Full Transcript for The Clock Bird

glorious tail 37 00:02:38.990 --> 00:02:42.990 than you could ever dream of having. Especially on your 38 00:02:43.229 --> 00:02:44.530 featherless head. 39 00:02:45.330 --> 00:02:47.530 Gee, thanks, Mot-Mot. 40 00:02:48.340 --> 00:02:49.069 And Toucan? 41 00:02:50.250 --> 00:02:53.180 Your bill may be impressive with its many, many colors. 42 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:56.860 But that dark tail of yours is so drab. 43 00:02:57.969 --> 00:03:01.990 Compared with mine, of course. Gosh, thanks, Mutt Mutt. 44 00:03:02.629 --> 00:03:07.629 And Parrot, your tail may be long and many-hued, but 45 00:03:07.669 --> 00:03:09.400 it's so scrawny. 46 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:11.120 As opposed to mine. 47 00:03:11.860 --> 00:03:13.900 Golly, thanks, Mutt Mutt. 48 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:19.240 Oh, and Pelican, I can't forget about you. Your bill 49 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:22.180 may be so big it holds more water and food 50 00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:26.680 than your stomach, but your tail is puny. Just a 51 00:03:26.979 --> 00:03:29.680 fluff of feathers sticking out from your behind. 52 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:31.599 Unlike my tail. 53 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:32.659 Yep. 54 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:34.879 Thanks, Mat-Mat. 55 00:03:35.810 --> 00:03:40.789 The taunting and teasing, gloating and preening went on and on. 56 00:03:41.569 --> 00:03:46.430 Then one day, the bird's leader, Vulture, spotted something ominous 57 00:03:46.750 --> 00:03:47.469 on the horizon. 58 00:03:48.770 --> 00:03:52.889 My fellow birds, do you see those dark clouds gathering? 59 00:03:53.449 --> 00:03:56.370 A storm is coming. And from the looks of it, 60 00:03:56.669 --> 00:03:59.539 it will be a storm like none we've ever seen. 61 00:03:59.560 --> 00:04:05.479 So what should we do, Vulture? Yes, what should we do? 62 00:04:06.080 --> 00:04:09.990 Surely there's some way we can protect ourselves. I appreciate 63 00:04:10.030 --> 00:04:14.930 you asking, Toucan, Parrot, and Pelican. And I believe we 64 00:04:15.169 --> 00:04:20.069 can protect ourselves by building a shelter. 65 00:04:21.180 --> 00:04:22.319 A shelter? 66 00:04:22.779 --> 00:04:28.189 Yes, Toucans. A shelter. A sturdy lodging to keep us 67 00:04:28.329 --> 00:04:30.829 safe from the wind and rain. 68 00:04:31.509 --> 00:04:33.949 What should we use to build our shelter, Vulture? 69 00:04:34.629 --> 00:04:42.100 Good question, Parrot. We should use anything we can find. Branches, bark, leaves, 70 00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:43.639 even vines. 71 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:48.829 But what about food, Vulture? Shouldn't we gather some food 72 00:04:48.889 --> 00:04:51.089 to tide us over till the storm passes? 73 00:04:51.730 --> 00:04:55.829 Excellent thinking, Pelican. And with that big bill of yours, 74 00:04:56.329 --> 00:04:59.230 you're just the one to do it. I want you 75 00:04:59.269 --> 00:05:02.649 to find as many fruits, nuts, and seeds as you 76 00:05:02.689 --> 00:05:06.689 can and stash them in your bill. Make sure there's 77

00:05:06.740 --> 00:05:07.939 enough to feed us all. 78 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:13.620 As Vulture, Toucan, Parrot, and Pelican strategized about how best 79 00:05:13.740 --> 00:05:18.839 to prepare, one bird remained silent. And that bird was. 80 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:24.759 Mott Mott, you've been awfully quiet. Aren't you going to 81 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:26.620 help us prepare for the storm? 82 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:28.800 Who? Me? 83 00:05:29.399 --> 00:05:33.160 Yes, you. We have a lot of work to do 84 00:05:33.240 --> 00:05:35.220 to get ready for the wind and rain. 85 00:05:35.899 --> 00:05:38.189 Mott Mott cocked his iridescent head. 86 00:05:38.990 --> 00:05:42.970 Okay, so about that word you just used. 87 00:05:43.629 --> 00:05:45.449 Wind? No. Rain? 88 00:05:45.470 --> 00:05:48.019 No. No. 89 00:05:49.259 --> 00:05:49.720 Work. 90 00:05:50.779 --> 00:05:55.060 Do you actually expect a beautiful, beguiling bird like me 91 00:05:55.160 --> 00:05:56.160 to do work? 92 00:05:57.399 --> 00:05:58.939 What if my tail gets dirty? 93 00:05:59.730 --> 00:06:04.069 Mott Mott, we're about to experience a dangerous storm, the 94 00:06:04.129 --> 00:06:07.329 likes of which we've never seen. And all you can 95 00:06:07.410 --> 00:06:09.129 think about is your tail? 96 00:06:09.889 --> 00:06:10.170 Yes. 97 00:06:11.050 --> 00:06:13.329 All I ever think about is my tail. 98 00:06:14.920 --> 00:06:18.259 Vulture knew it was no use arguing with Mot-Mot, so 99 00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:19.939 he called the other birds to attention. 100 00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:21.000 Toucan! 101 00:06:21.420 --> 00:06:21.839 Parrot! 102 00:06:22.360 --> 00:06:22.899 Pelican! 103 00:06:23.620 --> 00:06:27.319 And they got to work. Mot-Mot, meanwhile, flew up to 104 00:06:27.420 --> 00:06:30.839 a laurel tree and lounged his colorful little body on 105 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:31.319 a branch. 106 00:06:32.600 --> 00:06:36.199 I can't believe Vulture expects me to toil away with 107 00:06:36.250 --> 00:06:37.230 the other birds. 108 00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:40.829 There is no way you'll ever see me. 109 00:06:40.689 --> 00:06:41.620 Working my tail off. 110 00:06:42.569 --> 00:06:43.269 How could I? 111 00:06:43.529 --> 00:06:47.180 It's far too full, feathery, and fabulous. 112 00:06:48.259 --> 00:06:51.839 Well, little did Mot-Mot know, but that tail of his 113 00:06:51.980 --> 00:06:56.879 wouldn't be full, feathery, or fabulous for long. Because after 114 00:06:56.920 --> 00:07:02.209 the storm rolled in, his tail would reach its tail and... 115 00:07:03.529 --> 00:07:11.670 How do you think Mot-Mot will lose his fabulous tail? 116 00:07:12.379 --> 00:07:26.569 We'll find out what happens after a quick break. I'm 117 00:07:26.589 --> 00:07:29.850 Rebecca Shear. Welcome back to Circle Round. Today our story 118 00:07:29.910 --> 00:07:43.870 is called The Clockbird. Before the break, Mot-Mot refused to 119 00:07:43.930 --> 00:07:47.589 help Vulture, Toucan, Parrot, and Pelican

prepare for the storm. 120 00:07:48.370 --> 00:07:50.970 The colorful bird believed he was too fabulous to help 121 00:07:51.269 --> 00:07:55.139 build a shelter or collect food. So he flew off 122 00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:58.779 and lounged in a laurel tree, preening his fluffy tail. 123 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:07.000 Then the storm rolled in. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed 124 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:11.240 as heavy gray clouds unleashed a torrent of rain. Vulture 125 00:08:11.339 --> 00:08:14.620 flapped his great wings and strained against the whistling wind 126 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:17.319 as he flew into the bird's makeshift shelter. 127 00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:21.180 Toucan! Parrot! Pelican! Get in here! 128 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:23.459 Sure thing, Vulture! 129 00:08:23.750 --> 00:08:26.560 Gladly, Vulture! With pleasure, Vulture! 130 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:31.449 Once the group was safe inside, Pelican handed out the fruits, nuts, 131 00:08:31.509 --> 00:08:33.590 and seeds he had collected in his bill. 132 00:08:34.370 --> 00:08:35.629 Thank you, Pelican! 133 00:08:36.149 --> 00:08:40.470 Much obliged, Pelican! We really appreciate this, Pelican! 134 00:08:40.980 --> 00:08:42.080 Happy to help, friends. 135 00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:48.299 Happy to help. But while Vulture, Toucan, Parrot, and Pelican 136 00:08:48.330 --> 00:08:54.309 were all warm, snuggly, and safe, Mott Mott was not. 137 00:08:55.169 --> 00:08:59.289 It's getting awfully cold up here in this tree. Wet, too. 138 00:09:00.169 --> 00:09:02.169 Maybe the other birds won't mind if I join them 139 00:09:02.210 --> 00:09:02.870 in their shelter? 140 00:09:03.590 --> 00:09:05.850 But when he took to the air, he realized he 141 00:09:05.889 --> 00:09:10.509 had no idea where the shelter was. Oh, dear. 142 00:09:11.389 --> 00:09:14.879 Where did Vulture, Toucan, Parrot, and Pelican build that shelter 143 00:09:14.899 --> 00:09:15.279 of theirs? 144 00:09:16.379 --> 00:09:17.259 Is it in that tree there? 145 00:09:18.340 --> 00:09:18.460 No. 146 00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:20.379 How about this one over here? 147 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:22.059 No. 148 00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:24.000 Behind this bush then? 149 00:09:25.399 --> 00:09:25.779 No. 150 00:09:26.860 --> 00:09:30.039 Mott Mott flew around and around until he was worn 151 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:31.700 out and waterlogged. 152 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:36.230 I can't keep flying around like this. 153 00:09:37.250 --> 00:09:39.529 I need to rest and get dry. 154 00:09:40.850 --> 00:09:44.549 Where can I go? His bright red eyes scanned the 155 00:09:44.590 --> 00:09:48.169 world below. And then... Oh, that. 156 00:09:48.110 --> 00:09:51.129 Wall of rock down there. It has a crack in it. 157 00:09:52.210 --> 00:09:53.450 A narrow crevice. 158 00:09:53.149 --> 00:09:55.590 That should be just big enough for me to fit inside. 159 00:09:56.389 --> 00:09:59.970 Mott Mott swooped down and tried squeezing through the crack inside. 160 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:05.559 the wall. It was so narrow he could barely fit 161 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:09.539 his colorful body inside, let alone his long, fluffy tail. 162 00:10:10.100 --> 00:10:12.799 But he shimmied in as far as he could. Then, 163 00:10:12.820 --> 00:10:17.000 in no time at all, the bone-tired bird dropped off 164 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:22.250 to sleep. Hours later, he woke up again. 165 00:10:26.149 --> 00:10:27.929 Would you look at that! 166 00:10:28.980 --> 00:10:32.820 The storm is over and the sun is shining bright. 167 00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:36.419 Now I can go back out into the world and 168 00:10:36.580 --> 00:10:39.940 show off my fabulous feathery tail. 169 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:43.600 Mott Mott spread his wings and took to the sky. 170 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:46.360 When he landed at the top of a cedarwood tree, 171 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:50.539 He looked down and spied vulture, toucan, parrot, and pelican 172 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:52.559 emerging from their hiding place. 173 00:10:53.379 --> 00:10:58.059 Well, hello down there. Did you birds miss me? Wait, 174 00:10:58.899 --> 00:10:59.730 don't answer that. 175 00:11:00.750 --> 00:11:03.909 Of course you did. The other birds lifted their heads. 176 00:11:04.549 --> 00:11:08.350 When they caught sight of Mot-Mot, their beaks and bills 177 00:11:08.509 --> 00:11:10.070 dropped wide open. 178 00:11:10.610 --> 00:11:14.029 Well, don't look so stunned. Did you think I wouldn't 179 00:11:14.070 --> 00:11:17.429 weather the storm? Just because I refused to knuckle down 180 00:11:17.490 --> 00:11:18.710 and help you toil away? 181 00:11:19.570 --> 00:11:24.190 The others remained silent. They just kept staring at Mot-Mot. 182 00:11:24.610 --> 00:11:29.600 Or rather, they kept staring at Mot-Mot's backside. Oh, I 183 00:11:29.620 --> 00:11:29.919 get it. 184 00:11:30.580 --> 00:11:34.379 You're goggling at my tail. You must have forgotten how 185 00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:39.740 fabulous it is. All thick, lush, and feathery. 186 00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:44.139 The other birds exchanged a look. Um. 187 00:11:45.090 --> 00:11:50.690 Actually, Mot-Mot, we don't know how to tell you this. 188 00:11:51.070 --> 00:11:56.529 But that fabulous tail of yours? It isn't thick, lush, 189 00:11:56.649 --> 00:12:01.429 and feathery at all. Not anymore, anyway. 190 00:12:02.029 --> 00:12:04.149 What? What are you talking about? 191 00:12:05.110 --> 00:12:07.789 Mot-Mot swung his head around and stared at his bottom. 192 00:12:08.429 --> 00:12:10.980 And that's when his beak dropped open. 193 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:12.940 It can't be! 194 00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:14.139 It can't! 195 00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:18.980 And yet, it could. All that was left of Mot 196 00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:24.779 Mot's lush, fabulous tail were two long, skinny feathers, slender 197 00:12:24.840 --> 00:12:27.960 as two bones, with a round clump of plumage at 198 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:32.799 the end. Kind of like a

lollipop, or a badminton racket, 199 00:12:33.539 --> 00:12:38.639 or the pendulum of a clock. And do you know why? Well, 200 00:12:39.179 --> 00:12:42.360 when Mot Mot squeezed and shimmied his orange, green, and 201 00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:45.139 blue body into that crevice in the wall, He didn't 202 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:49.620 realize his tail was sticking out. So as the storm 203 00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:53.860 raged on, his fabulous feathery appendage was buffeted by wind 204 00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:57.509 and pelted by rain. And by the time the skies cleared, 205 00:12:58.070 --> 00:13:01.129 the weather had done its worst and torn most of 206 00:13:01.169 --> 00:13:03.490 his tail feathers clean away. 207 00:13:04.149 --> 00:13:07.389 Oh, this is embarrassing. So embarrassing. 208 00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:12.480 I can't let anyone see me like this. Mortified, little 209 00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:14.460 Mott Mott flapped his wings and took to the air. 210 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:17.789 He flew deep into the forest, where he found a 211 00:13:17.850 --> 00:13:21.230 secluded spot, burrowed a deep, deep tunnel in the ground, 212 00:13:21.850 --> 00:13:25.049 and made it his new home, after making sure his 213 00:13:25.210 --> 00:13:29.230 entire body fit inside, of course. And that's why, to 214 00:13:29.769 --> 00:13:33.740 this day, Mat-Mat keeps to himself. Though I'd like to 215 00:13:33.789 --> 00:13:36.179 think that when the other birds need him to help 216 00:13:36.200 --> 00:13:39.820 with something, our little clock bird is willing to come 217 00:13:39.940 --> 00:13:44.120 out and say yes, and think with his heart, not me. 218 00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:45.360 His tale. 219 00:13:54.549 --> 00:13:57.429 Now it's your turn. You can prove there's no I 220 00:13:57.529 --> 00:14:01.649 in team by holding your own scavenger hunt. Gather some 221 00:14:01.710 --> 00:14:04.350 family members or friends and make a list of items 222 00:14:04.389 --> 00:14:07.240 to hunt for. The items can be outside in nature 223 00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:10.039 or in your very own home. Then work together to 224 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:12.100 find as many items on your list as you can. 225 00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:15.850 As you search... Be sure to encourage your teammates and 226 00:14:15.889 --> 00:14:20.309 support them as you work together to achieve the same goal. 227 00:14:23.669 --> 00:14:27.480 This week's episode, The Clockbird, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear. 228 00:14:27.940 --> 00:14:31.480 It was edited by Sophie Codner. Our original music and 229 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:35.120 sound design is by Eric Shimalonis. Our artist is Sabina Han. 230 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:37.960 Sabina has drawn a black and white coloring page for 231 00:14:38.059 --> 00:14:41.580 all 200-plus Circle Round stories, and you can print them 232 00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:46.269 out and color them while you listen. Grown-ups, visit our website, wbur.org 233 00:14:46.289 --> 00:14:50.600 slash circleround, and click on Coloring Pages. And while you're 234 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:54.899 at wbur.org slash circleround, you can support our public radio 235 00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:59.340 podcast by becoming the newest member of the Circle Round Club. 236 00:14:59.940 --> 00:15:03.129 You can get all sorts of goodies, like exclusive Circle 237 00:15:03.169 --> 00:15:08.730 Round swag, ad-free episodes, bite-sized bedtime stories, weekly activity emails, 238 00:15:08.850 --> 00:15:12.370 a monthly newsletter, music education videos, early access to Circle 239 00:15:12.409 --> 00:15:17.409 Round events, even a personalized birthday message from me. Visit WBUR.org 240 00:15:17.429 --> 00:15:21.169 slash Circle Round and click Circle Round Club. Special thanks 241 00:15:21.220 --> 00:15:25.299 to this week's actors, Fyodor Chin, Kevin Corbett, Anthony Palmini, 242 00:15:25.580 --> 00:15:28.980 Don Ursula, and Byron Mann. Grown-ups, you can see Byron 243 00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:32.059 Mann in the movie The Big Short, the TV series Arrow, 244 00:15:32.299 --> 00:15:35.639 as well as the new indie film The Modelizer. Our 245 00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:38.830 featured instrument this week was the Chirongo. You can learn 246 00:15:38.870 --> 00:15:42.120 more about this stringed instrument from South America and see 247 00:15:42.149 --> 00:15:44.980 a photo of Eric Shimalonis playing it on our website. 248 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:49.940 Once more, that's WBUR.org slash Circle Round. Grownups, if you 249 00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:53.519 enjoy Circle Round, please write us a five-star review on 250 00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:56.730 your favorite podcast app and tell your friends about the show. 251 00:15:57.289 --> 00:15:59.889 It'll help us keep circling round with you for years 252 00:15:59.950 --> 00:16:03.750 to come. Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's 253 00:16:03.830 --> 00:16:08.559 NPR news station. I'm Rebecca Shearer. Thanks for circling round 254 00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:15.009 with us. Now that you've made it to the end 255 00:16:15.070 --> 00:16:18.389 of this Circle Round episode, we want to know, what's 256 00:16:18.490 --> 00:16:22.769 your favorite Circle Round story? Thousands of fans just like 257 00:16:22.809 --> 00:16:25.029 you have been telling us about the Circle Round stories 258 00:16:25.090 --> 00:16:28.059 they like best. Take a listen. Maybe one of their 259 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:29.980 favorites is one of yours, too. 260 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:34.500 My name is Sylvie, and I live in Lisbon, Portugal. 261 00:16:35.059 --> 00:16:40.230 And my favorite story is the fairy fort because I 262 00:16:40.309 --> 00:16:43.610 like the part when they dance to the music on 263 00:16:43.830 --> 00:16:44.889 Muriel's heart. 264 00:16:45.669 --> 00:16:49.000 Hello, my name is Sam. I live in Mill Valley, California. 265 00:16:49.470 --> 00:16:52.250 And my favorite Circle Round story is the tale of 266 00:16:52.309 --> 00:16:55.769 Koala's Tale because I like the part where Turtle keeps 267 00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:59.620 yelling at Koala to help them. My name is Liam 268 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:04.519 and I live from Portland and my favorite Circle Round 269 00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:08.960 story is the ocean is salty because I like when 270 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:15.359 the whole ocean gets salty because of a magical jar 271 00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:17.420 filling the salty ocean. 272 00:17:17.990 --> 00:17:21.029 My name is Calvin, and I live in Auburn, and 273 00:17:21.130 --> 00:17:25.730 my favorite story is The Three-Legged Pot, and I like 274 00:17:25.750 --> 00:17:30.430 the part when The Three-Legged Pot has time to skip 275 00:17:30.609 --> 00:17:31.390 and skip. 276 00:17:32.029 --> 00:17:35.390 Hi, my name is Julia. I live in Michigan. 277 00:17:35.450 --> 00:17:39.599 My favorite Circle Round story is Counting Crocodiles because my 278 00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:43.220 favorite part is when Mouse Deer tricks Old Crocodile. 279 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:48.470 Hi, my name is Rossi. I live in Washington. My 280 00:17:48.529 --> 00:17:52.970 favorite story is the Lion's Whisker. My favorite part is 281 00:17:53.029 --> 00:17:56.410 when the bunny steals the Lion's Whisker. We love you, 282 00:17:56.470 --> 00:17:57.599 Rebuckus here! 283 00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:01.960 Did someone mention a story you've missed? Not to worry! Grown-ups, 284 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:04.740 you can find all of our Circle Round stories, plus 285 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:07.900 links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages, 286 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:12.740 and oh so much more on our website, wbur.org slash circleround.