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Season 1 Episode 1 Pilot
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Will you tell me a story is a lighthearted podcast where Host Amanda Attaway looks for unknown, unique stories; some are shared from articles or anthologies, and others viewers can email in for Amanda to share online. Episode 1 Amanda shares port of her upcoming book, a story about a find and another about a giraffe that feels she is too tall.
If you would like to share a story to be read on air, you may do so at willutellmeastory@gmail.com
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Transcript
Introduction to 'Tell Me a Story' Podcast
00:00:25
Speaker
Hello! Welcome to Tell Me a Story. I'm Amanda Attaway.
00:00:33
Speaker
This is the podcast that shares your creativity with the world. A story can be told in many ways through words such as short stories and poetry and the lyrics of a tune. Just as words of a page can tell a story, so can music, art and dance. For our podcast, since we are just audio at the moment,
00:01:00
Speaker
I will be sharing music and stories sent in to me by fans and family and friends. I will also be sharing stories that may have been made to a publisher but not published and ones that were possibly published but are out of print or unknown. It's my way of saluting all of the hard work and the talent out there in this world
00:01:28
Speaker
Why did I create this podcast?
Motivation Behind the Podcast
00:01:31
Speaker
I create this podcast because the world needs more positivity and creativity at this time. As a child that struggled with grammar and encoding, I still had creative stories I wanted to share with my family and they were always very supportive and listening to them. Many times I wasn't confident to share them with friends and fear of rejection and harassment.
00:01:55
Speaker
When I became a teacher, my focus became on reading, where I realized that I wasn't alone, and that many people young and old wanted to express themselves. But fear, ridicule and rejection, and failure always got in the way.
00:02:14
Speaker
Just having to be heard sometimes is enough to build confidence and to keep on trying. For me, just this first step of creating this first episode is kind of scary, but I'm up to the challenge. There are others who have created and they've lost, their work has been lost in an ocean of other creators, never airing and feeling that feeling that they wonder if they should continue.
00:02:43
Speaker
You should. And for those who do and do not err, please keep that passion alive. Not just to have an outlet for emotional peace. With all the tragedy and negativity we see in the world at the moment, we need peace. Submissions can be made at willutelmesstoryatgmail.com.
00:03:09
Speaker
comments can also be turned in here as I set up a website. All I ask is that they are positive and when giving advice to others, be kind. No cruel comments will be read on the air or allowed. Remember, how would it feel if done to you? I want this to be a safe space for everyone.
The Story of Tucker, the Rescue Dog
00:03:35
Speaker
So with further ado, let's get started with our first episode of Let Me Tell You a Story.
00:03:51
Speaker
So on our first episode of Let Me Tell You a Story, I'm gonna start off with a story that I am writing, and this story is actually a story about my dog Tucker. Tucker was a rescue, and Tucker has a little interesting cork that turns people off on him, and that is he vomits because he has a sensitive stomach. He's gone to the vet, they can't find anything else wrong with him, but he's such a nervous dog that if he goes outside and drinks water and runs around and comes back in, he just vomits it all back up.
00:04:19
Speaker
And so this kind of is a turnoff for people that meet him. And it got me to thinking, what would it be like to travel from family to family with this condition? What would that journey be like? And so I decided to write this story on Tucker. And so the title is a work in progress.
00:04:38
Speaker
And I'm open to suggestions. But the title is called, What I Discovered from a Narcissistic Cat from the Words of a Canine Tucker Attaway. It's a very long title. And I know I need to shorten it, but that's kind of where I'm at on the title. So with further ado, I'm gonna read you a clip from my book, and this is chapter one. And then I'm gonna go further down and read a part about one of the characters in the book, which is my real cat, Ginger. So chapter one.
00:05:06
Speaker
The story I am about to tell you is about what I learned from the servitude and enslavement of a narcissistic cat. The day I arrived at Attaway Manor I felt was a glorious day. Yes, this would be my final destination, my long-at-last home. I was quite certain. For every doorstep I entered represented a moment of hope and at last a family to love me for who I truly am. I have always been a nervous sort.
00:05:32
Speaker
My very own shadow has always seemed to startle me. The creaks and bumps in the night, the bangs of pots and pans, the sheer drop of a spoon, has always made me jump on a dime and run for the hills. Now, to my other foster families, this was not an issue. Simply a small quirk that they felt that they could amend. Many were very understandable to my timid ways and clumsiness as I retreated away from the dangers of a broom smacking the wooden floor, only to destroy Grandma's special base as I ran out the door.
00:06:02
Speaker
others were very sympathetic, when, as my new foster furkin tried to rump and play with me, I would bolt under the table wailing my retreat-call, only to knock over a glass of Uncle Mike's favorite soda onto Aunt Jessica's favorite white carpet. Nor did they mind my feeble bladder, which would expel urine at any sign of commotion. No, these idiosyncrasies did not stop them from loving and having me, not at all.
00:06:29
Speaker
The big deal-breaker, the major inconvenience, the hindrance in their lives, was the fact that every time my nerves got the best of me, or when I became excited, and most certainly when I would drink any sort of water, I would spew on the ground whatever was in my stomach, even if the only thing was digested water.
00:06:51
Speaker
At first my previous guardians would try techniques such as a small soft kibble or withholding water and offering ice. I tried. I really tried to stop it from happening. On many occasions I would even laugh it back up in hopes they wouldn't notice. But they always somehow knew by the slippery texture on the floor or stain on the carpet.
00:07:13
Speaker
On one occasion, one of my precious guardians slipped on the gelatinous pool of sludge and broke their toe. I had a series of vet checkups in which x-rays and blood work were done, but finding no diagnosis. Doctors would offer the advice to my masters, just be patient, don't calm down, and offer him some more exercise to relax his mind. I never calmed down. I have never been relaxed. And after a while, the words I fear
00:07:42
Speaker
This may not be the best fit for him, would be spoken. I suppose humans assume that we don't understand the English language simply because we can't speak. But when you are raised around a dialect all your life, you tend to learn to decode it. Once again, I would find myself in a shelter or in a kennel under other arrangements until they could be met. And this is where I was on the day I heard of new arrangements being made for my care.
00:08:12
Speaker
"'Alamanda has always been good with animals, Marissa. "'I'm sure she could help him and give him a loving home,' Casey responded. "'Maybe, but he's never been around chickens.' "'But what about the cat?' answered Marissa. "'In this moment I thought to myself, a cat. "'I have never seen a cat before, "'but surely it can't be that bad.
00:08:41
Speaker
Marissa continued. You know how Ginger treats other animals and people alike. She is extremely horrible. I can't understand what Alamanda sees in her. But that's the thing, Marissa, explained Casey. Alamanda has always adopted animals others can't see the potential in. And look how happy they are!
00:09:05
Speaker
I see it in Tucker. He is a wonderful dog aside from his tummy issue, but Dad says we simply can't keep him. We must try. I just know if he goes to his shelter, he is at the risk of being put down or worse. Someone will become angry and hurt him. He deserves the best chance.
00:09:28
Speaker
I could hear the distress in her voice. I was well aware of the conversation that occurred earlier that morning about transporting me to a shelter. I felt in that moment that maybe this alamanda could be the answer to my prayers. I wasn't sure what a chican was. And somewhat if there was a scary cat. I can make friends. I am quite a friendly sort. When I'm not running for my life.
00:09:55
Speaker
She will know I mean no harm. This could work. I would warm up to this human. She would take me home to this time. I would make it right. Her reputation was known for being the most patient with animals. I could make this work. All right, guys. So that is the excerpt of chapter one.
00:10:16
Speaker
I
Ginger, the Harsh Cat at Attaway Manor
00:10:17
Speaker
hope you guys will mail in and let me know what you think of this chapter. And I'm actually going to fast forward down to another chapter that I'm working on. And this is going to be chapter two of the same story. So without further ado.
00:10:45
Speaker
Without further ado, sorry about that, here is Chapter 2. Actually, this is going to be Chapter 3. I forgot that I had it in Chapter 2 and I decided to add a little bit more detail. This is actually going to be Chapter 3 of this part. So, without further ado, Chapter 3, about one of the main characters, Ginger.
00:11:08
Speaker
Ginger was a cruel sort. Her reputation was far and vast across Attaway Manor. She was known to show no mercy to any of man's creatures. There were rumors that Ginger once pulled the legs off of a grasshopper, and rather than put the poor creature out of his misery, dropped him in the coop of the cluck bunch. Of course the bunch praised her for her generosity, but to Ginger it was merely for entertainment.
00:11:35
Speaker
It was also well known that Ginger entrusted a tax upon others just to be in her presence. For the canines, this was five kibbles a day of their very best food, right when their guardian poured it into a bowl. For the cluck bunch, one cracked egg open, ready to devour, and the feather from the prettiest hen to play with. Lola, of course, was void of any tax, as Ginger feared her more than she feared herself. Not that she would ever admit it,
00:12:05
Speaker
Lola was a gray ring-neck dove with an attitude of a mobster. Her favorite sport was to roost up on the heads of humans. Many would try to train her to sit on their shoulders or her arms, but Lola would not conceive. She would squawk throughout the home with a maddening attitude.
00:12:23
Speaker
Ginger thought she would be an easy free meal. She tried to grab Lola one day while she was pecking in the sunroom at flies. Lola sprung up on Ginger, head like a samurai, and pecked Ginger between her nostrils. Ginger let out a deafening shriek and scurried out the entrance as the blood started to pull down her nose. This would be the last time Ginger would attempt to eat Lola and how Lola got her name.
00:12:53
Speaker
the one that is not for dinner. For Lily, the tax included the best laying places in the house, most of her food, and never to be in Ginger's presence. To meet Ginger was like being in Hitler or Bloody Mary's presence. Oh great, another mongrel in my presence, she replied. What pray tell are you called? My name's Tucker, how are you? Wanna be my friend? I said.
00:13:21
Speaker
This response did not amuse Ginger. Oh, I don't do friends, especially with dogs. I run that house and you are a mere pawn to me. Now come here, my clothes are dull, she groaned. No, thank you, I said politely. I don't. I think that would hurt. You will stay while I sharpen my clothes, you servant, Ginger with bellow.
00:13:48
Speaker
For if you don't, I shall tip over your water bowl, and the lord of the manors shall blame it on you, mongrel. One must appreciate why Ginger chose to converse this way. My new guardian, Alimanda, is somewhat of a Brit flicks fan, and history enthusiast.
00:14:07
Speaker
There came a time when she was binging on history series about the English monarch. Ginger grew in fascination over the rulers and how they could treat their subjects. Her thirst for power grew, and she soon recognized her destiny to be the most ruthless, feared leader of the society. She would be admired and have control throughout the Attaway home. What pebbles got from this series was her wish to be adored. No change of dialect or costumes, just goodies.
00:14:38
Speaker
Sisters always get what they want," Pebbles would reply. Pebbles was quite accurate in believing this motto. With a flick of her paw and a soft gesture of her eyes, she has always been able to get people to marvel at her. Her only vulnerability, however, is food. Pebbles has always had an appetite for people food. Others found it fascinating how Pebbles can even eat off a fork. Her taste includes salads, ice cubes, and shredded chicken.
00:15:06
Speaker
Pebbles liked to also believe herself, the protector of the house. This was her home. They were her humans, and therefore, princess or not, she must protect it. After all, princesses can also protect their lands. Look at Princess Leia and Merida, she would mention. Any sound that would occur, Pebbles would give her battle cry. I am here! I am severe!
00:15:31
Speaker
Ginger would often knock on the wall to get pebbles yapping all the time to the top of her lungs. This entertained her. She knew this annoyed her guardians and she never called them her owners or family or to her. They were merely her keepers. All right, and that's a sip-nip-let of chapter three. I hope you guys enjoyed my story. We're going to go on to our next story now.
Blake's Brownie Mishap
00:15:54
Speaker
This story here is actually a story that was sent to me from a family member.
00:16:03
Speaker
So this story is from one of our viewers named Blake. When I was two, I was making brownies with my mom. My mom got a call, so I waited for the brownies to finish. I heard the timer dinging. I opened the oven without any supervision. Next, I tried to get the brownies, but they were too hot. I finally got the tray, but it was so hot I dropped it. Then the oven door slammed on my ring finger.
00:16:33
Speaker
I didn't cry though, though it hurt, but I went outside to see my mom on the phone. I walked up to her and showed her my ring finger. She was in complete shock. I remember she said, my poor baby. My dad was at work, so I really didn't have anyone else to go to. We drove to the children's hospital and we went inside. Obviously I was crying now,
00:17:02
Speaker
and as she was signing me in. And we waited and waited and waited until lastly, I went into the doctor's office and he observed the finger and told my mom that I needed stitches. We drove home about 12 o'clock. My dad was home and mom told him what happened. He was really mad at my mom. He said, why didn't you, why did you step away to answer the call? And that's all. I hope you enjoyed.
00:17:31
Speaker
Thank you, Blake, for sharing that story. That was super cute. And that's what this podcast is about, sharing any kinds of stories you guys want to share as long as they are kid-friendly.
Podcast Goals and Submissions
00:17:43
Speaker
And, you know, I can understand dad being mad, but at the same time, as a parent myself, you know, having to step away sometimes happens. You know, we're not perfect. You know, incidents happen, whether it's with pets or with somebody ringing the doorbell. So, you know, he was probably mad temporarily, but he probably wasn't mad permanently, so I wouldn't worry about it. All right, so let's look at our next story.
00:18:11
Speaker
Because this is a new podcast, I only have a handful of submissions that were given to me. And so I'm hoping as the email
00:18:24
Speaker
opens up and that people will be submitting more. Some of these come from family, friends, sometimes I have some that students possibly want to share. But again, this podcast is also going to be about stories I might find in the editorial that somebody shared with a newspaper or magazine or written books that were published or in print, some that are not in print. And so the one I have today
00:18:51
Speaker
is a story that, when I was little, I loved reading this story, and you don't see it in print anymore. And the people that wrote this story were Robin James and Steven Cosgrove. And it was from, like, a book club called a serendipity book. Serendipity books, I guess, is what it was. The price on the book was $1.95 back then, but this is an older book. I mean, this book was 1987, just so you know.
00:19:21
Speaker
And so the title of this book is called Mimmily and it has a dedication in it from Steven and it says dedicated to the one and only Emily pronounced Mimmily one of a kind in the land of duplication.
Mimili, the Unique Giraffe
00:19:40
Speaker
There was a land, a marvelous, sweet-smelling land called the Jasmine Jungle. A land brimming with all the mystery of life and filled with the raucous sounds of all the creatures who live within. It was here that baby leopard leaped. It was here that elephants of all sizes spritzed and sprayed the jungle with fine, watery mist, following rainbows to dance from a sunbeam to sunbeam. This was Jasmine Jungle.
00:20:10
Speaker
In the middle of this land was a meadow, and in this fragrant meadow was a small, knobby-knee giraffe was born, called Mimili.
00:20:28
Speaker
Normally, this would not have been such a special event, but until Mimly was born, there was only two other giraffes in the jungle. Mimly's father, and of course Mimly's mother. All the other creatures of the jungle gathered around and oohed and awed at the newborn baby. Mimly had a problem of sorts. She knew that she was a giraffe, there was no problem with that. She knew all about the dangers of the jungle from her mother, who had taught her well.
00:20:56
Speaker
Mimly's problem was that she didn't have anybody to play with who was her own size. One day she joined a bunch of bunnies in playing some silly forest games. She thought to herself, what fun! I just love to play tag. Soon the bunnies tagged her it, and she was off chasing me, the elusive creatures all over the meadow. Mimly felt just like a regular bunny, only a lot taller than the rest.
00:21:25
Speaker
The game started, innocently, and then ended in disaster. One minute, Mimly was chasing all the bunnies. The next minute, she tripped on a route that the others had jumped over. She flipped, she flopped, and she landed in a heap right on top of all the little bunnies.
00:21:48
Speaker
One by one, the bunnies hopped up to their feet out of this jumble of a jungle, until only one left in the pile of confused was Mimly. Gee whiz, Mimly, the bunnies cried. You could have heard us that way. You have got to play with someone your own size. With that, the bunnies hopped away, leaving Mimly tangled and confused in the middle of the path. Well, she thought, I'll just have to find someone taller to play with.
00:22:19
Speaker
She struggled to her feet and galloped clumsily on her way in search of new friends and new games to play. Now, Memelie's only problem with finding someone her own size was the fact that Memelie was still growing. Day by day, she was growing taller and taller. She tried to play with the lions, but they were too short and much too rough. She tried to play with the monkeys, but Memelie had trouble walking on the ground, let alone climbing a tree.
00:22:48
Speaker
Finally, Mimaly befriended two zebras and an elephant who were playing a rousing game of hide and go seek. They had no objection to letting Mimaly play. For as you know, the more the merrier when you are playing hide and go seek. One of the zebras counted to ten, while the other slipped away to hide. The elephant hid in the river, with only his trunk sticking out like a reed.
00:23:15
Speaker
The other zebra hid in the brush where her stripes disguised her. Mimley dashed this way and that looking for somewhere to hide. She tried to hide in the water with the elephants, but she was much too tall.
00:23:30
Speaker
And besides, she didn't have a trunk to breathe through. She tried to hide in the brush with a zebra, but her neck stuck out like a weed in the willows. Finally, she found a place to hide, at least she thought she was hiding. But when the other zebras finished counting to ten, he instantly spied memory behind a pile of rocks in the clearing. Just where can a very tall giraffe hide? Week after week,
00:24:02
Speaker
She hid here, she hid there. Every time she thought she was hidden, the other animals would see her gangly legs on her neck sticking out. Finally, the zebras and the elephants sadly said, it's just not going to work, Vimaline. You are just too tall. You have to find someone your own size. Maybe you should just play with the trees. Then giggling, the three of them dashed deep into the jungle.
00:24:30
Speaker
leaving a sad Mimli all alone, with no one to play with. She searched high and low for someone her own size, but she could find no one. Finally, resolved that there was no one as tall as she was, Mimli stopped trying to play games with any of the other creatures in the forest.
00:24:51
Speaker
Week by week, Mimli grew, and she became sadder and sadder. She was shy and embarrassed by her height, and whenever any of the other creatures walked by, she would turn her head, knowing that they had to look up just to look into her eye. Mimli grew and grew, and she began to bow her neck and bend her knees, trying desperately to make herself shorter. Everything she tried was to no avail. No matter how much she bowed her neck or bent her knees, she was still very tall indeed.
00:25:20
Speaker
Mimly was so embarrassed about being tall that she began spending all her days hiding amidst the trees that grew at the edge of Jasmine Jungle. She would stand for hours munching on sweet leaves and twisting her ears so that the birds wouldn't build a nest in her head. But the birds would come anyway, twittering and giggling, while standing on Mimly's head. They would bend over and look her in the eyes and sing a silly song.
00:25:45
Speaker
Who can you see? Taller than a tree. It's Mimaly. It's Mimaly! Mimaly would just shake her head and the birds would laughingly flutter away.
00:26:00
Speaker
One day, as Mimalee was wrestling through the utmost branches of very tall trees, she was shocked, nearly out of her wits by the appearance of another head looking back at her from another tree. She looked once, she looked twice, and sure enough, there was another giraffe just as tall as she. Hello there, she said shyly. Do you have to hide in the trees too?
00:26:26
Speaker
The other giraffe laughed and laughed and walked over to Memelie's tree in a graceful sway notion. No, he said in a gentle rumble. I'm not hiding in the trees. I'm eating the sweet leaves that grow at the very top. My name is Herschel. Who are you? Memelie, she said as she stepped from behind the tree with her knees bent and her neck bowed. Herschel looked and laughed as Memelie walked in her awkward way.
00:26:56
Speaker
Why are you walking like that? I have to walk this way, Emily said shyly. Otherwise, I would be much taller than the other creatures. But you're supposed to be taller than the other creatures, said Herschel. It is the way of nature. Some creatures are tall, and some are small, but all have their place in Jasmine's jungle.
00:27:21
Speaker
With the passage of time Herschel taught memory that being tall is not bad and that in nature all creatures are special in their own way. Short is short and tall is tall. You are what you are and that is all. The end.
Podcast Wrap-Up and Story Call-Out
00:27:43
Speaker
I hope you enjoyed our stories today. If you would like to share your own story, you can email us at gmail
00:27:52
Speaker
And I'm going to go ahead and give you guys our Gmail address. It is willyoutellmeastoryatgmail.com. And that is W-I-L-L, the letter U, T-E-L-L, M-E-A-S-T-O-R-Y at gmail.com, all one word. So that's will you, the letter U, tell meastoryatgmail.com. Thank you for coming today.
00:28:44
Speaker
and see you next time, storyteller. Goodbye.