Welcome, dear listener to Drift Off. I'm your host Joanne, and I'm so glad you're here. Tonight I'll be

reading a charming fairy tale called The Lost Half Hour by Henry Beston. It's a gentle story

about a kind-hearted fellow named Bobo who sets out on a rather unusual quest, and along the way

discovers that time, love, and quiet courage can change everything. It's the perfect story

to wind down with, soft and whimsical, like a gentle dream waiting to unfold.

But before we begin, I'd like to invite you to subscribe to Drift Off Premium.

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Let's take a moment to ease into stillness together.

Take a slow, deep breath in and a long, peaceful breath out.

Let those shoulders soften.

Let your jaw release.

And let the thoughts of the day drift away like clouds moving through a quiet sky.

You are safe.

You are held in comfort.

You are ready to rest. Once upon a time, there was an old widow woman who had three sons.

The first two were clever enough, but the third, Bobo by name, was little better than

a silly simpleton. All his mother's scoldings did him no good whatever. Now, it came to pass

that one morning, Princess Zenza, the ruler of the land, happened to pass

by the cottage and heard Bobel being given a terrible tongue-lashing. Curious as to the

cause of all the noise, the princess drew rein and summoned Bobo's mother to come near. On hearing her story, it occurred to the

...