1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,360 This is time for podcast, yeah. The podcast is starting. 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:06,520 What's? The podcast It's All gonna be 3 00:00:06,520 --> 00:00:10,560 Alright in the air. It's gonna be alright. 4 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:14,400 You've got some worries, my dear little Arise. 5 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:18,240 Rest your busy minds because it's finally time. 6 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:24,000 The Stories from Now and Then. Hello, kids. 7 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:27,480 And kids at Heart, welcome back to Stories From Now and Then. 8 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:31,120 My name is Captain Blunderface, and I'm here in the old library 9 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:34,320 with Deprecatus. Of course, today we're taking 10 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:38,680 care of our spring cleaning. Yeah, just a second, Deprecatus. 11 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:42,920 I'm going to move these boxes over here onto the floor. 12 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:47,080 And these piles of books, I'll put them on the window sill for 13 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,960 now while we organize all of the papers. 14 00:00:51,480 --> 00:00:53,200 Well, it's just spring cleaning Deprikatis. 15 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:55,800 It's not a huge deal. You know, we do this every year. 16 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:59,480 Well, you have lots of other spaces to hang out in. 17 00:00:59,960 --> 00:01:02,160 But don't worry, we'll be done before you know it. 18 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:07,720 In the meantime, before Nickelodeon today's story, we 19 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:12,280 have a shout out for Vienna in the Comox Valley in British 20 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,440 Columbia. Cats are her favorite animals. 21 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:20,280 Blue is her favorite color, and she loves the story of Elsa from 22 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:24,280 Frozen. So, Vienna, this story is for 23 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:28,920 you. And with that, we'll pass it off 24 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:32,800 to the amazing Nicola for today's story, which is Part 1 25 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:41,960 of The Wind in the Willows. You know, Captain, one of my 26 00:01:41,960 --> 00:01:47,080 favorite things about springtime is how it feels as though the 27 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:53,600 world is waking up again. The flowers, the trees, and also 28 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:57,800 all of the animals. The birds start singing, the 29 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:02,440 bears come out of their dens, and everything just feels so 30 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:06,720 alive. And we've got a classic story 31 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,840 today about some lovely forest animals. 32 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:16,440 It's called The Wind in the Willows by a man called Kenneth 33 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:22,520 Graham, and it follows the adventures of a few very special 34 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:26,280 animals. Now we've shortened the stories 35 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:30,840 so that we can fit as much in as possible, but today's will just 36 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:33,520 be Part 1. Here we go. 37 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:43,240 There was beneath a hedge where roots twisted like old fingers 38 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:48,360 and the earth smelled of damp leaves and quiet industry, a 39 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:54,480 small home made comfortable by long habit and careful pause. 40 00:02:55,760 --> 00:03:01,280 In this home lived Mole, who had spent all the morning engaged in 41 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:06,280 spring cleaning, as respectable creatures often do when the 42 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:10,680 season first begins to stir itself awake. 43 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:16,920 He had swept the hallways, shaken rugs, polished his 44 00:03:16,920 --> 00:03:21,960 shelves, and beaten dust from corners where dust, having once 45 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:26,160 settled, had every intention of staying forever. 46 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:32,400 By noon he was powdered from whisker to tail, with soot upon 47 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:38,200 his nose and a weariness in every limb that made even the 48 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:42,640 sight of another shelf feel unbearable. 49 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:48,800 Then something happened that comes from time to time to 50 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:55,160 sensible creatures in spring. A softness in the air, a 51 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:59,280 brightness pressing faintly at the edges of underground 52 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:04,360 windows. A feeling difficult to explain, 53 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:09,960 impossible to resist, That there must be something happening 54 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:15,360 elsewhere. Mole leaned upon his broom. 55 00:04:16,959 --> 00:04:20,519 He looked at the walls of his little room, at the hooks, the 56 00:04:20,519 --> 00:04:25,760 cupboard, the tidy coal scuttle. And all at once they seemed too 57 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:30,440 still, too familiar, too much the same as yesterday. 58 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:36,040 Without quite deciding to do so, he laid down the broom, climbed 59 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:40,360 the narrow tunnel toward the surface, and began scrambling 60 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:44,720 upward with sudden determination, pushing through 61 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:51,280 earth until at last his nose broke through into daylight. 62 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,920 The world above met him all at once. 63 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:01,440 Warm sun lay upon the fields. The hedges were touched with 64 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:05,960 tender green. Tiny shoots stood up everywhere, 65 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:10,960 as if each had been invited separately to attend spring and 66 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:15,760 had arrived punctually. Birds sang with a confidence 67 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,840 that suggested they had arranged the whole morning themselves. 68 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:25,800 Mole blinked. He drew in a deep breath and 69 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:31,840 felt from whisker tip to tail, that the world was entirely 70 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,800 right. He had not known until that 71 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:40,560 moment how badly he wished to be out of doors. 72 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:45,920 The broom, the dusting cloth, the unfinished cleaning, all 73 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:48,440 vanished from importance at once. 74 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:53,320 He wandered through meadows where butter cups had begun 75 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:57,920 their golden business, crossed little paths bordered by Moss, 76 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,880 and passed beneath branches where sunlight moved in 77 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:07,760 fragments upon the ground. Everything seemed alive with 78 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:12,280 invitation. At last, after wandering farther 79 00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:17,080 than he intended, he heard a sound unfamiliar enough to stop 80 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:23,080 him at once. A low, moving sound, soft but 81 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:27,880 endless. A gliding, whispering sound. 82 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:33,520 He followed it through reeds and grass until suddenly the ground 83 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:38,240 opened before him, and there lay the river. 84 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:43,760 Mole had never truly seen a river before. 85 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:49,680 It moved and glittered and curved away into distances full 86 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:52,640 of promise. Little wrinkles of light 87 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:57,440 travelled upon its surface. Reflections trembled and broke 88 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:02,120 and joined again. It seemed always busy, yet 89 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:08,200 perfectly at ease. He stood still, entirely taken 90 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:13,400 by it. Seated upon the bank nearby, in 91 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:18,400 a small boat painted blue and white, was a water rat. 92 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:24,240 Not the sort of rat 1 imagines in dark corners, but a bright 93 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:29,120 eyed, well brushed fellow in neat clothes with small, capable 94 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:34,480 paws and an expression of easy satisfaction, as though the day 95 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,720 had begun exactly as he hoped it would. 96 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:41,920 Seeing Mole, he lifted one paw in greeting. 97 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:48,240 Hello, Mole, said he cheerfully. Mole was startled that his name 98 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:52,720 should be known. Hello, he answered shyly. 99 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:57,480 Come and have a row, said the rat, as if nothing could be more 100 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:02,640 obvious. I don't suppose I know how, said 101 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,640 Mole. That's all the better, replied 102 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:07,960 the rat. Neither did I once. 103 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:12,840 There are invitations which sensible creatures might examine 104 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:17,000 carefully before accepting, and there are others that seem to 105 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:21,720 carry their own certainty. Mole stepped in. 106 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:25,720 The boat rocked alarmingly. He nearly lost balance. 107 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:29,280 The rat steadied him with practised ease. 108 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:35,320 Then they were off. At first Mole sat rigid with 109 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:39,600 alarm, for every little movement seemed likely to overturn them 110 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:43,080 both. But the Rat handled the oars 111 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:48,440 with such confidence that fear soon gave way to delight. 112 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:53,400 The river moved beneath them like something alive and 113 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:57,040 friendly. Rat spoke as they drifted. 114 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:01,520 He spoke of bends and backwaters, Reed beds, little 115 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:06,800 hidden landing places and pools where fish gathered under roots. 116 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:11,920 There is nothing, he said firmly, absolutely nothing half 117 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:16,000 so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. 118 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:21,400 He said it with such conviction that Mole immediately believed 119 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,840 it one of the great truths of existence. 120 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:30,560 They landed at a grassy place where Rat unpacked luncheon from 121 00:09:30,560 --> 00:09:34,680 a basket. Cold chicken, bread, little 122 00:09:34,680 --> 00:09:38,360 cakes, ginger beer and sandwiches appeared in a 123 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:44,360 quantity Mole found astonishing. You, You always carry this much, 124 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:48,000 Asked Mole. One never knows when one may 125 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:52,400 feel hungry, said Rat. After luncheon, they drifted 126 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:56,080 again. Dragonflies flashed blue above 127 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:59,160 the reeds. A moorhen crossed ahead of them 128 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:04,200 with solemn urgency. Somewhere distant, cattle moved 129 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:09,240 lazily in fields. Mole felt as though his old 130 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:13,440 underground rooms belonged to another life. 131 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:19,920 Toward afternoon, Rat proposed that Mole try the oars himself. 132 00:10:20,560 --> 00:10:26,920 Mole accepted bravely. What followed was less graceful. 133 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:32,160 The boat first turned in a circle, then struck reeds, then 134 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:34,680 nearly sent both of them sideways. 135 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:38,400 Mole rowed earnestly, which did not improve. 136 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:43,160 Matters not too much, cried Rat. Less left. 137 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:47,600 No, your other left. A moment later, Mole lost 138 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:51,240 balance entirely and fell backward into the river. 139 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:56,800 The cold came as a shock, sharp enough to empty every thought 140 00:10:56,800 --> 00:11:00,720 from his head. He splashed helplessly until 141 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:04,360 Rat, laughing but efficient, caught him by the collar and 142 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:08,920 brought him spluttering to shore, wrapped in blankets. 143 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:12,880 Soon after, Mole laughed too, though shakily. 144 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:18,680 I I shall learn, he said. Of course you shall, said Rat 145 00:11:18,680 --> 00:11:20,800 kindly. Everyone does. 146 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:25,960 As evening softened the river, Rat suggested that Mole might 147 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:29,640 stay with him. My rooms are close by, he said. 148 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:32,000 Nothing grand, but comfortable enough. 149 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:37,040 They followed a little path among reeds to Rat's home, half 150 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:41,400 hidden in the riverbank. It proved more than comfortable. 151 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:46,560 There were books, armchairs, bright brass things, tobacco 152 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:52,160 jars, framed maps and windows looking directly upon the water. 153 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:58,040 Everything suggested long habit joined to quiet pleasure. 154 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:03,320 Mole admired everything. A kettle sang. 155 00:12:03,680 --> 00:12:09,160 Lamps were lit outside. Evening gathered Blue among the 156 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,600 willows. Rat spoke of friends. 157 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:18,560 Let's Toad, he said. What sort is Toad Asked Mole. 158 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:22,720 Rat smiled in a way difficult to interpret. 159 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:26,280 An excellent fellow, he said. Carefully. 160 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:30,360 Enthusiastic, Very enthusiastic indeed. 161 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:35,320 Whatever he is doing at the moment becomes, to his mind, the 162 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:39,040 finest thing ever attempted by any creature. 163 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:44,680 Sounds admirable, Said mole rat gave a small cough. 164 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:50,200 It depends somewhat what he has lately discovered. 165 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:57,320 And others, Badger, said Rat, lowering his voice slightly, as 166 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,520 though naming someone both respected and slightly 167 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:03,640 mysterious. Lives in the Wildwood. 168 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:07,680 Keeps to himself, mostly. Knows everything worth knowing. 169 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:11,840 Mole glanced toward the darkening window, where trees 170 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:18,200 now stood in deeper shadow. The Wildwood sounds serious. 171 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:23,280 It is serious, said Rat. Simply, Perfectly safe in 172 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:27,680 daylight if one knows the paths, less agreeable if one does not. 173 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:33,200 They ate supper comfortably, while outside the river darkened 174 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:37,320 and stars began quietly appearing overhead. 175 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:43,600 Later, seated near the fire, Mole felt a contentment unlike 176 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:48,440 anything he had known. Underground, the room held 177 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:52,360 warmth, The river whispered beyond the window. 178 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:58,160 From somewhere outside came the faint rustle of wreaths moving 179 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:02,160 in evening air. He had left home only that 180 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:06,520 morning, intending perhaps no more than a brief walk. 181 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:11,840 Yet already the world had widened astonishingly. 182 00:14:12,680 --> 00:14:15,960 Rat, seeing his expression, smiled. 183 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:21,760 You'll like river life, he said. Mole looked toward the dark 184 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:25,800 water, where moonlight had just begun touching the surface. 185 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:30,000 Yes, he said softly. I think I shall. 186 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:37,280 And because spring had only just begun, and because rivers always 187 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:42,520 lead onward, this first day by the water was only the 188 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:50,840 beginning. Let's leave Mole and Rat there 189 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:54,240 to have a rest after their adventurous day. 190 00:14:54,760 --> 00:15:01,400 We've met 2 animals so far and we've heard about two more, Toad 191 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:05,600 and Badger. We will meet them in the next 192 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:10,080 part of the story. Before we finish today, I'm 193 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:14,560 curious to know what animal would you be if you were a 194 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:18,800 forest creature? Would you be like mole or 195 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:24,960 perhaps like a water rat? Sometimes I think I would like 196 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:30,440 to be a rabbit, nice and cosy and just happy to eat all day. 197 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:34,840 What about you, Captain? What animal feels right for you? 198 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:40,080 I think for me it would have to be an Opossum, not to be 199 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:43,440 confused with a quote possum, which are different and they 200 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:47,440 live in Australia, but an Opossum and it's because they're 201 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:50,320 pretty mysterious and they seem to be scared of nothing I guess. 202 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:54,560 So that sounds cool. As for our spring cleaning, we 203 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:58,400 tidied up a lot and now I just have to tidy up the window sill 204 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:00,720 and our spring cleaning will be done. 205 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:04,920 Yeah, I guess this was a big deal for you with all this stuff 206 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:07,320 moving around. These boxes are kind of bigger 207 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:09,520 than you. And I guess you couldn't hang 208 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:11,920 out on the window sill either with all the clutter. 209 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:15,920 You know what, Sure thing. Next time I'll try to leave the 210 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:19,480 window sill open for cat activities only. 211 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:25,080 Remember, if you'd like a shout out, just send us Adm on 212 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:27,040 Instagram at Stories from Now and Then. 213 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:30,520 We'd love to hear from you and you can get a future episode 214 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:34,440 dedicated to you. Stories from Now and Then is 215 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:36,320 narrated by the amazing Nickel Award. 216 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:41,200 I'm Captain Blunderface, and we'll see you next time on 217 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:45,200 Stories from Now and Then.