TRASCRIZIONE 🔗
WEBVTT
1
00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:05.919
Hello, Welcome to Stories Podcast. I'm your host, Amanda Weldon.
2
00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:10.199
Today's story is a throwback episode. Tune in to hear
3
00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:12.560
one of our classic stories from the archive that you
4
00:00:12.679 --> 00:00:16.120
might have missed the first time around. We have Stories
5
00:00:16.160 --> 00:00:20.600
Podcast merch available at storiespodcast dot com slash shop. We're
6
00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:23.839
also on cameo for all of your personalized video message needs,
7
00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:26.920
and don't forget to follow us on Instagram at Stories Podcast.
8
00:00:27.480 --> 00:00:29.399
If you send us a drawing of your favorite scene
9
00:00:29.480 --> 00:00:32.880
or character, we'll share it on our feed. Now here's
10
00:00:32.920 --> 00:00:41.159
a word from our sponsors. Thanks. Enjoy the episode smaller
11
00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:45.840
than ever. Once upon a time there was a woman
12
00:00:46.119 --> 00:00:50.119
named Rebecca who lived in a tiny little farmhouse. It
13
00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:53.200
was all one room, which would have been fine if
14
00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:56.479
she lived alone. But she didn't live alone. As much
15
00:00:56.520 --> 00:00:59.960
as she wished she did, No Rebecca was forced to
16
00:01:00.200 --> 00:01:03.679
share the tiny little farmhouse with her three sisters and
17
00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:07.640
their three husbands and all of their many, many children.
18
00:01:08.280 --> 00:01:10.920
It was a packed little house, and it seemed to
19
00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:14.359
always be full to the brim and about to boil over.
20
00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:19.280
There's no room in my house, she would cry. Every
21
00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:22.400
morning she was woken up by the screams and cries
22
00:01:22.439 --> 00:01:25.799
of the babies. The kids threw food during breakfast and
23
00:01:25.879 --> 00:01:29.159
kicked her knees under the table and laughed and laughed.
24
00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:33.200
The husbands were loud, and her sisters were louder. Still,
25
00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:37.319
with the tiny little farmhouse's solitary room, there was no
26
00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:41.799
peace to be had. Rebecca only had privacy in two places,
27
00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:45.040
the privy, which is a bathroom which smelt too bad
28
00:01:45.079 --> 00:01:49.239
to hide in for long, and the temple. Needless to say,
29
00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:52.359
she spent a lot of time at the temple. One
30
00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:55.400
day she was there sitting in a pew when old
31
00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:58.920
Rabbi Cats found her. The rabbi had been part of
32
00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:02.640
the town since before Rebecca was born, and everyone agreed
33
00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:05.920
he was as wise as he was kind, and there
34
00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:11.319
was none kinder than old Rabbi Cats. Rebecca. He said,
35
00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:14.960
you're always here. You're always looking so glum. You know,
36
00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:17.599
I love having Hugh in the temple, but that frown.
37
00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:23.400
Tell me what's the problem, oh Rabbi? She said, The
38
00:02:23.479 --> 00:02:27.960
house is so small. The babies are always screaming and crying.
39
00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:31.000
The kids throw their food and kick my knees and
40
00:02:31.199 --> 00:02:33.719
laugh and laugh, and the husbands are loud, and my
41
00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:37.280
sisters are even louder. It's all so crazy and there's
42
00:02:37.319 --> 00:02:41.240
no peace to be had. The house just feels so small.
43
00:02:42.599 --> 00:02:46.000
Rabbi Cats thought long, and then he thought hard, and
44
00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:49.560
then he thought long and hard, all the while stroking
45
00:02:49.639 --> 00:02:53.560
his big salt and pepper beard. Finally, he leapt up
46
00:02:53.639 --> 00:02:57.639
with an aha, what is it, Rabbi, I know how
47
00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:00.400
to fix your problem. Tell me does your family own
48
00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:04.000
any animals? You've got a few. Yes, we have a
49
00:03:04.039 --> 00:03:07.199
goat and a cow and a goose. Rabbi, why do
50
00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:11.479
you ask this evening? When you go home, bring the
51
00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:15.840
goat inside the house to live with you. Rebecca blinked
52
00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:22.080
at the Rabbi, processing what he said, bring the goat inside.
53
00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:25.120
That's right now, run along and let me know how
54
00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:29.360
it goes. So Rebecca headed back home, and she brought
55
00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:32.120
the goat inside the house for the night. That's how
56
00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:36.639
much she trusted the Rabbi. Unfortunately, it didn't go so well,
57
00:03:36.919 --> 00:03:41.120
and she returned to the temple the next day. Rebecca,
58
00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:45.199
Rabbi Cats called when she entered, tell me, was my
59
00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:50.080
idea a success? I'm sorry, Rabbi, but it wasn't any
60
00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:56.199
help but impossible. Tell me everything well, I brought the
61
00:03:56.199 --> 00:03:59.360
goat in like you said, but the house felt even smaller,
62
00:03:59.400 --> 00:04:02.360
and it smelled like a barn to boot. The lousy
63
00:04:02.360 --> 00:04:05.199
goat bleeded louder than the babies cried, and the beast
64
00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:08.319
even headbutted one of my sisters, which made the kids
65
00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:11.360
laugh and laugh. I laughed a little too, but only
66
00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:14.639
until I tried to sleep. The goat clomped around all
67
00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:17.360
night long, and when I yelled, it ate the blanket
68
00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:20.399
right off my back. The house felt smaller than ever.
69
00:04:22.040 --> 00:04:25.879
The Rabbi listened closely and nodded. Drifting off in thought.
70
00:04:26.439 -->
Load full transcript
00:04:29.839
He stroked his bushy beard and scratched his curls, and
71
00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:33.279
then leapt up. I've got it. What is it, Rabbi?
72
00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:38.560
You said you've got a cow too, right, Yes, well
73
00:04:38.600 --> 00:04:41.360
that's what you need to do. Go home this evening
74
00:04:41.720 --> 00:04:46.639
and move the cow inside. Also. Rebecca looked at him,
75
00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:51.279
wide eyed. The cow too. It was already so bad
76
00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:53.519
with the goat and the babies, and the kids, and
77
00:04:53.560 --> 00:04:57.959
my sisters and their husbands. Just trust me, Rebecca, give
78
00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:03.079
it a try. Rebecca nodded and headed home, thanking the rabbi.
79
00:05:03.879 --> 00:05:06.480
She knew he was wise, so she did as he
80
00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:11.560
asked and brought the cow inside with her. Unfortunately, it
81
00:05:11.720 --> 00:05:14.600
wasn't a success, and she was back in the temple
82
00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:21.040
the next day. Rebecca, my Rebecca, Rabbi cat said, tell me,
83
00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:24.879
did I get it right? This time? Rebecca slumped into
84
00:05:24.920 --> 00:05:30.680
a pew. Her eyes were dark, and she yawned aloud. Rabbi,
85
00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:35.360
I'm sorry, she said, covering her mouth. It was a
86
00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:39.399
long night. I take it my idea and did not
87
00:05:39.639 --> 00:05:43.560
help well. I brought the cow in like you asked,
88
00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:46.639
but right away it was no good. She was so big.
89
00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:49.680
She knocked over the table, and the goat started eating
90
00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:52.319
all the food, and then the napkins and the plates too.
91
00:05:52.839 --> 00:05:55.480
A husband got kicked trying to move the cow, and
92
00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:58.199
my sister got bit trying to move the goat. The
93
00:05:58.279 --> 00:06:00.600
kids laughed and laughed, and the cow mood and the
94
00:06:00.680 --> 00:06:02.800
goat bleeded, and it was just no good at all.
95
00:06:03.240 --> 00:06:06.680
The house felt smaller than ever. She took a deep
96
00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:10.120
breath and blushed. I'm sorry, Rabbi, it was just a
97
00:06:10.199 --> 00:06:14.920
really long night. I cannot lie. I thought this might happen.
98
00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:19.439
It's a tricky thing balancing a home. Lucky for you,
99
00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:24.160
I've already worked out a solution. It's going to be great, marvelous.
100
00:06:24.199 --> 00:06:28.600
Even what do I need to do? Well? You mentioned
101
00:06:28.600 --> 00:06:34.079
the goose. Please don't say it, Rabbi. Move the goose
102
00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:37.879
in with you two. The house is so small already,
103
00:06:38.759 --> 00:06:43.639
please for me, just give it a try. Rebecca sighed
104
00:06:43.720 --> 00:06:47.279
and yawned and nodded. Heading home to her very full,
105
00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:51.480
tiny little house. She grabbed the goose and brought him
106
00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:56.199
inside with her and hoped for the best. Unfortunately, the
107
00:06:56.279 --> 00:06:59.040
best did not come to pass, and she found herself
108
00:06:59.079 --> 00:07:03.639
back in the temple the very next morning. Rebecca, how
109
00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:07.079
did it go? He said, But before he even finished,
110
00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:11.120
Rebecca was already answering how did it go? How did
111
00:07:11.160 --> 00:07:14.800
it go? Well? Let me tell you, Rabbi, she said,
112
00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:18.519
half frantic and half asleep. The goose bit a baby,
113
00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:21.920
and a baby bit the goose. The goat headbutted the cow,
114
00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:24.920
and my sister slipped in milk. The whole house smells
115
00:07:24.920 --> 00:07:27.560
like a barn, and the goat bleats, and the cow moves,
116
00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:29.920
and the goose hogs and hogs and hogs, and the
117
00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:34.639
whole house is just smaller than ever. She stood there,
118
00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:39.439
panting for a moment. I'm sorry, Rabbi, she said, I
119
00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:43.079
just I haven't slept, and I'm a little on edge.
120
00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:46.439
The Rabbi brought her to a pew and sat them
121
00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:51.319
both down. He nodded, slowly, stroking his salt and pepper beard.
122
00:07:52.600 --> 00:07:56.639
All right, I hear your complaints, and I have another
123
00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:03.160
plan for you. No more, Anna, Rebecca said miserably. Please,
124
00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:11.040
just no more animals, exactly, said Rabbi Cats, no more animals.
125
00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:13.519
I want you to go home and put all of
126
00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:17.720
the animals back in the yard. Rebecca blinked at him
127
00:08:17.720 --> 00:08:23.199
in disbelief. Back in the yard outside. That's right, Send
128
00:08:23.279 --> 00:08:28.399
the goat and the cow and the goose all back outside. Well.
129
00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:32.879
Rebecca was confused, but didn't question it further. That night,
130
00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:36.279
she went home and sent all the animals outside, and
131
00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:41.000
the next morning she was back at the temple. Rebecca,
132
00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:46.679
tell me, how are you doing, Rebecca took a deep breath. Well,
133
00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:52.000
with all the animals outside, it's so nice. There's no
134
00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:56.279
bleeding or mooing or honking, and no one hadbutted anyone
135
00:08:56.519 --> 00:08:59.240
or ate a blanket or bit a baby. It just
136
00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:03.200
feels so peace now, I swear, Rabbi, the house has
137
00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:09.559
never felt bigger. The Rabbi smiled. Ah, Rebecca You're welcome,
138
00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:13.759
he said, because he was wise, and he knew that
139
00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:17.159
sometimes all you need is to see how much worse
140
00:09:17.240 --> 00:09:21.000
things could be to remember how good you already have
141
00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:27.600
it the end. Today's story, Smaller Than Ever, was an
142
00:09:27.639 --> 00:09:30.639
adaptation of a Yiddish folk tale, written for you by
143
00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:33.679
Daniel Hines and performed for you by me Amanda Weldon.
144
00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:36.399
If you would like to support Stories Podcast, you can
145
00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:39.080
leave us a five star review on iTunes. Check out
146
00:09:39.080 --> 00:09:41.639
all of our merch available at stories podcast dot com,
147
00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:45.200
slash shop, commission a special video on cameo, follow us
148
00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:48.559
on Instagram at stories Podcast, or simply tell your friends
149
00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:51.080
about us. Thanks for listening.