Mrs Bull couldn't sleep after a long day of work. Mr Bull suggested she try counting children to fall asleep. She tried counting imaginary children running around but they wouldn't stand still. When the children sat down at a playground, she was able to easily count them as they fell asleep one by one, until she finally fell asleep herself.

1. Mrs Bull couldn’t sleep.

2. She had read 200 school reports

3. Marked 150 handwriting samples

4. Now she was bored!

5. “ Your exasperating, said Mr Bull.

6. “ I’m not trying to be” she said, “I just can’t sleep!”

7. “ Why don’t you try counting children?” he suggested.

8. I can’t possible count all of these,” she sighed.

9. She tried to imagine them in one long line, but they wouldn’t stand still.

10. “ No, no, she called, stand still or I can’t count you.

11. But the children just kept on jigging!

12. They headed off out the gate. “Wait, she panted. I can’t count you if you won’t stay in one place.

13. The children came to a sudden stop at a lovely playground.

14. They sat down and relaxed. Some played cards.

15. Some played games on their mobile phones.

16. Some read fairy stories, or played board games.

17. One elderly teacher had brought her knitting.

18. Then one by one they fell asleep……..

19. “ Hey, now you are really exasperating! Said Mrs Bull. I am the one who is supposed to sleep, not you!”

20. But then she noticed they were easier to count- one, two, three, four, five……….

21. And before she knew it she had fallen asleep.

22. As she slept, one by one, the children got up and tiptoed away.

23. If Mrs Bull had been awake, she’d have heard the old one say……..

24. “ Whew, I’m exhausted, I thought she’d never nod off!”