay, here we go.

It was a cool day in mid-fall, and Mr. O'Possum could not stop yawning.

This happened a lot because he forced himself to be a day animal, even though it was in his nature to be asleep at that time.

His customers were awake, and therefore so was he.

There was a line of them out the door of his shop.

The squirrels were in sour moods.

What's the holder? I've been waiting for an hour. And Mr. O'Possum was reaching his limit.

All he wanted to do was vanish into the forest, to do his real work, the work he did alone.

But his assistant, Gregor, who Mr. O'Possum had discovered was sleeping with his eyes open

when he was supposed to be helping customers, had not worked out.

And there had been no bites at the employment ad Mr. O'Possum had

placed in the Forest News Weekly. In a word, Mr. O'Possum was overwhelmed. Can you hide them in trees?

Because I was thinking. I do not hide anything in trees, Mr. O'Possum said curtly, to a bespectacled squirrel, leaning over the counter.

He was too exhausted for niceties.

Never?

I mean, my sister loves to climb.

Never. Excuse me.

...