Welcome to Disney's Magic of Storytelling podcast, brought to you by Wake Med Children's, because inside every child is a story waiting to be told.
Our storyteller is ABC 11 news anchor Joel Brown.
Hi everyone, it's Joel Brown and I'm reading The Jungle Book, It Takes Two.
We did it, Mowgli hollered.
He had just escaped from King Louie and the Apes with his friends Baloo and Bagheera.
It sure was a swinging good time, Baloo said.
Bagheera was less enthusiastic.
Next time we need to stick to the plan.
We are lucky to be alive.
We need to find a safe place for the night, Bagheera said.
King Louie may still be after Mowgli.
Oh, loosen up.
I can protect us.
If we see any of those mangy monkeys, I'll jab with my left and I'll swing with my right.
Oh, Baloo, we need to protect the boy.
Think about it, Bagheera said.
Mowgli sighed.
He didn't need protecting.
Why, with his brawn, he could fight like a bear.
And with his brains, he could plan like a panther.
If only they'd give him the chance.
Just then, Mowgli heard something.
There was a rustling sound above his head in the trees.
Mowgli giggled as a flying squirrel glided above him and landed on a branch.
I want to try that, he shouted.
Mowgli climbed a tree and grabbed a vine, but try as he might, he just kept crashing to the ground.
Finally, Mowgli got the hang of it.
He felt like he was flying.
He and the squirrel swept over the heads of Bagheera and Baloo.
Mowgli was having the time of his life, but soon his stomach started crumbling.
There are some bananas, he told the squirrel pointing across the river.
Let's race.
There was just one problem.
Mowgli and his new friends didn't know how to cross the river.
Mowgli looked at the vine he was holding and got an idea.
Let's swing, Mowgli said.
On the count of three.
One, two, three.
Mowgli swung across the water, but his hands slipped and he fell into the river.
Ka the snake had been watching Mowgli.
This was his chance to get the man-cub.
Ka slithered down from a tree.
Trust in me, he told Mowgli.
Just slide into my coils.
Mowgli and the squirrel grabbed onto Ka, who pulled them up into the tree with him.
Oh look, a squirrel, Ka hissed.
The squirrel's eyes focused on Ka.
Soon he had fallen under Ka's spell.
Using his brain, Mowgli realized that if he didn't look into Ka's eyes, the snake could not make him go to sleep.
And using his brawn, Mowgli wrapped Ka's tail around a stone and dropped it.
The snake fell from the tree.
Thanks, I get it, Ka muttered.
Mowgli!
Little britches!
Bigiri and Baloo stood across the river shouting.
They had been worried about Mowgli.
I'm over here, Mowgli hollered.
I used my brains and my brawn to save... What?
We can't hear you, said Baloo.
Mowgli turned to look at his new friend.
Thanks for teaching me how to glide.
I hope we meet again, he said.
Maybe next time I'll try gliding without the vine.
The squirrel chittered at Mowgli and they flew away high above the ground.
Hmm, Mowgli said, watching the squirrel take flight.
Maybe that's not such a good idea after all.
Mowgli made his way downriver, past the waterfalls.
On the other side of the river, Bagheera and Baloo followed him.
When he reached a patch of calm water, Mowgli swung and swam to his friends.
Mowgli threw himself into Baloo's arms.
He'd had a fun adventure, but he was glad to be back with his friends.
That night, as Mowgli drifted off to sleep, he heard his friends still arguing.
He used his brain, didn't look into Ka's eyes, Bagheera said.
It was brawn.
He used a big rock to get rid of Ka, Baloo argued.
Mowgli smiled.
He'd used his brains and his brawn to save himself and his new friend today.
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