Lighting a Spark

Have you ever heard the expression? Nothing ventured? Nothing gained?

“What this saying means is, if you never ventured. If you never try, you never take any risks.”

Then there's not much you can expect to gain or achieve. This expression comes to life in today's tale, care of a teeny, tiny bird with sky high dreams. I'm Rebecca Sheer and welcome to Circle Round, where story time happens all the time. Today our story is called "Lighting a Spark". It was inspired by tales from the western European country of France.

Some really great people came together to bring you our story, including Charlene Amoya, whom you grown up to may know from such TV shows as "Sons of Thunder" and "How I Met Your Mother".

Watch for her new comedy film, The Bread Winner, coming to a theater near you on May 29th.

So circle round everyone for "Lighting a Spark". Once upon a time, the earth had no fire.

“Because every flame, every spark, every light, was contained in the sun.”

Living without fire was tough on the people. They had to go to bed at dusk, so they wouldn't stumble in the dark past sunset. They had to eat their food raw and spend the chilliest months huddled under blankets. Trying to rub sensation back into their frozen toes. The animals on the other hand fared much better.

They had fur and feathers to keep them warm, and many had night vision helping them find their way in the shadows. But one animal took notice of the people suffering and took pity. That animal was the reddish brown bird known as "Chenny Renny". It isn't fair that the people had to shiver and stumble and chew on rubbery stringy food. If only there were a way to fly up to the sun, grab a spark, and bring it down to earth.

“"Junny Ren had a long, fluffy feathery tail, but her round wings were puny and short, and her body was no larger than your thumb".”

Clearly, I'm too small to do the deed. So perhaps, I can get one of my father's friends to help. I'll invite the birds to a meeting and see which one of them can bring a spark from the sun. "Junny Ren put out the call, and the next day has the sun rose above the treetops. She addressed a small group of birds who had gathered in the forest".

"Thanks for meeting me, friends. I've invited you here to ask a favor. Will one of you please fly up to the sun and bring back fire for the people?" The birds were quiet for a moment. Then their unofficial ring leader, Robin, puffed out his breast, which in those early days was as brown as a hazelnut. "You can't expect me to volunteer, Jenny Ren. I'm one of the forest's most beautiful singers.

If I fly too close to the sun, I might ruin my fabulous voice. And I might ruin my colorful feathers." Goldfinch spoke next, barbing his bright red head and fluttering his yellow striped wings. "See my pristine, polychromatic plumage? It would get scorched if I flew to the sun."

"Well, at least you could make it to the sun. Now, fizzant piped up, twitching her slender black brown tail." "I may look elegant and majestic with my speckled feathers and long flowing tail. But I wasn't built for flying long distances. And from here to the sun is a very long distance."

" Jenny Ren released a sigh." "I understand your hesitation, friends. But if one of us doesn't get fired from the sun, the people will be in big trouble." "Well, any of you volunteer. Please, she fixed the birds with a hopeful gaze that was met with silence."

"Okay, fine. If none of you will volunteer to bring fire from the sun, then I'll do it. The birds exchanged a look. Then Robin let out a cackle." "Have you looked at yourself lately, Jenny Ren?"

"You're tiny. No bigger than a thumb.

You'll never make it to the sun and back.

"It's totally right." "You're on a fool's errand, Jenny Ren." "Come along, friends. Let's get out of here and leave Jenny Ren with her pie and the sky ideas." "Or fire in the sky."

Jenny Ren's small body shook with indignation as Robin, gold, finch and fizzant flew away. "Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, friends." "You know what? Maybe I am too tiny. Maybe I'll fail on this mission."

"Maybe I'll crash and burn," or given I'll hot the sun is just burn.

"But I'll never know if I don't try."

"Don't aren't doing you, won't."

“Jenny Ren's spun around, and there was the brown-crusted bird, no?”

"This skylark." "Skylark! I didn't see you. Why weren't you at the meeting?" "Skylark shrugged his pointy wings."

"I would have been there, Jenny Ren." "Lady Lark's been sitting on eggs for over a week." "Our first clutch ever." "Since those youngsters will be hatching any minute now, I've been keeping close to the nest." "Wow.

You're going to be a dad?" "I sure am. But listen, Jenny. I got here just in time to hear those turkeys laughing at you." "Oh, they weren't any turkeys there.

It was just Robin and goldfinch. Those clowns, I mean. I heard them teasing. And Rasmun. And I heard what you said in response.

That whole thing about how you'll never know if you don't try."

"That's what I've always believed.

“But now, I believe those clowns might be right.”

I'd be crazy to fly all the way to the sun." "Maybe. Maybe not. But nothing ventured nothing gain. And look, let's not sugarcoat things.

Venturing can be scary. Have a go at something new and unfamiliar. Can spook the heck out of you. I mean, look at me. I'm becoming a dad for the first time, and I have no idea what to expect.

I might be great at it. Or I might be a big hot mess."

"Something tells me it'll be the first one."

"Thanks. I believe in you, Jenny, friend. You just have to decide if you believe in you too." "Now. As you'll excuse me.

“I promise Lady Larket doesn't riglin' worms for dinner,”

and I mustn't leave her hanging." "Thank you, Skylark. There was just the pep talk I needed. Congrats on your babies." "And congrats on your boldness.

It's brave ideas like yours that set the world on fire, Jenny. And more ways than one." Will happen next? Will Jenny runs succeed in her fiery feet? Who will find out after a quick break?

The reviews are in, and super fans like you are loving the Circle Round Club, and exciting opportunity to support public radio and get cool stuff. Including ad-free episodes and a personalized birthday message from me. Well, I like about the Circle Round Club, is that Rebecca's use and take sure messages,

and it's a push the show. And there are new ads. "Grow up support public radio and sign up today at WBUR.org/ Circle Round Club." Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Sheer, today our story is called "Lighting a Spark."

Before the break, Jenny Ren was determined to bring fire to the Earth from the Sun. Robin, Goldfinch, and Feasant ridiculed the idea, but Skylark gave Jenny Ren an encouraging pep talk. And the next morning? Okay. Here I go.

The small body long-tailed bird set out on her mission. Her short round wings are blurred as she wished towards the sky. Boy, it sure is a long way to the Sun. But I won't give up. I won't.

And she didn't. When she finally reached the Sun, she plucked out a spark of fire. Gotcha! Then set the flame on her long fluffy tail to keep it safe till she landed. But as she headed to Earth, she noticed a sizzling sound and a smoldering smell. Oh no! My tell feathers are on fire!

They're going to burn to a crisp.

Somebody help me? Please!

“The tiny reddish brown bird was too high up for anyone to hear,”

but she wasn't too high up for anyone to see.

When Robin looked up and saw the bright blazing ball heardling his way, he immediately put two and two together. It's Jenny Ren! She did it! She brought fire from the Sun!

But now she's on fire. I wasn't very helpful before. But I'm determined to be helpful now. Robin launched himself Skyward. Jenny Ren frowned as he approached.

Oh Robin, you were right. I was a fool to think I could pull this off. No Jenny Ren. I was a fool for thinking you couldn't. Hang on.

“Robin flapped his wings to snuff out Jenny's flames.”

Soon her tail was no longer on fire. But Robin's breast was the brown feathers crumbled and sparked as they turned up blazing crimson. Oh no, go dear. Oh, Gerat.

Jenny Ren jumped into action, beating her puny wings to stifle the fire. The flames refused to go out. They keep blazing bright. But I'll keep trying. That's my girl.

No adventure, nothing gained. I'm a rat. Jenny Ren and Robin glanced down. And there, rocketing upward with a cluster of twigs in his claws. Was Skylark.

Hey Robin, is it just me?

“Or is there something you want to get off your chest?”

He dove toward the burning bird. As he zipped past, the flames lept off Robin's breast feathers and on to the twigs. There, as better. I'll see you two fireball back on earth. Skylark spread his wings and glided to the ground like a parachute.

He dropped the burning twigs onto a pile of rocks, sprinkled in some dried grass, and began fanning the flames, helping the air flow and the fire glow. Jenny Ren and Robin joined him. Eventually gold-finch and fessant fluttered over. Great work on that tearing feet, Jenny Ren.

Nice going on that daring rescue Robin and Skylark. Has the scent of burning wood filled the air? The forest filled with people. Beaming all struck people who drifted over to admire the dancing, crackling flames and rejoice.

After that, the world was never the same.

And neither were Skylark, Robin, or Jenny Ren. Skylark had so much fun rocketing up to the sky that he's done it ever since. To this day, you'll see male Skylarks launch from the ground in a near vertical line, hover for a moment, then glide back down like a parachute. As for Robin, the feathers on his breast are no longer as brown as a hazelnut.

After the fire, they turned bright crimson. Giving him a nickname you may have heard before. Robin, red breast. Then, there's Jenny Ren. The petite little bird is still no larger than your thumb.

But after her tangle with the flames, her long fluffy tail became short and stumpy. Still, she holds it high, nearly straight up from her body. As a mark of pride for taking a leap of faith and setting the world on fire. [music] Now it's your turn.

Jenny Ren had a big goal and worked hard to achieve it. You can do the same by playing three stars and a wish.

First, ask a grown-up to help you cut out three paper stars.

Inside each star draw a picture of something you feel confident doing. Examples might include doing a sub-ersault, telling funny jokes and ordering all by yourself at a restaurant. Show your stars to your grown-up and talk about how you got these skills. Did it take a while? How?

And how much did you practice? Now that you have your stars, get more paper and draw your wish. Something you'd like to be confident doing. It could be swimming underwater, riding a two-wheeled bike, who are doing a backflip on the trampoline.

Show your grown-up your wish and talk about the steps you can take to achieve it. It won't happen overnight, but with practice and persistence, you're bound to make your wish come true. [music]

It was edited by Dean Russell.

“Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shimalonis.”

Eric's featured instrument this week was the acoustic guitar. You can learn more about this popular string instrument whose earliest versions date back over 3,000 years and see a photo of Eric playing one on our website. W-b-r.org/circle-round.

Circle-round's artist is Sabina Han.

Sabina has created a black and white coloring page for all of our circle-round stories and you can color them in while you listen.

“grown-ups download our coloring pages at W-b-r.org/circle-round.”

Special thanks to this week's actors. Evan Casey, GM Hakim, Eric Arrows, Metzum Brano, and Charlene Amoya. Watch for Charlene in the new comedy film "The Bread Winner" coming to theaters this May.

grown-ups, if circle-round is a favorite in your household,

please leave us a five-star rating or review on whatever podcast app you're using right now. And to learn more about our merch, picture books and more, visit our website W-b-r.org/circle-round. Circle-round is the production of W-b-r, Boston's NPR. I'm Rebecca Shear, thanks for circling round with us.

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