Hello!
Welcome to Stories Podcast.
I'm your host, Amanda Weldon.
Today's story is called The Dragon and His Grandmother, an adaptation of a classic fable written for you by Daniel Hines.
We have Stories Podcast merch available at storiespodcast.com slash shop.
We're also on Cameo for all of your personalized video message needs.
And don't forget to follow us on Instagram at storiespodcast.
If you send us a drawing of your favorite scene or character, we'll share it on our feed.
Hang tight through this quick ad break and then we'll start the show.
Summer schedules can look different every week for homeschool families.
Between travel, camps activities and family time.
IXL makes it easy to keep learning part of the routine in a flexible, low-stress way.
IXL is an award-winning online learning platform that fits seamlessly into homeschooling.
It offers interactive practice across math, language arts, science and social studies from pre-K through 12th grade.
IXL personalizes learning for each child, keeps them engaged and gives parents clear insight into progress.
IXL's interactive practice and clear explanations make it easy to reinforce learning during end-of-year milestones, summer review or back-to-school prep.
Everything is organized by grade and subject, so you can quickly find what each child needs without juggling multiple resources.
Over 15 million students use IXL.
More than 75 research studies show it delivers real results and it's been proven to improve achievement in all 50 states, giving homeschool families added confidence.
Make an impact on your child's learning.
Get IXL now.
And Stories podcast listeners can get an exclusive 20 off IXL membership when they sign up today at wwwixlcom.
Slash dragon.
Visit wwwixlcom slash dragon to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.
I have never been a very organized person, and my husband is the same way.
I've always had such a hard time keeping track of all the places I'm supposed to be and the things I'm supposed to be doing.
It's just so much.
If you're like me and your brain is already at full capacity with to-dos and errands, birthdays and the dinner plan for Tuesday, let Skylight Calendar handle the rest.
It syncs your entire family schedule onto a sleek digital display so you can focus on more important things like spending time with your loved ones.
Skylight Calendar is designed to bring families together for more time.
This all-in-one digital smart calendar syncs seamlessly with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook and more, giving you customizable views for daily, weekly or monthly planning.
You can manage events, chores and grocery lists while assigning colors for each of your family members, which is my favorite.
I love color coding and making things beautiful, and this calendar is very good at that.
Your happiness is Skylight's happiness.
So if in four months you are not 100 thrilled with your purchase, you can return it for a full refund.
No questions asked.
Families are better when they're working together.
Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners 30 off their 15-inch calendars by going to myskylightcom slash stories.
Go to myskylight.com slash stories for $30 off your 15-inch calendar.
That is myskylight.com slash stories.
It's the carefree days of summer, but we know it doesn't feel that way for the parents.
You've scheduled all the camps.
Summer vacation is booked, but what about all those other hours in the day?
You're trying to avoid loads of screen time, but what if you found a screen solution that's actually good for everyone?
Meet Next Playground, the active game system where your body controls the play.
Next Playground is kid-safe gaming, meaning no ads, in-app purchases, or mature content.
And no online chat or friends you don't really know.
Playground comes with five experiences ready to play.
Add Play Pass and you unlock over 50 games, many with characters your kids already know and love.
Bluey, Unicorn Academy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dora, and more.
They even have an Avatar The Last Airbender game centered around the Earth Rumble tournament.
You and the kids can practice rock bending while dinner is bubbling in the crock pot.
How cool is that?
If you're ready to fill those long summer days with active play, check out nexplayground.com.
That's N-E-X playground dot com to learn more.
The Dragon and His Grandmother.
There was once a great war and the king had a great many soldiers who were all brave and proud to fight.
But as the war went on and on, the king could barely afford to pay his soldiers, and many started to go hungry.
It was illegal to run away from the army, so illegal that they'd throw you in the dungeon forever.
But as the soldiers got hungrier, more were willing to take the chance.
One night three soldiers, old friends from before the war, came together around their fire and talked quietly.
One of them said to the others We must escape or starve, but if we are caught we shall be tossed in the dungeon.
How shall we set about it?
The other said, Do you see that large cornfield there?
If we were to hide ourselves in that, no one could find us.
The army cannot come into it, and tomorrow it is to march on.
They crept into the corn, but the army did not march on right away.
It remained encamped close around them.
They sat for two days and two nights in the corn stalks, which were still too young to have any corn on them, and they grew hungrier than even before.
But now that they'd been missing for a day, if they came back out, they'd be tossed in the dungeon.
They said at last, what use was it our deserting?
We made it one field over and now we'll starve here.
While they were speaking, a ghostly dragon came flying through the air.
It hovered near them, invisible to everyone else.
Hello, soldiers in the corn, he rumbled.
What are you doing here?
They answered.
We are three soldiers and have deserted because our pay was so small.
Now, if we remain here, we shall die of hunger, and if we move out, we shall be tossed into the dungeon.
I will lead you through the midst of the army so that no one shall catch you, said the dragon.
But after seven years of freedom, you must come and serve me for the next seven years.
How could you even get us out? one asked.
In response, the dragon wrapped them in his ghostly body, and they too turned invisible to the army.
Still, seven years is a long time.
Ah, said the dragon, to sweeten the deal, I'll give you treasure when we land.
You'll spend seven years as rich men and then serve me for another seven.
It won't be so bad.
The army all around them and the dungeon looming, the old friends looked at each other and sighed.
We have no choice.
We must take your offer, they said.
Good, said the dragon.
Then he seized them in his claws and said, Hold on!
With one massive leap, the dragon launched into the air over the army.
They sailed over fields and rivers and a great shining lake and finally the dragon set them down a long way from the war.
You're free now for seven years, but don't forget our deal.
And then he snapped his claws and a little whip appeared.
He gave them the little whip saying Whip and slash the grass with this, and as much money as you want will jump up before you.
You can then live as great lords, keep horses, and drive about in carriages.
But after seven years, you are mine.
Then he put a book before them, which he asked all three of them to sign.
But of course, the dragon said according to dragon law, I will then give you a riddle when your seven years of service is to start.
He said
If you guess it, you shall be free and out of my power.
But if not, you'll serve me without complaint.
The soldiers agreed and signed.
The dragon smiled and then flew away, leaving them there with the magic whip.
The soldiers picked up the whip and tried it.
Where it hit the grass, gold coins leapt up.
Dragon magic, they cheered and gathered the coins.
Together, they journeyed across the land.
They had as much money as they wanted, wore grand clothes, and made their way into the world.
Wherever they went, they lived in happiness and splendor, drove about in horses and carriages, ate and drank, but never forgot where they came from and constantly donated to the hungry and needy.
When they left a city, there would not be a beggar left in their wake.
Now for a quick ad break.
We'll be back with the rest of the story after this.
If you'd like Stories podcast and other favorite kid podcasts ad free subscribe to Wondery Plus Kids on Apple podcasts.
The time passed quickly away, and when the seven years were nearly ended, two of them grew terribly anxious and frightened.
But the third made light of it, saying, Don't be afraid, brothers.
I wasn't born yesterday.
I will guess the riddle.
They went into a field, sat down and began to talk over what the riddle could be and how they might answer.
The two depressed ones only got more so.
And finally an old woman passed by and asked them why they were so sad.
Oh, it's magic and dragon trouble, ma'am.
I'm not sure anyone could really help us out with this.
Who knows? she answered.
Why don't you confide your trouble in me?
Then they told her that they had agreed to become the servants of the dragon for seven long years and how he had given them money as plentifully as blackberries.
But as they had signed their names, they were his.
Unless, when the seven years had passed, they could guess a riddle.
The old woman said If you would help yourselves, one of you must go into the woods over that way, and there you will come upon a tumble-down building of rocks which looks like a little house.
Then you must go in, and there you will find help.
The two depressed ones thought, that won't save us, and they remained where they were.
But the third and eager one jumped up and went into the woods till he found the rock hut.
In the rock hut sat a very old woman, strangely shaped and scaled, who was the dragon's grandmother.
She asked him how he came and what his business was there.
He told her all that had happened and because he was kind and polite, she took compassion on him and said she would help him.
She lifted up a large stone which lay over the cellar, saying, Hide yourself there.
You can hear all that is spoken in this room.
Only sit still and don't stir.
When the dragon comes, I will ask him what the riddle is, for he tells me everything.
Then listen carefully to what he says.
At midnight, the dragon flew in and asked for his supper.
His grandmother laid the table and brought out food and drink till he was satisfied and they ate and drank together.
Then, in the course of the conversation, she asked him what he had done in the day and how many souls he had conquered.
I haven't had much luck today, he said, but I have a tight hold on three soldiers from the war.
Indeed, three soldiers, she said, who cannot escape you?
They are mine, answered the dragon, for I shall only give them one riddle, which they will never be able to guess.
What sort of riddle is it? she asked.
There is a thing that nothing is, and yet it has a name.
It is sometimes tall and sometimes short, joins our talks, joins our sport, and plays at every game.
A tricky riddle indeed.
I'm rather proud of it, said the dragon.
But when he had gone to bed, his old grandmother pulled up the stone and let out the soldier.
Did you pay attention to everything?
Yes, he replied.
I know enough and can help myself splendidly.
Then he went by another way through the window secretly and ran ran, ran in all haste back to his comrades.
He told them how the dragon had been outwitted by his grandmother and how he had heard from his own lips the riddle.
Then they were all delighted and, in high spirits, took out their whip and cracked so much money that it came jumping up from the ground.
They talked about the riddle for days and days and finally were sure they had an answer.
When the seven years had quite gone, the dragon came with his book and, pointing at the signatures, said I will take you underground with me to serve now.
I hope you like mining gold in cramped caverns.
He laughed.
We still have the riddle, said the soldiers.
You're welcome to try, said the dragon.
There is a thing that nothing is, and yet it has a name.
It's sometimes tall and sometimes short, joins our talks, joins our sport, and plays at every game.
The soldiers looked at each other in pretend puzzlement, but then the brave one said, Aha!
I have your answer, dragon.
What is it? purred the dragon, sure they had it wrong.
It is a shadow.
What?
How?
No!
The dragon tried to snatch the soldiers anyway, but the magic of his own contract prevented it.
He was forced to leave them be instead shrieking and flying into the distance, looking for new victims to lure.
The three soldiers hugged and cheered in the clearing.
They took their fortunes and built three houses alongside each other in the city and kept the whip locked away for emergencies.
And once a month, they'd go to the dragon's grandmother's house for cookies and tea.
And they all, except the dragon, lived happily ever after.
The End.
Today's story, The Dragon and His Grandmother, was an adaptation of a classic fable written for you by Daniel Hines.
It was edited and produced for you by Ellie Hines and performed for you by me, Amanda Weldon.
If you would like to support Stories Podcast, you can leave us a 5-star review on iTunes.
Check out all of our merch available at storiespodcastcom.
Slash shop commission a special video on Cameo.
Follow us on Instagram at Stories Podcast, or simply tell your friends about us.
Thanks for listening!
