Name: 子供のためのベッドタイムの物語 by ルーバ・ブレジネフ (A bedtime story for children by Luba Brezhnev)
Uploaded: 2021-01-14T05:16:06.000Z
Duration: 29 min 58 s
Description: VoiceTubeの動画で発音を聞きながら英語表現を覚えよう！学べる英語：

A bedtime story for children by Luba Brezhnev.

"Chipper the Chipmunk" (by Luba Brezhnev)

Chipper sat in his favorite chair, crying salty tears. No one wanted to play with him.

He was so plump he could barely squeeze through his own front door. The young chipmunk dried

his tears and thought silently. "If it goes on like this, I won't be able to fit into

my own house. And I have enough food for five years here."

To ease his mind, he decided to take a stroll through his well-stocked pantry. Examining

his vast stores was his favorite pastime. He heaved a deep sigh. Then he set about counting

the shelves, with their even rows of boxes, jars, and packages -- all filled with good

things to eat. There were so many shelves that the young chipmunk soon tired of the

sport. Chipper returned to his beloved recliner and reflected. He felt low, even though he

had everything his heart desired -- and then some... He thought and thought. He couldn't

figure out why... So he waddled off to bed.

"I hope you all have great fun playing without me," he grumbled under his breath. He was

thinking about what had happened earlier in the day, when the other chipmunk boys had

Chipper fell asleep and slept soundly, his paws clinging the pillow tightly.

Suddenly came the sound of something stirring in the room. Chipper woke up and listened

intently. "That mouse must have gotten into my cornmeal again," he thought. He was just

about ready to jump out of bed to chase away the thief, when he suddenly saw a strange

chipmunk. The stranger was chuckling, seated in a corner of the room in Chipper's recliner.

"Who are you?" asked Chipper, thoroughly befuddled. How had the intruder entered the room?

"What are you doing here?" asked the young chipmunk in a stern voice. After all, he was

the rightful owner of the room and vast contents of his pantry!

"What I am doing is -- sitting in your favorite chair!" said the stranger, continuing to chuckle

"There's no way you could have come in through the wall," said Chipper. He was sure he was

right about that. "That's a thick, strong wall, and no one can break through it."

Seeing the visitor's fur-lined boots, he asked, "Why are you dressed so warmly? It's still

"I just flew in from way up north in Greenland. It's already chilly there!"

"No, I'm not Santa Claus, though I'm able to do many things. But don't you start making

The young chipmunk was a bit disappointed: "Well, I did want to ask one favor."

"No use. I haven't the slightest intention of doing you any favors. I don't like you.

You are greedy and boring. I don't like that kind of boy."

"I am happy," said Chipper. But his voice wavered

"So who was sitting in this very same recliner two hours ago, sniveling and whining? No one

wants to play with you, and it serves you right."

Chipper was amazed: "How did you know all that?"

"My young friend, I know everything. You can't hide anything from me, no matter where you

Chipper tried to argue, but his voice was uncertain: "I have a storage room. No one

"Why are you always boasting? Pride comes before a fall, you know."

"That's no boast. I really and truly can find you, even if you hide at the bottom of the

The young chipmunk shivered: "I don't want to go to the bottom of the ocean. It's cold

"You don't have to go there. We can have a talk right here, just as well."

"What's there to talk about?" asked Chipper. "You know what, it's my bedtime anyway."

"We do have things to talk about, and you'll have time later to get a good night's sleep.

What you need to do now is go over and make me a cup of tea."

"Wow," thought the proud owner of the well-stocked pantry. "First he asks for tea, and then he'll

want to eat, even though I hardly have enough for myself..."

"But I don't have any tea," Chipper said, as his face turned red.

"Don't you remember that I can see and hear everything? I even know what shelf the tea

"Oh, all right then, I'll serve you some tea, but there's nothing else.'

"What are you talking about? Your shelves are weighed down with food!" said Old Man

Chipmunk in an indignant voice. "What if you visited me and I put you on a starvation diet.

"I don't want to be anyone's guest. If you visit someone, then you have to invite them

back. It's what they call a -- what's the word? -- a return visit..."

"Now you see what I mean. When you come to me on a return visit, you'll get no food from

Chipper was agitated: "But I don't even have enough for myself. I only have enough food

here for five years. Then what will I do? Do you want me to starve?"

Chipper felt so sorry for himself that tears even came to his eyes.

Old Man Chipmunk was relentless: "Go ahead and eat all you want. But first figure out

exactly how much to eat each day for the next five years." Suddenly the old chipmunk raised

his voice to a yell. "So, light up that tea kettle before I spank you."

Chipper was so shocked that his mouth hung open. The old chipmunk stood up, went to the

young chipmunk, and helped him close his mouth.

"Now that's better," he said, sitting at the table and setting out the tea cups. "I just

came in from the cold, you know. I nearly froze! Tea is the only thing that will warm

Chipper stood up and grudgingly dragged himself to the kitchen to light the tea kettle. Then

he remembered that tea is usually served with sugar or jam. "I'll put the sweets as far

away from view as I can," he decided. He walked toward the pantry, when suddenly Old Man Chipmunk

called out from the living room: "What are you up to in there? Trying to hide the sugar?

You took the jam into the pantry... I already said you can't hide anything from me."

Chipper quivered and dropped a jar of jam onto the floor.

Chipper cried out, "Now look there! All that's left of a perfectly good jar of jam is a purple

puddle on the floor. And it's all your fault!"

"Don't get upset," said the visitor and hugged Chipper's shoulders. "Let's go to the kitchen,

my friend, and put the kettle on. After that, I'll tell you a story."

"What about the jam?" asked the young chipmunk, wiping away his tears.

"Forget about the jam, I'll cook up as much of that kind of jam as you want."

"Really?" said Chipper. He smiled: "And what else can you do for me?"

"Whatever you like, but I do have some conditions. First you have to meet those conditions. Then