The Popular Girl Who Was Actually a Tortoise/The Cat That Had a Trumpet

uses one of her inventions to really make things weird for all of the other story pirates.

“And Peter breaks his personal record for a number of different accents he uses in a single”

episode. And of course, we have two brand new stories written by kids and more story love with Lee and Peter. And it's all coming up after a few words for the grownups. Hey grownups, Lee here, Sea Story Pirates Live!

Our amazing touring cast, including Eric, will be visiting some East Coast cities this

spring to perform some of your favorite songs from the podcast. And they'll take suggestions from kids in the audience to create a brand new story that will only be seen once. And rich field Connecticut, tickets to all of the shows are on sale now at storypires.com/live! Hey Story Pirates, guess what?

I got our tickets for the new Purple People Party Planet movie in Hyperrealistic 3D! Some say a fifth Purple People Party Planet movie is excessive and a growth attempt to milk a franchise, but hello, the first four were world-building. I can't believe it's only 10-10 a.m. and we have to wait five hours until the movie. Megan, it's 250 p.m.

What?

“But my vintage analog clock clearly has the big hand on the 10 and the little hand”

on the two. Unless, oh no, my mixed up the hour in the minute hand, it is 250 p.m.

And our tickets are for 3-15 at the theater 2-downs over.

We'll never make it! We will make it if we take a short cut through. Hill Country! Hill Country! I don't know, Niminy.

Driving through hills can make me car sick. Oh, same! Sometimes I get sick even thinking about hills. I can't even watch that one scene in the sound of music. More like the hills are alive with the sound of puking.

You all can accept defeat if you want, but it's my turn to drive. I'm getting us to that movie on time. Here we go! Oh. Oh.

Oh. Oh. Over the hills, we go! Are we having fun yet? Oh.

I don't feel so good.

Now, I don't feel so good.

It's entirely possible that I'm going to be sick. I like right now. We better head back to the main road, Niminy. It's okay. We'll probably only miss the previews and the advertisements and the previews of the advertisements.

Oh, not everyone.

“Did you think I'd take a short cut through hail country unprepared?”

Presenting. The Carminator Anti-Motion Signusimeter 5000. It produces vibrations targeting the exact part of the inner ear where motion sickness occurs. One's up with this baby and you'll be right as rain. Whoa!

There we go. How does everybody feel now? Oh, gosh. I do feel a bit better. Can't wait to get going again, no journal.

Peter, why are you talking in that Minnesota accent? Well, I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about, Eric. I'm speaking as normal as it bears no shoes on a crispy winter's day. On Lake Minotaka, who are you sound smaller? Because he is smaller.

By my calculations, Eric is exactly 15% smaller than his normal size. Calculations. Calculator are carried you have since win. What? Suddenly?

Though Lee meant to say, since when have you carried a calculator, he found himself only able to speak backwards. Oh, gosh. Looks like we got ourselves a narrator. Niminy, I don't think you're an invention cured our car sickness.

I think it might have made it weird. Oops. It just filled me up with joy. My mom loves the jokes. Yo, yo, my joke.

It's maybe very proud about my fighting. I could just imagine him with some glasses on. I definitely think I can be more creative now. I'm the champion. The Solid Pirates.

Welcome back to the Story Pirates Podcast. Where we take stories written by kids, don't you know, and turn them into sketch comedy. Songs end. The story pirates found themselves cured of their car sickness

through Niminy's machine.

I had a feeling the Carminator Anti-Motion Signusimeter 5,000 might not work. You did? Then why would you? Which is why I made the Carminator Anti-Motion Signusimeter 6,000.

Cures car sickness caused by any previous Carminators. Whoa! That's to do it. Now, off we go. Back on the road with almost no time lost.

Ooh, I can't wait to see if the purple people

finally get to have a party.

How's everyone feeling? Great, I feel. I feel more than a wee bit turned around. My head is mince. Like I've been chasing the heart of sheep across the moors.

Like my kilt found upside down. And since Peter, you don't even own a kilt. Ooh, look here. The wee man's got even more wee. And he's got something to say.

Niminy. I've conducted a non-parametric analysis of everyone's symptoms and I've come to the conclusion that everyone is worse. With a p-value of less than 0.01. Uh-oh.

I mean, I have just the thing.

“But first, why don't we listen to a story by a kid?”

Don't worry, I hear you. Author the is. It introduced to here. Close enough. Hi, my name is Jacob.

I'm 12 years old, and I live in this game.

This is my story. The popular girl who's actually a tortoise. Another day as a tortoise in the tortoise colony, where no one listens to me. What was that, Michelle?

Dad, this is exactly what I'm talking about. You're not listening. I'm sorry sweetheart. I'll do better here. Have another helping of leaves.

No, thank you. How many servings do you want? One, two, three. No, I said. I'll just keep scooping until you say stop.

Ah, I'm so tired of not being listened to. You know what, I'll some tired of? I'm so tired of only eating leaves. A tortoise who doesn't like leaves? I'm shell-shocked.

Look at you used to it, Dad. I'm tired of this tortoise life. I'll eat this leaf leaves and get ignored. Well, you know who does think getting ignored? The popular girls.

Wait, you couldn't possibly be talking about human popular girls. Of course I am. If the depiction of popular girls in movies has taught us anything,

“it's that popularity is the most important thing.”

Because it gets you attention and there are absolutely no drawbacks in its pursuit. But I guess I'm stuck being a tortoise.

Well, you could always ask the tortoise switch

if she'll turn you into a popular girl. It should probably do it, but with an unforeseen ironic twist. So you should, hey, where you going? See you later, Dad. I'm having me in a tortoise wedge.

Here I am in the spooky swamp where the tortoise switch lives. Hello. It's me, Michelle. Who dares straight into my swamp? I already told you, ah!

Does anybody in this tortoise colony listen? Anyway, can you turn me into a popular girl? But like a human popular girl, the unattainable stereotype that we see in too many movies and TV shows. Yeah, that's the one.

Okay, I will. But there's a catch. Yeah, yeah. I will only tell you when to a popular girl for one year. So you must be very...

I said, yeah, yeah. Just do it already. Now, look who's not listening. Anyway, I want a cool, a human skin do. Okay, wow, that is a lot of smoke.

It's magic. What do you expect? Fine. Am I a popular girl yet or what? You are.

Yes. Remember, you will turn back into a tortoise into a tortoise to the exactly one year. So don't get them. No, please don't.

I'm off to the one place for the popular human girls gather. The shopping center. Wow. I'm here at the human shopping center. Oops.

I mean, shopping center. Oh, look, there are three popular girls. I'm assuming. Oh, M.G. Flora, you look so cute in the outfit. Oh, M.G. Jersey, you look so cute in that outfit.

What do you think, Canberra? Oh, M.G. You both look so cute in both those outfits. Oh, also a new girl just walked up to us. Hi there. Hello. Hello.

Hey. You want to be friends? I would never have. I would never have. I would never have.

I would never have. What's your name? I'm Michelle. Cool name. It's like my shell.

What shell? No, it isn't. I'm not a tortoise. Um, welcome to our friend group, Michelle. It's actually so good you're not a tortoise

because we were just about to go shopping for cool new clothes. There's no way a tortoise would like that.

“OMG, you should get some loom and thread.”

What's loom and thread? It's only like the biggest designer brand there is. Wow. But it totally weird question.

No way, I'm human. It's just like, we're a come from.

“We don't, we don't have to designer brands.”

Oh, okay. That totally makes sense. Let's head to the store. Here we are in the store. Oh, and she look at these amazing clothes.

They are so cute. I'm actually obsessed. Wow.

I've never been in a store before.

You've never been in a store before. Uh, I mean, go to the store. I can't even. I can't even film. Film for me now.

We sure say the same phrase as a lot. Don't we? Well, besties. I am famished. Who's ready to eat?

Totally. Let's go get Boba. I'm literally obsessed. Uh, I don't know if I feel like Boba. Bestie.

What happened? Nothing. I just don't know if I want Boba. Like tell me everything. I am telling you everything.

You're not listening. Okay, spell. I'm listening. You're not listening. Because.

You said it, bestie. Hold on. Like that's so you. Oh. Oh, bestie.

Why the screaming? Do you not like Boba? Oh, hey. Look at that. My human doubt is calling me.

I have to go. Tittle. I'm literally obsessed. Boba. Uh, I wanted to be a popular girl.

So people would pay attention to me.

“But then those popular girls didn't listen.”

I'm going back to the tortoise colony to have the tortoise witch changed me back. Hi, tortoise witch. You car? I would like to be a tortoise again. Well, too bad.

I tend to do a popular girl for an entire year. So you're stuck like a tortoise out of its back. Eh, eh, eh. Ah, miana.

But tomorrow is the first day of school.

Well, I guess you'll have to push through it. Ah, alright. To human school. Back at human school. Oh, and there are my friends.

Oh, M.T. Michelle. Blora and Hammer and I were looking for you. Where have you been? Um, I was. Oh, I was at the Boba T-Shop.

You were at the Boba T-Shop without us? Sorry. Let's go back to the Boba T-Shop. Besties. Yeah.

It's built. It's built. I guess this is my life for the next 11 and a half months. Well, it's been exactly 11 and a half months. And I got to say, I'm getting used to this human world.

And these popular girls are actually like pretty cool. Like Jersey has a really nice pond in her backyard. And Blora, let's be laid down on her warm patio. And Camper is, well, Camper.

Hey, Michelle, you're all fit is so cute today.

It's so you. Thanks, Camper. It's from Lumin. Oh, oh. Accord.

I guess they even fell off. I'm worried, Michelle, go. All I see is this weird animal with a shell. Guys, it's me. I'm Michelle.

Oh, dear. Are you a turtle? Actually, I'm a tortoise. Well, technically, I am a turtle because all tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises.

Sort of a square of a rectangle situation. Um, okay. I actually love geometry, so I get it. What are you all texting? We're telling the whole group chat that Michelle is a turtle.

Tortoise. You just said you're also a turtle. I don't, I guess there's no use. Take it around now that everyone knows I'm a tortoise. Back to the tortoise colony.

Where's that tortoise wedge? Ah, I suppose you've learned your lesson. That being a popular girl isn't all. It's correct up to me. No, actually.

But turns out I found I'm annoying when I wanted to be a popular girl for superficial reasons. Then they ended up being really cool. Like once I got to know them, I guess we should be like aware of our biases and wary of stereotypes.

Oh, um, okay. Can you turn me into something else, please? Ah, fine. I want to do three butterfly, you'll be. Ah!

Oh, and gee, these wings, I'm literally obsessed. The end. And now Lee speaks with the author. Jake, so you wrote the popular girl who is actually a tortoise.

Yeah.

“Can you tell me how you got the idea for that story?”

I just thought it would be funny because I like turtle and I just had the idea like, if you like, oh my gosh, your turtle, I'm actually a person. Have you ever had a pet turtle? No, but I really want one.

If you get a turtle someday, do you have any ideas for names? I don't know. Maybe because of my story, I might name it Michelle. Oh, wait, is it Michelle because of the shell? Yeah.

I did not get that until just now. Yeah. I tried to make up like a funny pun. That is so good. Wow.

My hat is off to you, sir. Thank you.

Oh, really? Blake Shelton. Oh, yeah. What is it like having a pet snail? Uh, he's like a water snail.

He sucks up algae for all my fish. How many fish do you have? I had like 12, but now I have like four because all of them like passed away. Oh, I'm sorry.

Yeah, it happens. I had also one named Chiquilla Neal. I have a bunch of like little glowing little fish and I named them the Golden Girls. Do you know which fish are which golden girls?

Uh, no, I guess I just thought that would be funny since they like glowed. You know, get to know the Golden Girls a little bit. You might find, uh, that fish right there. That is definitely be Arthur right there.

That's funny.

Back to your story for a second.

If you could have a witch tortoise turn you into anyone

“or any creature for one year only, what would you choose?”

I think I would probably be like a clown fish because those are too often and they get to live in the coral reef. Have you ever been snorkeling or been, you know, in an environment like that where you could see fish really up close? Yeah, I went on vacation like a year ago and I got to see like

things like when I went snorkeling, it was really cool. Thanks for letting us perform your story. You're welcome. All right, say hi to the fish. Have a great night. You too, see ya.

Oh, I'm so excited. The story pirates were blown away by the amazingness of that story. But it brought them back to the problem at hand. They were all still carcic, weirdly. Niminny, I hypothesized that we could

democratize levels of carcicness over the length of the trip if you would take a road that doesn't traverse these hills. No can do, Megan. First, I don't understand half of the words you said. But I am using standard vocabulary, the etymology of which

was perhaps best articulated by the great Dutch scholar Marcus Zero Sven Boxworn, who wrote no time.

Second, I had a feeling this might happen, so I can't prepare.

You all know the motto. If at first you don't succeed, try a new invention. Then Niminny pointed to a giant red button next to the steering wheel. None of the other pirates knew what the button was for, and they were all afraid to ask.

I installed this when Eric got a little crazy during our single long of show becoming around the mountain. Now, to give this big red button a big old push. Whoa! Was something supposed to happen?

What did that big red button do? That was the non-limitier oscillating speed inverting car sickness killer, or no sick for short. It sends high frequency vibrations through the ship that simulate non-motion.

I see. No motion. No motion sickness. Exactly. Now we can drive through as many hills as we want.

Right, Eric? Eric? Hey, where'd Eric go? I'm here in the back seat behind the seatbelt buckle. Uh-oh.

Eric had become so small that he was now the size of an average adult's hand. He's like if a hooggy you've been inside a cup of water ice. Go birds. Thumbalina like looks heat. Hey.

Nimini, your cure made everyone worse again. Look at me. I used to be filled with passion. Drama. Now, I'm co-lating copies of a 100-page report

on agricultural watering systems. Hey, at least Lee isn't getting any worse. He's still just talking backwards. Fast, so not. Backwards are closed, my now.

“Honestly, pretty cool 90s throwback fact in statement.”

I guess I was in a rush when I was installing the no-sick and I installed it backwards. Well, no worries. I can know. No more no-sick here.

I've assembled a brief slideshow presentation without pictures that lays out possible solutions to our conundrum. We can, at minimum, to celebrate by an order of magnitude,

post-off, air-go-proper-hawk. What the conchahawk and are you talking about? We slow down. We're no longer car-sick. Slow down.

Then we'll never make it to purple people party planet!

Luckily, I thought this might happen, so I came double-prepared. Eric, we reached into my backpack. Reach in? How?

Okay, okay. Climb in. There's something in there that will help. Okay, here I go. Do you see it?

Eric, do you see the bottle label? Pure? This is pure, but there's more. I better read the whole label. No time.

That's got to be it. We're out and make sure everyone takes a tablespoon. Okay, here we go. There.

“Now, you should all be feel like better.”

Any second? Uh, who's the same so far? Wait, something's happening. I feel even smaller! Nanny!

We'll be right back after a few words for the grown-ups. Hey grown-ups! Today's episode is sponsored by Bombus. You know, people keep asking me about my 20s. And I'm like, bro, it's February.

But then I remember the number one resolution at the top of my list.

Get in comfy. And that's where Bombus comes in.

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This year, I've been watching the winter Olympics a lot. And I'm thinking of taking up the loose. And wow, the all new Bombus sports-off. Would be perfect for that. They're cushioned where I would theoretically need it.

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So head on over to bombus.com/family26 and use code Family26 for 20% off your first purchase. That's BOMBAS.com/family26 code Family26. Hey grown-ups, today's episode is sponsored by DoorDash. When the chaos of life hits DoorDash will be there.

As a parent DoorDash has always been there for me when I needed the most.

Like that time on February 12th, 2023, when I ordered one pack of size two diapers and a 9.25 ounce bag. Because I was desperate for diapers for a baby. And also desperate for corn chips. Sure, the diapers were more urgent and luckily DoorDash was ready to help. I got the diapers minutes later and my baby was all set.

And I got the corn chips I was craving too. The baby did not get any corn chips. Tiny babies shouldn't eat corn chips because for starters they don't have any teeth. Real life needs real relief.

“That's why DoorDash is there for whatever you need whenever you need it.”

Hey grown-ups, Lee here. See story pirates live.

Our amazing touring cast including Eric will be visiting some East Coast cities this spring to perform some of your favorite songs from the podcast.

And they'll take suggestions from kids in the audience to create a brand new story that will only be seen once. Best of all, all of our upcoming shows are on weekend so no need to worry about school nights or bedtime routines. We'll see you soon in Munhall, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh. Cincinnati, Ohio, Port Smith, New Hampshire, Metford, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston and Richfield, Connecticut. Tickets to all the shows are on sale now at storypyrids.com/live.

Seems as though this medicine isn't a cure after all. Let me see that bottle, the cure that makes you worse? Why would anyone label a bottle of cure if it makes you worse? Sponsored for you. Okay, that was the wrong bottle.

No need to panic, we can still make the movie on time. The storypyrids no longer cared about purple people party planet. They wanted to return to a sense of normalcy. To their true selves, they wanted a car sickness cure.

“I think we're beyond the capacity of home remedies.”

We should seek out a doctor. But where are we going to find a doctor? If we consult the ship's maps and enact a careful study of the nearby topography with a cross analysis of online reviews, we can ascertain the location of a qualified doctor. Or, I can ask our smart belts. Let's just melt them.

Just a handy little device I installed that keeps you safe and recommends places to go. Hey smart belt. Hello Nibini. How may I assist you? Please set the ship's coordinates for the nearest doctor.

Setting coordinates for dock tours. See? Much faster than maps. Thanks smart belt. You are welcome.

Don't forget to buckle up. Wait. The smart belt didn't say doctor. Look at the onboard map. It's taking us.

No time. Hold on tight. Ken. I asked tight. That's holding on.

No. I got it. I'm going to leave out.

Hey.

“With the fact that turned faster than Walter Payton turned into the end zone for the bears.”

Did changes come in seasons of the cherry orchard.

Such is my fate. Nibini. Stop. Perfect timing Megan. We've made it to the doctor's office.

In record time. Nibini. We can still make it to purple people party planet. We just need to see the doctor and get cured in. Let's see.

Under three minutes. Nibini. We'll save even more time if I speed up our doctor's visit using my invention. The metacute appointment and prove a medic. Nibini.

I am believing Megan is trying to tell you something. Nibini. This isn't a doctor's office? It's not? No.

Look around. What do you see? Both? [music] Are we at a dock?

That's what I was trying to tell you.

You said doctor. But the smart belt heard. Doc. Tour. And you didn't take the time to check.

So now we're here at the dock. Well, at least we can take the tour.

“But just as a story pirate became enamored of the idea of seeing other ships,”

Rachel noticed a sign. She read it aloud. Today the dock tour is closed. Whoa! We're here!

Everyone stop yelling. No, Megan. They're right to yell. What do you mean? Well, everyone's sick.

We can't take a doctor. And we're all going to have to go and cripple people party planets. Spoiler-reboid its mode. And it's all my fault. Come on now.

It's not all your fault. I'm the one who made the mistake with the movie time. But I'm the one who made everything worse by rushing. That's for what? I didn't even get us to the movie on time.

The day is officially ruined. Just then Rachel realized that it was 3/10 PM. And she still had time to exchange everyone's movie tickets for tomorrow's 3/15 show. See? We'll still get to see the movie we just have to be patient.

Maybe I can figure out a way to speed up the process of becoming patient. If I just knew it! Time! You're right. I heard it when I said it.

I've learned my lesson. Let's get back on the road to the movie theater. But this time I'll take some long way. Nice and slow. And so, the story pirates headed back out on the road

and joined the beauty of the perfectly flat countryside that had absolutely no hills whatsoever. But how do we cure our guy sickness? No offense, but I don't really want to hear Rachel narrate things that I'm experiencing directly.

It's a cheap device. Wait, your voice sounds steeper. And if I'm not mistaken, you'll look a little taller. Thank you. I've been working on my posture.

No, Eric.

“I think you're returning to your regular size.”

Maybe if Nimini keeps driving slowly along this flat route will all return to normal. Really? Then I'd better... What's the opposite of step on it?

Press the pedal smoothly with an even distribution of pressure. Okay, here I go. Carefully. Hey, there's so much me again. And I can see everyone's heads again.

And I can talk in dialogue. Hey, Lee, how are you? What's up? How's it going? It feels great.

I can finally speak forwards again.

Thank goodness. Because I've been dying to tell all of you some palindromes. But aren't those the same forwards and backwards? Oh, yeah. Huh.

Missed opportunity. And I, Megan, can finally get back to my important dramatic work. Uh-uh. Rubber baby buggy bumpers. Rubber baby buggy bumpers.

Rubber baby buggy bumpers. I feel as well as fish in the cold waters of the northern Atlantic. Oh, no! Peter's still Carson! Oh, sorry.

I'm fine. I was just trying out a new accent for funsies. He wasn't very good. Peter! Croiky!

Let's do another story. And he is the author to introduce it. Hi, my name is Preston. I'm nine years old and I live in Indiana. This is my story, The Cat, that had a trumpet.

Hello, internet and welcome to another episode of Rosa and her cat that plays the trumpet. And it willow! Meow! Whoa! Look at that cat's fly!

Rosa, willow, time for dinner. And don't forget to put away that laundry. Sorry, everyone. That's my mom. You heard her willow.

Bring it home! See you next time on Rosa and her cat that plays the trumpet. Meow! That was fun! It's okay that not many people see our videos because it's just fun to make them with you willow.

Meow! Yes, it would be cool if we were in viral. But I'm happy even if we're the only ones that ever watch. I can't wait to make another trumpet video tomorrow. It's tomorrow.

Time for another video. Ready to play the trumpet again willow?

Meow! Let me see.

“Oh my gosh, willow, our last video has over 1 million views.”

Meow, meow, meow. Okay, brag much. Come in. Sweetheart, you still need to put away your laundry. Sorry, Mom. I will.

Also, there's a TV producer here to see you. Oh, what? A TV producer. Hello! I told him to wait outside, but I guess he didn't listen.

I'd never knew. Talking is what I'm all about.

Hi, hello, how are you? I'm great, listen. When I saw the video of this cat playing that trumpet, I said to myself, "Nah, I gotta get that cat on tour." So here I am.

Wow, willow? You'd get to play the trumpet every single day. Meow! That's the stuff, hey, kid. What's your name?

Rosa? Well, I've got news for you, Roda. You know who's about to be famous? Who? Your cat.

Oh, I really thought you were going to say something about how I get to come too. Well, let's go, Willow. You gotta be at the Animal Room. The coolest music club by a PM to open for three dog day. Well, bye, Willow.

Meow! I'm sad too, but I know that our friendship will carry on. No matter what. Meow!

Huh, she slammed that door in your face pretty hard.

Probably because she doesn't have time for you now that she's going to be a famous trumpet playing cat on a world tour. Mom? What? She definitely still has time for me. I'm her best friend.

You'll see. When I go watch her concert at the Animal Room tonight. I'm here at the Animal Room later tonight. I can't believe I got a friend Rosey. I can't wait for the concert.

I've seen Willow's video one hundred times. I've seen it two hundred times. I hope she plays when the Saints go marching in. I hope she plays tapps. I'll be happy whatever Willow plays because she's like that's friend.

What best friend? No, she's not, but it's alright. It's true. You'll see. Oh, right.

All you alligatories and tragedies. Put your paws and claws together. For the musical styling, go. Willow. Who has a trumpet?

Who's there now? Oh, she walks out. Willow? She's going to toss her lucky trumpet spit rag into the crowd over here. Willow.

So it's here, Willow. Willow. It's me, Rosey. Throw it to me. No.

I got it. Oh, this is the happiest day of my life. Maybe you. Maybe you. You didn't even look at me.

Maybe she didn't see me in the crowd. I'm going to do what any good friend would do. Go backstage and tell her she did a great job. Here I am at Willow's dressing room. Yeah, what do you want?

I'm Willow's friend, Rosey. I came to talk to her. Sure. You can go hang out with all our other friends over there. You're awesome, Willow.

Can I get a autograph? Please, please. Can you talk up a hairball on my carpet? No. And I'm not a friend.

I'm a real friend. I'm her best friend. Look. She's very busy.

“So why don't you do us all a favor and move it along?”

Oh, there she is in there. Hey, what do you say, Willow? Ma'am? She's busy. No, scream.

I can't believe that bodyguard slammed the door in my face. And Willow didn't even try to stop him. Well, maybe she isn't your best friend. Maybe she never was. I refuse to accept that fame has changed to Willow this much.

I'm going to go right up to that dressing room door in. Oh, it's the producer. It sure is. Now out of the way, nobody's. I got to get this trumpet play and cat to the studio to record a very old TV show.

But that was our thing. Not no more it ain't. Willow come with me. Pardon me. Coming through.

Yeah. Hey, don't look at him. Willow wait. I'm not going to give up on my friendship. I'm going to follow them to the TV studio.

I'm here at the TV studio. But where's Willow? Oh, Rosa.

I guess you'll never see your friend again.

All I see is this giant trunk labeled not a hiding place for sad trumpet playing. Willow. Willow? Is that you? Willow.

Willow.

“Were you sadly playing the trumpet because you missed me?”

No. I missed you too.

Did someone say friendship?

Yeah.

“Willow doesn't have time for friendship.”

No. Your new TV show starts in five minutes. Let's ditch this friend and go. Willow. Willow.

It's okay, Willow. I understand that you love trumpet playing more than anything in the world. Even me. Hey. Where are you walking towards that trash can?

Willow. You can't throw that away. You love that trumpet. Willow. Willow.

Willow. Willow. Willow. I love you too, Willow.

Once again, friendship ruins a perfectly good rise to the top.

If only there were some way we could be famous together. Wait. That's it. What's it? You're the big time TV producer.

Don't you see where this is going? Ha ha. Presenting live before a studio audience. The internet smash it. That's making its worldwide television W.

Rosa and her cat that plays the trumpet. What's up everyone? It's your girl, Rosa. And this is Willow. And we're proof that fame doesn't have to ruin a friendship.

You set it, Rosa. TV. Wait. Willow. You can talk.

Um. Well. The end. And now, Lee speaks with the author. So, Preston, you wrote the cat that had a trumpet.

Yeah. That story is so funny. I really, really love it. Can you tell me how you got the idea for it? Well, I just wanted to make a story that was funny and had Prestonification in it.

Oh, that's so cool.

“Can you tell listeners who might not know what Prestonification is?”

It's like giving someone human characteristic. Oh, that's amazing. So, it's making anything that's not human, behave like a human. Yeah. Can you tell me why you picked the trumpet for Willow to play?

I wanted Willow to play an instrument. And when I saw an instrument from it, you popped in my mind. Do you play any instruments? Yeah. In school, I play recorder.

Oh, that's so cool. How long have you been doing that? Since four grades started. Are you liking it? Yeah.

And what about cats? Do you have any cats in your life? No, but I do have a dog. What's his name? Hudson.

If you were writing a story about Hudson, what instrument do you think that Hudson would play? It's just something. Ah, any particular reason? I could just imagine him with sunglasses on at like an open mic night with a band of other dogs. Just like playing.

“Do you ever find that there are hobbies you have that you're willing to just like spend hours and hours on,”

even though no one's making you do it? The piano, actually. I like this neat style. Oh, really? So you already played piano?

Yeah, my dad. And my grandma had an ukulele, a ukulele, and sometimes she has an extra one. So sometimes we play together. Oh, that's amazing. What kind of things do you guys play together?

Lava. Have you ever heard that song? No. What is that? It's also a Disney short.

And I can play some of it on the piano, too. Yeah, let me hear. My sister knows the rest of it. It's amazing. Preston, thank you so much for letting us perform your story.

Thank you. It was my honor. I know the pets of the world are going to be very inspired by it. So don't be surprised if all of a sudden on TV, there's just nonstop shows of pets playing instruments.

And who knows, Hudson might be next? Hudson, I'm going to sign you up. All right. Thanks, Preston. Bye.

Bye. We'll be right back after a few words for the grown-up. Welcome back to Story Love, where we read stories written by kids and talk about them.

Here with me today, as always, is Peter.

And here with me today, also is Lee. There was almost British in the end when somewhere else. I don't know what this is. It's just, I guess, vague commercial voice. Wow.

Do you do improv? Sometimes. All right. Let's read today's first story. Peter, would you like to do it not in that voice?

Oh, I guess. I would love to. Lee, this is from an 11-year-old named Enzo from a Spania, which is Spain in English. This story is called Cup Run. In the magic kingdom of game shows that was the game show called The Cup Run.

Five contestants named "Cuply the Metal Cup."

Cup Guy, the plastic cup, strong cup, the paper cup. Fugally, the silly straw cup.

“They would run through a maze full of traps with hot chocolate in them and not spilling.”

But before I continue, let's talk about our sponsor. Rod Niggs. And now back to the show. "Cuply got lost in a maze forever."

Cup Fordsin, the 71 billion, 236 million, 764,587th, got stuck in a smaller maze.

Cup Guy put on sunglasses and got on a motorcycle and drove into the sun. For strong cup, the hot chocolate was so hot that he started to leak. So, that means Fugally wins and he won Rod Niggs. And boy, they stink. The end.

Amazing story, Enzo. I love the Rod Niggs Sponkaan. Right? Like, you think that the cutaway to the ad is just a joke about podcasts ads, of which they're probably too many.

But then at the end, that's the reward. That's the prize that it wins. And boy, they stink. Rod Niggs. Boy, they stink.

What are those? Buy some Rod Niggs. Why? I don't know. We got no one's about.

You think the weakness, the strength. They stink. Boy, they stink. Someone likes it.

“What's your favorite name of these contestants?”

We have Couplie. Who's a glass cup. We have a cup guy that's the cup and strong cup the paper cup. And Fugally, the silly straw cup. I really like Fugally.

Hmm. That's the only one where there's not a cup in the name. And it just feels like very original, Fugally. Yeah. Fugally.

Is this sort of name you hear?

I've never heard that before.

But you know what? Something about it works. You know what? I realized that. Fugally and Fugally was very Fugally.

Uh-huh. Lots of freckles. Enzo. Fantastic story, my friend. Thank you so much for sending it in.

Let's move on to our next one. From Marzi, a six year old in Montana. This is the magical sheep. Once upon a time there was a magical sheep who was black and pink. All the white sheep were not including him in fun games.

Uh-huh. The sheep went off to find all the all powerful Green Alpaca. Once the sheep got to the Alpaca, they didn't speak the same language. So they couldn't understand each other. So the sheep has to do the hardest thing.

The sheep has to start tap dancing. Oh no! They will speak the language of dance. What the sheep had to do was touch the sun. That was flaming hot.

And then the Alpaca and the sheep started tap dancing on the sun. Oh boy. And then they started speaking the same language. The Alpaca can help with anything to change the white sheep's minds. So they see the magical sheep and they like the magical sheep.

And then it started raining M&M's because of the magical sheep. Mm-hmm. When it started raining M&M's back on earth, all the sheep knew is because of the magical sheep. Huh. They thanked him.

And whenever they played games the magical sheep won because he was magical. The end. That was a journey. Yeah. Leave that was a journey.

Thoughts. The image of tap dancing on the sun as the, so they could speak the language of dance. So then they could understand each other.

“What else are you going to do on the sun besides half dance?”

I mean, they're talking about burning up the dance floor. Like ha ha ha. Hey. Ha ha ha ha ha. I understand you now.

That's right. Honestly, if you go through experience that intense. Yeah. You can't help but get closer. That's true.

The language of dance is another one of these tropes that I like craves seen like the earnest version of it. You know, like people like to make jokes about the language of dance. But I think this is very serious here. And the magical sheep is communicating and connecting with the alpaca through dance. Honestly, speaking of language, dance was a language we understood far before.

Real words. Is that right? You know, just visual.

Like we communicate with our faces and our bodies first.

Yeah. Yeah. Words came later. And that's, yeah. So like I can say a words that don't fit what my body and face are saying.

And you, you'd read more about the tone. So for example, I could, I can go like this and say. Lee. I'm trying to do an opposite words with tone.

Okay. All right. We are worst enemies.

“See, did you feel the words or the, the dancing more?”

I didn't feel the words. You're right.

That's the power of dance.

Yeah. It was very powerful. Thank you for demonstrating that. You know what I, um, I have a weird fascination with. But animals, uh, where the plural doesn't have an S.

Alpaca cheap. Uh, moose deer fish. Alpaca. Alpaca. Alpacas.

No, and they're not one. There's a herd of Alpaca. Well, maybe you're right. Elk. Elk.

It seems to be all the ones with hooves. Yeah. And fish. Who decided that? Who decided that?

Who? Who, uh, hooves? I tell you. Marzy incredible story. Fantastic.

Peter.

Would you read our last one for the day?

Yes. This story comes to us from a five year old from Connecticut named Zander. Zander story is called The Day. That mean man ruined the life of the world. Maybe it's mean man.

The day that mean man ruined the life of the world. There was a mean man. And he was trying to destroy all the things. And then Zander had a helmet that had spikes on it that could destroy the mean man. There were crystals and there were gems that could shoot rotten spaghetti out of him.

And there was a centipede, a killer ant, a tarantula, a taradactyl, and a piranha, and also some fish. Some clouds burst open and then they turned into jello. And then mean man got nicer. And became nice man. Oh, he was nice because he ate jello.

And everyone wanted to hug him even Zander. Oh, but he had a spiked helmet. Yeah, so he took it off before he gave nice man a hug. And then an invisible volcano erupted and nice man exploded. Just kidding.

He didn't explode. He took it now. The end. And snacks. Wow.

Wow. Whoa. Zander. So much going on here. Uh, the invisible volcano.

Uh huh. That's like, it's like killer bees.

It's like the threat that's always on the periphery of your imagination.

But you never actually encounter. You never actually encounter invisible volcano. But they could show up at any time. Yeah. And I'm really ruin your day.

I'm wondering if it actually did because he says. And then invisible volcano erupted. Nice man exploded. Just kidding. He didn't explode.

But are you kidding about the volcano? Um, or not?

“I think he, the Zander would have said if he was kidding about the volcano.”

Either way, the volcano showed up erupted and he took a nap. Yeah. I mean, I hope he got a safe distance from the lava flow. Hmm. Well, sometimes there's sometimes volcanoes do little cuter option.

They do? I don't know. I hope so. I don't think so. I think if you get an eruption, it's going to.

It's not going to be cute. You think sometimes they're just like. Huh? No. I don't know.

Just a little. That's not an eruption. All right. What do you call that? I got a spit up.

Yeah. I mean, I imagine of volcanoes doing that in the days, weeks, months, years, leading up to an eruption. Well, yeah. It's like, it's this few little.

Volcano is like, oh, actually, I think I'm fine. Yeah. Can I also just say, I think we should all end all stories with the end. And snacks. Yeah.

“I mean, let's say once some movie or something is over, what do you go do?”

I'd just say snacks because the movie was on. Yeah. Will you have post movie snacks? You do? I do.

Oh, okay. I don't know if you know this. You should try snacks during the movie. Yeah. I mean, snacks.

Hey. I'm with you. To read all today's story. Just head to storypireits.com. And guess what, grownups you can find in even longer version of today's story.

Love on YouTube. We drop a new video every week. And here's something. Did you know that YouTube will show it to more people and help storypireits grow. If we get more views right away.

Weird. But true. So by watching these videos, as soon as you can. You're not only hearing the hilarious stories from kids, but you're helping each kid's story be celebrated by more people.

And contributing to our channel's growth. Which means we can create more videos and help fund our podcast. You've heard us talking about how severely impacted three forms of educational media like us have been. And this is a free way that you can help. You can find the link to today's video in the show notes.

While you're there, why not subscribe to our channel. And make sure to watch the new videos every week. And grown-ups. Storylove isn't just the name of a segment on our show.

Or about story quest.

Our creative writing program.

Or our nonprofit. Our storypireits. Changemakers. Check the show notes for links. That's it for today's episode.

“Thanks to today's authors, Preston and Jake.”

And guess what? You can still send us your stories. And we respond to every single story we receive. grown-ups.

Your link to submit stories is in the show notes for today's episode.

We'll be back next week with another brand new episode. Until then, stay creative and stay kind. Bye! The storypireits podcast is a production of storypireits studios. This episode was produced by Isabella Rikkyo.

Sam Bear. Peter McNerny. Lee Overtry. And Brittany Stahl. This episode was produced by Sam Bear.

Peter McNerny. Andrew Miller. And Lee Overtry.

“Recording Sound Design and Mixing by Sam Bear.”

At the relic room in New York City.

Additional production by Brett Toven. Theme song by Bobby Lord. Musical scoring by Ericerson and Jack Mitchell. Our head writer is Peter McNerny. Staff writers are Megan O'Neill and Alexis Simpson.

Contributing writer is Lee Overtry. Episode artwork by Camilla Franklin. This episode features performances by Eric Austin. Max Bank. Nat Demico.

Woody Foo. Regina Growth Beach. Tara Halpern. Sebastian Martinez. Peter McNerny.

Joshua Nasser. Megan O'Neill. Lee Overtry. Sasha Rekler. Brittany Stahl.

Andrew Warner. Rachel Winnitsky. And Nimony Ware. Aim. Lee Me for Airfresh of Breath.

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