*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* WIND: Miss North Wind and Mr. Zephyr Once upon a time Miss North Wind felt the urge to get married. She went to Mr. Zephyr and said, “Sir Zephyr, how would you like to be my husband?” Mr. Zephyr was a fellow attached to money and didn’t care for women. So, without beating around the bush, he replied, “No, Lady North, because you haven’t a penny to your name for a dowry.” Cut to the quick, Miss North Wind began blowing with all her might, without a minute’s respite, at the risk of bursting her lungs. For three days and three nights straight, she blew; and for three days and three nights it snowed up a storm. All the fields, hills, and villages were blanketed in show.

Set-up:

Tell your listeners

that this is a folktale from Italy.

Gesture and Movement: Use your face and body to show the attitudes and

When Miss North Wind had spread her silver everywhere, she said to Mr. Zephyr, “Here’s my dowry that you said I didn’t have! Will that do?” Then she went off to rest from her labor of the last three days. Mr. Zephyr didn’t bat an eye. He shrugged his shoulders and then he started blowing. He blew for three days and three nights and for three days and three nights, fields, hills, and villages sweltered under intense heat that melted away every single bit of snow. When Miss North Wind was thoroughly rested, she awakened and saw that her dowry was all gone. She ran to Mr. Zephyr, who mockingly asked, “Where did all your dowry go, Lady North? Do you still want me for your husband?” Miss North Wind turned her back on him, “No, Sir Zephyr, I’d never want to be your wife, since you’re capable of squandering my entire dowry in a day.” Background: From the Molise region in Italy. “Molise is a mountainous Italian region with a stretch of coastline on the Adriatic Sea. It encompasses part of the National Park of Abruzzo in the Apennines mountain range, with rich wildlife and trails. The regional capital, Campobasso, is known for its mountaintop Monforte Castle and Romanesque churches. To the north is the Pietrabbondante archaeological area with an ancient Samnite theater and temple.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molise

emotions of the characters.

Dialogue:

Adapt the

dialogue provided to your own voice to move the story forward.

Participation:

It’s all

about the blowing! If you have enough people, have some be Miss North Wind and others be Mr. Zephyr.

Adapted from: Italian Folktales by Italo Calvino

1 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* WIND: The Wind and the Moon Once upon a time, there lived two friends in the shade of a rock. It would sound strange, but one of them was a lion and the other was a tiger. They were friends since their childhood. They knew each other from the time, when they were too small to understand the difference between the lions and the tigers. Thus, their friendship was not at all strange to them. Moreover, the part of the mountain under which they lived was peaceful; it could be due to the presence of a monk who lived under the same rock. He was a hermit, one who lives far away from worldly affairs. One day, the two friends got into a stupid argument for some unknown reason. The Tiger said,” Everyone knows that cold comes when the moon decreases from full to new”. The Lion said, “You are a stupid fellow. From where did you hear such nonsense? Everyone knows that cold comes when the moon increases from new to full”. The argument between them became stronger and stronger. Both of them were firm at their own opinion. They could not arrive at any conclusion to resolve the growing disagreement. They even started calling ill names to each other. Suddenly, they thought that like this they would lose their friendship. At last, they decided to go and ask the learned monk, who would definitely know about the actual answer. Both of them went together to the peaceful monk and bowed respectfully before him. The hermit asked them the reason for their sudden arrival. They put their question to him and said, “Sir, only you can answer to this problematic question”. The hermit thought for a while and said, “It can be cold in any phase of the moon, from new to full and back to new again. It is the wind that brings the cold, whether from west or north or east. Therefore, both of you are right and neither of you is defeated by the other”. The hermit also said, “Both of you share healthy friendship since your childhood. It is not good to get into arguments and think about separation. The most important thing is to live without conflict, to remain united. Unity is best by all means”. The Lion and the Tiger understood the message of the wise monk. They thanked him for the kind suggestion given by him. Both of them lived happily thereafter as good friends. Moral: Weather comes and weather goes, but friendship remains. Background: This is a Jataka story, all of which are about previous incarnations of the

Set-up:

This wind features

in this story as part of the monk’s advice.

Think about

framing the story with the wind and the cold to cold to better connect with the theme of the festival.

Gesture and Movement: Use your face and body to show the emotions and attitudes in the story.

Dialogue:

The story

includes lots of great dialogue.

Use and adapt to

move the story forward and show the personalities of the characters.

Buddha. Go here to read about them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jataka_tales Adapted from: http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-folktales/jataka-tales/wind-andmoon.html

2 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* WIND: The Battle of the Wind and the Rain One sunny day, there were some harmless clouds dotting the sky. But what you don’t know is that on those harmless clouds were resting four natural forces named Thunder, Lightning, Rain and Wind. It didn’t take long for Wind to say, “Guys are you as bored as I am?” “No” the other free forces answered immediately. “Oh, come on” said Wind, “Little storm won’t harm anybody.” “I feel so fluffy on this cloud” said Lightning “Leave me alone.” Wind couldn’t stand still and stirred the pot by blowing some wind at Thunder’s cloud. “Stop it” yelled Thunder. “Ha ha ha” laughed Wind. “Hey Rain” said Wind “Do you want me to blow some wind your way, too?” “No” snapped Rain. “Oh, come on” continued Wind “Let’s have some fun.” “Can’t you be still at least for a second” Rain was getting more and more irritated. Wind sensing it, persisted “Let’s play a game, who is more powerful.” “Under one condition” retorted Rain “If I win, you will never get in my way. It will mean rainy days without wind.” Wind with a smirk on his face said, “But if I win, you will never ever drop another tear on this earth.” Earth without rain means nothing would survive on earth. That’s not a good promise to make. But Rain was getting so annoyed by Wind “Fine. You asked for it. I’ll show you who is more powerful.” So Rain and Wind looked for a place to start their battle. Rain very quickly spotted a monkey on a bamboo tree. Rain knowing that a bamboo tree is very flexible; it can bend instead of breaking as other trees. She just wasn’t sure if the monkey could hold on to the tree. But this was her best chance. So she challenged Wind “If you can knock down that monkey, then you win.” “As you wish” Wind answered boldly. Not wasting any time, Wind started blowing heavy winds. With every breath he took in, his cheeks were getting bigger and bigger, as they were about to explode. Wind was getting more and more agitated as he was realizing that he can’t break the bamboo tree. Out of exhaustion he gave up and turned to Rain “Let’s see how smart you can get.” “No problem” answered Rain and started her magic with dark sky and grey clouds creating a heavy rain. Monkey, with her flexible arms and legs, was still holding on to the bamboo tree. It made Wind very happy, because none of them was winning. “Let’s call it even” Wind said hastily. “Not so fast” answered Rain and swiftly changed the rain into big drops that were hitting the wet monkey very hard. Exhausted monkey climbed down to look for a place she could hide from rain.

Set-up:

Tell your listeners

about the Philippines and what they are like.

Gesture and Movement: Choose gestures and movements that consistently show the differences between rain and wind.

Dialogue:

The story uses

dialogue well – take advantage of that in crafting your story.

3 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* The Battle of the Wind and Rain, page 2 “Does it make me a winner?” asked Rain with a big smile on her face. But Wind was already gone, too upset to face Rain. Or, maybe he was already showing the first signs of keeping the promise that he wouldn’t get in Rain’s way, what do you think? Now you know when strong winds come in and they are so strong that they are taking people’s houses with them. This is why people hope for rain. When Rain comes in, the Wind should go away.

Background: This is a folktale from the Philippines. Go here to see images of the Philippines and their geography. Adapted from: http://geowonderland.blogspot.com/2012/06/battle-of-

wind-and-rain-philippines.html

4 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* WIND: The Wind and the Moon Once upon a time, there lived two friends in the shade of a rock. It would sound strange, but one of them was a lion and the other was a tiger. They were friends since their childhood. They knew each other from the time, when they were too small to understand the difference between the lions and the tigers. Thus, their friendship was not at all strange to them. Moreover, the part of the mountain under which they lived was peaceful; it could be due to the presence of a monk who lived under the same rock. He was a hermit, one who lives far away from worldly affairs. One day, the two friends got into a stupid argument for some unknown reason. The Tiger said,” Everyone knows that cold comes when the moon decreases from full to new”. The Lion said, “You are a stupid fellow. From where did you hear such nonsense? Everyone knows that cold comes when the moon increases from new to full”. The argument between them became stronger and stronger. Both of them were firm at their own opinion. They could not arrive at any conclusion to resolve the growing disagreement. They even started calling ill names to each other. Suddenly, they thought that like this they would lose their friendship. At last, they decided to go and ask the learned monk, who would definitely know about the actual answer. Both of them went together to the peaceful monk and bowed respectfully before him. The hermit asked them the reason for their sudden arrival. They put their question to him and said, “Sir, only you can answer to this problematic question”. The hermit thought for a while and said, “It can be cold in any phase of the moon, from new to full and back to new again. It is the wind that brings the cold, whether from west or north or east. Therefore, both of you are right and neither of you is defeated by the other”. The hermit also said, “Both of you share healthy friendship since your childhood. It is not good to get into arguments and think about separation. The most important thing is to live without conflict, to remain united. Unity is best by all means”. The Lion and the Tiger understood the message of the wise monk. They thanked him for the kind suggestion given by him. Both of them lived happily thereafter as good friends. Moral: Weather comes and weather goes, but friendship remains. Background: This is a Jataka story, all of which are about previous incarnations of the

Set-up:

This wind features

in this story as part of the monk’s advice.

Think about

framing the story with the wind and the cold to better connect with the theme of the festival.

Gesture and Movement: Use your face and body to show the emotions and attitudes in the story.

Dialogue:

The story

includes lots of great dialogue.

Use and adapt to

move the story forward and show the personalities of the characters.

Buddha. Go here to read about them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jataka_tales Adapted from: http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-folktales/jataka-tales/wind-andmoon.html

5 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* WIND: A Story of the Wind Stories about the wind are rare, and rarer still are those in which the wind shows guile. Yet in the Mossi country the wind used to play all sorts of tricks, as you will see. Take that day it picked on a very decent sort of chap – a farmer with a crop of maize – and made his life miserable from then on, for no reason at all. Anyway, this is the story and I shan’t embroider it, because it is so nice just as it is! Well then, this man in the Mossi country had a field of maize, a flourishing field of fine plants with heavy cobs on them and he was simply delighted. And what harm is there any way in enjoying the heart-warming sight, as he did daily, of a beautiful field of maize growing thick and straight, tall and ripe and ready for reaping in the lovely sunshine? The man went along to look at it every evening with his pipe in his mouth and a smile of joy on his lips. But his joy was short-lived. He found that a thief had been in the field. Every night a large portion of this very desirable harvest was carried off. Someone was stealing it. Someone . . . but who? I shall have to take this someone by surprise, thought he man to himself. He lay in wait . . . and he did not have to wait long. Suddenly what did he see – could he believe his eyes? First one cob, then another just vanished, they detached themselves from their stalks and disappeared as if snatched away by an invisible hand. Drat! Thought the man. Here’s a clever thief! The farmer came back next day. The weather had grown cooler and this time he saw the cobs detaching themselves with astounding rapidity and flying off; it was is the wind was taking them. The wind! Someone! That’s who is was: the wind. Who would ever have thought of a thief like that? The man would have to find some way of punishing the wind and puzzled a long time before he thought of the most effective way of catching the rascal. He did not put a scarecrow in his field. That would not have scared the wind, for the wind fears nothing! But he made a beautiful statue of white sticky stuff like glue; it looked shiny and was just the thing to attract such a cunning and elusive thief. The wind came as it had done each night, twisting and turning in gusts and eddies, and right in the middle of the field it saw the sticky statue. The wind rand to caress it. The touch of the wind can be light

Set-up:

Tell your listener’s

where the story is from and a little about the people it comes from.

Gesture and Movement: Use your face and body to show the attitude and emotions of the farmer and the wind.

Dialogue:

The heart of

the story is in the dialogue between the farmer and the wind – be sure to include that.

Participation:

Play with

ways of bringing the wind to life and inviting your listeners to join in.

6 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* A Story of the Wind, page 2 and gentle. It can pass over flower without disturbing their petals; it can step over seeds without crushing them, and touch pretty faces without making them wither or fade. A blue wind is always gentle. It came up to the statue and wanted to touch it. First it put out a wing. But its wing got caught on the glue, so it put out another and that too got caught. Finding itself trapped the wind set up a terrible roaring all around the sticky statue and soon its hair was stuck too, and finally even its mouth – for at first it had tried to kiss the figure; now it would have like to bite it, it was so angry. Poor little blue wind. The farmer took pity on the little wind which had been pillaging his maize; it still looked so fresh and pretty in its rage. The watched it, then spoke. “You were stealing.” “It wasn’t for me.” “Who was it you took the maize for, then?” “Ah, if you knew that . . .” “Tell me! You must tell me, wind!” “It was for my orphans.” “You, the wind, feed orphans?” “I do. But it’s a secret.” “But if you want me to let you off, you must tell me.” “Well, then, don’t you reveal it to a soul. This is it: I take your corncobs to the birds in the desert. There, now you’re happy, aren’t you, now you know?” “Good little wind,” said the man. And with infinite care he unstuck the wind’s wings and hair and delicate mouth, at great pains not to crumple the frilly gauze and lace which this fragile, elegant wind affected. The man gave it back its liberty. The wind flew off, grateful. It has never forgotten its friend of the maize field. Every now and again it passes that way, steals a cob or two for its desert orphans, to be sure, but then comes back when it is needed, and hides and scares away the herds of elephants which come and flatten all the crops with their great round feet. From its hiding place you hear a whistle; the small round mouth of the blue wind makes a sound like the hunter’s arrow – and the great beasts turn and run away. Background: Read about the Mossi peoples of Burkina Faso here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mossi_people Adapted from: René Guillot’s African Folk Tales, by René Guillot

7 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* WIND: South Wind and the Golden Girl Shawondasee, the South Wind, was much gentler than his brothers of the East, West, and North. He liked to go softly and enjoy the beauty of the world. He was also rather shy. So one spring day when he looked across the meadow and saw a lovely maiden dressed in green, with amazing hair as yellow as the sun, he didn’t dare rush to her side. He just admired her from afar, and that night went to sleep promising himself, “Tomorrow I’ll go introduce myself.” The next day Shawondasee saw her again, but he hesitated. “I mustn’t be too bold. I don't want to scare her.” Each night he went to bed sighing over her beauty and hoping that the next day he’d have courage to ask her to marry him. But one morning he could hardly see her bright hair. Had she pulled her green shawl over her head? If she was upset about something, this was not the day to visit her. And the next day he found that he had waited too long. Her hair had turned completely white, like an old woman! Shawondesee sighed mightily with grief and disappointment. The air filled with silvery puffs like thistledown, and when he looked again, she had disappeared. Poor Shawondasee! He had fallen in love with Dandelion! Background: This is a Native American story adapted by storyteller Fran Stallings. Here are the details she includes on her website with the story: Dandelion facts The folktale doesn't explain "why" South Wind or Dandelion acts as they do, but it does remind us to pay attention to them. What do they "really" do? Ethnographer Henry Rowe Schoolcraft reported hearing this story from Chippewa/Ojibwa Indians in the 1830’s, but it must have been a fairly new tale then--because dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) are not native to North America. They arrived with European colonists. Originally from Eurasia, dandelions spread throughout Europe long ago, grown for food and medicine. The young leaves and sweet flower petals made tasty salads. Bigger leaves were cooked like mustard greens or spinach, but gave more iron and calcium (as well as vitamins A and C). They were valued as one of the first fresh, nutritious vegetables of spring! The flowers made a bright yellow wine and were used as dye. People thought the leaves and roots could cure liver and kidney problems. So Spanish, French, German, and English settlers brought dandelion seeds when they came to North America. Seeds also probably stowed away in ships’ ballast rocks, or in seed grain.

Set-up:

Make sure that you

tell people this is a Native story and a little bit about it’s background, recent story, Dandelions not-native, etc.

Language:

If you are

unsure of how to pronounce “Shawondasee” or you are concerned you won’t remember it, just call this character South Wind.

Participation:

Emphasize

the sighing of South Wind. Ask listeners to join you in the sighing throughout the story.

8 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* South Wind and the Golden Girl, page 2 Soon the wind-blown dandelion seeds escaped from settlements. Dandelions were one of the alien plants which the Native people recognized as a sign that foreigners were moving into their territory. Shawondasee’s blonde sweetheart was not one of his own people. He didn’t notice the jagged points on her green clothes. “Dents de lion” (lion’s teeth), the French name for the plant, had given rise to her English name. Shawondasee never married his Golden Girl, but she still had many children! Although dandelion pollen is a valuable early spring food for bees, the flowers don’t need it to set seed. Each ovum develops into a seed embryo on its own. (Our dandelions are triploid obligate gametophytic apomicts.) How can dandelions spread so fast? A single plant can produce over 5000 single-seeded fruits, each with its own downy parachute to carry it for hundreds of meters on the wind. They grow in almost any soil, and can wait up to seven years to sprout--if insects and small birds don’t eat them first. Their deep taproots help them colonize bare soil, breaking up hardpacked clay and drawing mineral nutrients up to the surface while their leaves prevent erosion. Later, the decaying roots provide channels for percolating water and for other seedlings' roots. Once other plants become established, they shade out the foreign dandelion. Most American gardeners consider dandelions to be weeds (which just means they’re not wanted) but in other countries their leaves are carefully grown as vegetables, and the roots are roasted as a coffee substitute--like New Orleans chicory, which is a cousin. Teraxacum officinale now grows in all 50 states and most Canadian provinces. Adapted from: https://www.franstallings.com/Environmentor/Dandelions

9 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* WIND: The Wind and the Sun Here are two versions of Aesop's Fable 46, The Wind and the Sun The Sun and the Wind were having an argument about who was the most powerful. "I am the most powerful!" boasted the Wind. "No," replied the Sun, "I am the most powerful, and I can prove it. Do you see that man walking along the road?" "Yes," replied the Wind. "Well," said the Sun, "let's have a contest to see who can force that man to come to a halt, take off his cloak, and seek shelter under a tree." "Agreed," said the Wind, and then he started to blow. The Wind blew as hard as he could, sending icy blasts of air in the man's direction. Suddenly growing cold, the man bundled himself up in his cloak even more tightly and hurried down the road even more quickly, trying to get home as soon as he could. This was just the opposite of what the Wind had wanted the man to do! "That's enough," the Sun shouted, and the Wind stopped blowing. Then the Sun started to shine. Feeling the warmth of the sunshine, the man slowed down and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He then took off his cloak and sat down in the shade of a tree, glad to have found a place where he could rest. "Look at that!" cried the Sun. "Because I turned the warmth of my rays upon him, the man has come to a halt, taking off his cloak and seeking shelter under a tree. That proves I am the most powerful!" "I congratulate you, Sun," replied the Wind. "With the power of your warmth, you have won!" The moral of the story is that you can accomplish more with warm words and affection than you can by cold-hearted aggression.

Set-up:

Let your listeners

know that this is an Aesop’s Fable, and therefore a very old story.

Dialogue:

Have the wind

and sun talk to each other to move the story forward and show their personalities.

Participation:

Ask some

listeners to be the sun and others the wind.

Teach

them the gestures and

Heather Forest’s version: The North Wind and The Sun The North Wind boasted of great strength. The Sun argued that there was great power in gentleness. "We shall have a contest," said the Sun. Far below, a man traveled a winding road. He was wearing a warm winter coat. "As a test of strength," said the Sun, "Let us see which of us can take the coat off of that man." "It will be quite simple for me to force him to remove his coat," bragged the Wind.

sounds that go with their part of the story, and invite them to join in.

10 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* The Wind and the Sun, page 2 The Wind blew so hard, the birds clung to the trees. The world was filled with dust and leaves. But the harder the wind blew down the road, the tighter the shivering man clung to his coat. Then, the Sun came out from behind a cloud. Sun warmed the air and the frosty ground. The man on the road unbuttoned his coat. The sun grew slowly brighter and brighter. Soon the man felt so hot, he took off his coat and sat down in a shady spot. "How did you do that?" said the Wind. "It was easy," said the Sun, "I lit the day. Through gentleness I got my way." Background: Adapted from: The first story comes from here: http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2013/06/aesops-fable-46-wind-and-sun.html The second story comes from here: http://www.storyarts.org/library/aesops/stories/north.html

11 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* WIND: The Old Storm Woman High on Bodmin Moor lays Dozmary Pool, a drop in the sea, a place said to be the source of wind. Beneath its surface The Old Storm Woman, an incredibly old woman older than your great, great granny, concocts a wind especially for each new day. She stirs it deep beneath the waters with a huge weather stirrer. Small strokes to begin, increasing until she has conjured a whirlpool in the centre of the pool. When it is ready and moving well, the old woman screws up her terribly old face, until every wrinkle is deep as a ditch and blows. The water fights, swirling and bursting with the force of the wind. With a rush the new wind rises up from the depths of the lake, and through the vortex of the whirlpool to fill the moor land skies.

Set-up:

Tell people where

the story is from and what the landscape is like there. Link the wind in the story to the pollination of the plants on the moor.

Participation:

This is such

a short story that you can

Background: This is a folktale from Cornwall. Here is a picture of Bodmin Moor and Dozmary Pool:

tell it almost completely through participation. Consider repeating it three or four times as the wind comes up and dies down.

Decide on

gestures and phrases to teach listeners and then engage them in the whole process of the old woman, stirring and blowing, the wind rising through the water, and then dying down.

Adapted from: Mazed Tales http://www.mazedtales.org/content/stories/old-storm-woman

12 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]

*Bats, Bees, Birds, Butterflies, and the Wind* WIND: Sun, Moon, and Wind Go to Dinner One day Sun, Moon, and Wind went out to dine with their uncle and aunts Thunder and Lightning. Their mother (one of the most distant Stars you see far up in the sky) waited alone for her children's return. Now both Sun and Wind were greedy and selfish. They enjoyed the great feast that had been prepared for them, without a thought of saving any of it to take home to their mother—but the gentle Moon did not forget her. Of every dainty dish that was brought round, she placed a small portion under one of her beautiful long finger-nails, that Star might also have a share in the treat. On their return, their mother, who had kept watch for them all night long with her little bright eye, said, "Well, children, what have you brought home for me?" Then Sun (who was eldest) said, "I have brought nothing home for you. I went out to enjoy myself with my friends—not to fetch a dinner for my mother!" And Wind said, "Neither have I brought anything home for you, mother. You could hardly expect me to bring a collection of good things for you, when I merely went out for my own pleasure." But Moon said, "Mother, fetch a plate, see what I have brought you." And shaking her hands she showered down such a choice dinner as never was seen before. Then Star turned to Sun and spoke thus, "Because you went out to amuse yourself with your friends, and feasted and enjoyed yourself, without any thought of your mother at home—you shall be cursed. Henceforth, your rays shall ever be hot and scorching, and shall burn all that they touch. And men shall hate you and cover their heads when you appear." (And that is why the Sun is so hot to this day.) Then she turned to Wind and said, "You also who forgot your mother in the midst of your selfish pleasures—hear your doom. You shall always blow in the hot dry weather and shall parch and shrivel all living things. And men shall detest and avoid you from this very time." (And that is why the Wind in the hot weather is still so disagreeable.) But to Moon she said, "Daughter, because you remembered your mother, and kept for her a share in your own enjoyment, from henceforth you shall be ever cool, and calm, and bright. No noxious glare shall accompany your pure rays, and men shall always call you 'blessed."' (And that is why the moon's light is so soft, and cool, and beautiful even to this day.)

Set-up:

Tell your

listeners that this is a folktale from India that explains why the wind is as it is. Consider having the mother speak to the Wind last emphasize that character.

Dialogue:

Use or adapt

the dialogue provided to move the story forward and to distinguish the characters.

Gesture and Movement: Use your face and body to show the actions, emotions, and attitudes in the story.

Background: From Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs, Putnam, 1910 Adapted from: https://www.worldoftales.com/Asian_folktales/Indian_folktale_27.html

13 For more information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, visit southmountaincc.edu/storytelling/ Or contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026, [email protected]