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Today's story is called of Mice

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and Mench, an adaptation of a

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Enjoy the episode! Of

1:59

mice and... Mench. Once upon

2:01

a time there lived a little

2:03

mouse named Momo. She was

2:05

from a big colony of

2:07

mice all together in the

2:10

fields outside a mighty castle.

2:12

It was a nice life with

2:14

plenty of grain in

2:16

the fields and no cats

2:18

to hunt them. Momo spent

2:20

her days working at a

2:23

little shop and her evenings

2:25

having fun. Usually she was

2:27

with her two best friends.

2:29

They were charming little mouse ladies

2:32

like her. The only problem was,

2:34

they were both getting married,

2:36

and Momo wasn't. First it was

2:38

her friend Becky, with the good

2:40

hair. Becky married a clever little

2:43

mouse named Jay, and they now had

2:45

a mouse hole of their own in

2:47

the stables. It was a very cozy

2:49

place, with lots of warm hay

2:51

and bits of carrot. Then it

2:54

was Ico, who had the most

2:56

beautiful long tail. She married a

2:58

builder who made them a lovely little

3:00

cottage in a cherry tree. It was

3:02

way out on a strong limb, so

3:04

the view dropped away in a beautiful

3:07

vista. Momo was happy for her friends,

3:09

but now she felt like it was

3:11

her turn. She was ready to grow

3:13

up and strike out on her own

3:15

with a partner and live in a

3:17

little mouse hole that they could call

3:19

their own. And she already knew who

3:21

she wanted to marry, too. Becky could

3:24

keep the clever mice. and good

3:26

for Ico with her builder. But

3:28

those weren't the men for Momo.

3:30

No, since she was little,

3:33

Momo had dreamed of marrying

3:35

the strongest mouse she could find.

3:37

It was a little strange,

3:39

but everyone has their type.

3:42

And she already had a mouse

3:44

in mind. He was a buff and

3:46

dashing mouse by the name of Fabio.

3:48

The problem was, her father

3:50

had other ideas. He was

3:52

the mayor of the fields. And

3:54

he insisted that Momo had to

3:57

marry only the best. If we're going

3:59

to marry... He said, you can

4:01

do better than a

4:03

mouse. Forget Fabio. You

4:05

should find the biggest

4:08

and strongest around. No

4:10

mouse for my daughter. But

4:12

daddy, she said. No butts

4:14

young lady, he said.

4:16

Promise me you'll agree.

4:18

I promise, she said. She

4:20

didn't agree, but she'd at

4:23

least have to try. When

4:25

she told her friends

4:27

the next day. They said

4:29

she should just follow her

4:31

heart. Well, kind of. Well,

4:33

said Becky, everyone knows the

4:36

strongest is Fabio. He's

4:38

almost as big as

4:40

a rat, and he

4:42

has that beautiful golden

4:44

fur. Oh, yeah, added Ico. And I

4:46

heard he really likes you.

4:48

Momo sighed. She knew Fabio

4:50

liked her, but she had

4:53

promised her father to at least

4:55

look. And she knew there

4:57

was someone even stronger out

5:00

there. Someone that towered over

5:02

the fields and was as

5:04

strong as the day is long.

5:06

I have an idea for someone

5:08

strong that even my father would

5:10

agree to, Momo said. I'm going

5:12

to get him. I'll be back with

5:14

a date for dinner. Okay, good

5:17

luck girl, Becky said. You deserve

5:19

the best, said Ico, and they

5:21

all hugged goodbye. Momo immediately

5:23

put on her favorite dress,

5:26

one with blue and yellow

5:28

stripes, and went out into

5:30

the field. She saw the one

5:32

for her standing there, solid as

5:34

ever. She walked up, as cute

5:36

and appealing as she could be.

5:38

Hello, Mr. Oak Tree, she said.

5:40

The colossal old tree was the

5:43

tallest thing in the pasture, and

5:45

it was surely stronger than any

5:47

little mouse. What a mighty husband

5:49

he would make. His leaves

5:52

weren't as charming as Fabio's

5:54

golden hair, but her father

5:56

would approve. Uh, hello, little

5:58

mouse, said the old... oak tree. What

6:01

can I help you with today?

6:03

I'm afraid my acorns won't

6:05

be ready for a few

6:07

weeks at least. That's good

6:09

to know, said Momo, who loved

6:11

acorns. But it's not why

6:14

I'm here. Then what can I

6:16

do for you? Want to climb

6:18

up my limbs and visit

6:20

your friends in the tree?

6:22

No, no, nope, said Momo. I'm

6:24

looking for a husband. Oh,

6:26

said the old oak tree. I understand.

6:29

You want me to use my height

6:31

to see all over the fields in

6:33

the castle too? I can

6:35

definitely find a nice mouse

6:38

husband for you." No, no, said

6:40

Momo. That's not it at all. I

6:42

want a strong husband, the

6:44

strongest there is. Well, I

6:46

suppose I can find you a strong

6:48

mouse if I look? No, you're stronger

6:51

than any mouse, said Momo. I

6:53

want to marry you. The old

6:56

oak was surprised for a moment.

6:58

For a moment. And then

7:00

he laughed. A deep rumbling

7:03

sound like old logs rolling.

7:05

Momo scowled though, so he

7:07

stopped, not wanting to

7:09

hurt the little mouse's feelings.

7:12

Ah, my little lady, he

7:14

said kindly now. I may

7:16

be big and pretty strong,

7:18

but I'm not the strongest

7:21

at all. Then who is? said

7:23

Momo. My father said I

7:25

need the strongest husband.

7:27

Why? asked the old oak. Because

7:30

he said I'm too good for

7:32

any old mouse. All right,

7:34

fair enough, I guess, said the

7:36

tree. So I'm strong, but

7:38

even I bow before one

7:40

other. Who, who? asked Momo.

7:42

I need to know. The mighty wind,

7:45

the old oak said, and the

7:47

wind blew in response,

7:50

bending the tree and

7:52

its branches, so it

7:54

bowed towards the ground. Wow,

7:56

said Momo, that is strong. I'll

7:58

make the wind! my husband.

8:01

Good luck, little mouse, the

8:03

tree said, laughing gently. Go

8:05

and find it. Momo took off

8:07

running across the fields. The

8:09

wind seemed to be everywhere

8:12

and nowhere. Rustling leaves, stirring

8:14

the hair of the

8:16

farmer's wife, sending hay

8:19

skittering across the hard-packed

8:21

paths. Where did one go to

8:23

talk to the wind? Well, it

8:25

seemed windier higher up. Momo

8:27

climbed into the hills.

8:29

until the wind was

8:32

plucking at her fur. Hello!

8:34

She shouted into the

8:36

open air. I'm looking

8:38

for the wind. Are you

8:41

there? Around her the

8:43

leaves swirled and the

8:45

trees rustled and

8:47

even stones jittered.

8:49

It all came

8:52

together into a voice,

8:54

gentle and strong and

8:57

boundless. It said to her.

8:59

Why have you come up

9:01

into the hills looking

9:03

to talk to me? Do

9:06

you need help flying a

9:08

kite? You don't look the

9:10

type. Do you need me

9:12

to blow your sails? You

9:14

don't seem a sailor either.

9:17

Tell me, Little Mouse, tell

9:19

me why you're chasing

9:21

the wind. Whoa! I'm looking

9:24

for a husband, said

9:26

Momo. I want to settle

9:28

down in my own house

9:30

and have a nice partner

9:32

and all the good stuff

9:35

that comes with that. Ah, said

9:37

the wind, and your wise,

9:39

so you come to me.

9:42

You know I hear every

9:44

breath taken, every word spoken,

9:46

you my clever little mouse,

9:49

know that I can find

9:51

you a husband who is

9:53

smart. And kind and always

9:56

has a sweet word for

9:58

you. No,

10:00

said Momo. I want the

10:02

strongest husband there is.

10:05

And my father said

10:07

a mouse wasn't good enough.

10:10

Oh, said the wind a

10:12

little surprised. Well, I guess

10:14

I can help you with that.

10:16

I can maybe, well, I

10:19

don't know actually, what did

10:21

you have in mind? I

10:23

want to marry you. Said

10:26

Momo. You're the strongest

10:28

around. At first I thought it

10:31

was the old oak tree, but he

10:33

pointed out that even he bows to

10:35

you. So it seems to me like you'd

10:37

be the perfect husband. In her

10:40

heart, Momo knew the wind

10:42

wasn't quite perfect. Sure it

10:44

was strong and playful too, but

10:47

it lacked Fabio's warmth. Still,

10:49

she had told her father she'd

10:51

try. The wind whipped around, swirling

10:54

Momo's hair in a playful

10:56

way. It was the wind's version

10:58

of laughing. Oh, little mouse,

11:00

it said. The wind

11:02

can't get married.

11:05

The wind can't be

11:07

tied down. And it

11:09

can't be there for

11:11

you when you need

11:13

it. No, little mouse.

11:15

I'm sorry, but I

11:17

can't marry you. Momo

11:19

stomped her foot. Oh,

11:21

my father says I need

11:24

the strongest husband

11:26

and... You're the

11:29

strongest! Oh, well, that's

11:31

not true, the wind, said,

11:34

seeing a way to pass

11:36

the little mouse along on

11:39

her quest. There is

11:41

someone who is even

11:43

stronger than me. Who,

11:45

who, said Momo, I need

11:47

to know? The castle, said

11:49

the wind, swirling

11:51

leaves toward the

11:54

distant stone towers.

11:56

I can blow and bend the oak,

11:58

but no matter what... What I

12:00

try, the castle stands strong

12:03

against me. The castle, said

12:05

Momo. Of course. What could

12:07

be stronger than the

12:09

castle? I should have started

12:11

there. I'm heading there now. The

12:14

little mouse looked down the

12:16

hills and across the fields

12:18

to the castle in the hazy

12:20

distance. Such a long walk,

12:22

my little legs are getting

12:25

tired. Well, I can help you

12:27

along if you like. Offered

12:29

the wind. I mean

12:31

you came all the way

12:33

up to see me. It's

12:35

the least I can

12:37

do. Thank you, said

12:40

Momo. What do I do?

12:42

The wind blew over

12:44

a dandelion puff,

12:47

white and feathery,

12:49

bobbing in the breeze.

12:52

Grab a hold, said

12:54

the wind. Momo leapt

12:57

and clutched at

12:59

the dandelion stem

13:01

as it bobbled by.

13:03

Thank you, she said. Good

13:05

luck! Then the

13:08

windworld and Momo and

13:10

the dandelion

13:12

were scooped up and

13:14

sent spinning. They soared

13:17

through the air towards

13:19

their castle, drifting

13:21

like a cloud. Momo

13:26

called leaning into the breeze

13:28

as she swayed and spun

13:30

Soon the dandelion puff

13:32

began to blow away in

13:34

the wind little wisps of

13:37

wishes dancing off as the last

13:39

bit of fluff was plucked

13:41

away Momo was gently set

13:43

down on the castle wall

13:45

Thank you she called to the

13:47

wind it swirled gently around

13:49

her then she turned and

13:51

ran for the center of

13:54

the castle the tallest of

13:56

the stone towers. Hello!

13:58

She called... Can you hear

14:01

me? Of course, came a voice,

14:03

solid as stone. What do you

14:05

need, little mouse? Well, I'm looking

14:07

for a husband. Ah, and you've

14:10

come to me, said the castle.

14:12

You know that I am solid, and

14:14

you seek a solid mouse for

14:16

a husband. Very clever. Well,

14:19

no, not quite, said Momo.

14:21

She was used to this whole

14:23

process by now, and growing

14:25

a little bit tired of it. So

14:27

she skipped right to the important bit.

14:30

No, I want to marry you, she said. I

14:32

know you're a castle and I'm a mouse,

14:34

but my father said I'm supposed to marry

14:36

the biggest and strongest husband, and that is

14:38

you. So what do you say? The castle

14:40

rumbled a laugh, but stopped when he saw her

14:42

serious little face. Good for your father, but who

14:45

do you want to marry? Well, there is

14:47

a little mouse named Fabio, but... No,

14:49

you're the strongest, I should marry you. I should

14:51

marry you. I should marry you. I should marry you.

14:53

I should marry you. I should marry you. I should

14:55

marry you. I should marry you. I should marry you.

14:57

At this, the castle laughed again.

14:59

But for a different reason

15:02

this time. I'm sorry, little

15:04

mouse, but I'm not the

15:06

strongest. I can't marry you.

15:08

There is someone stronger than

15:10

me, right this very moment. Who,

15:12

who? said Momo. I need to

15:15

know. I'm so tired of looking. Well,

15:17

said the tower, right this very

15:19

instant. A mighty warrior

15:21

is tunneling into my walls.

15:24

Sure, I'm solid against the

15:26

wind. But this juggernaut is

15:28

burrowing straight through my stone.

15:30

Wow, said Momo, how do I

15:33

find him? I'll take you there,

15:35

said the castle. Just jump

15:37

into that little crack there

15:39

in the wall. Thank you, said

15:42

Momo, and then she jumped

15:44

inside. It was dark and

15:46

slick and she instantly

15:49

started sliding. Down and

15:51

down and around and around

15:53

she slid through the dark

15:55

castle. Finally, she shot out in

15:57

the basement, where there was a...

16:00

A neat round hole in

16:02

the wall by the royal

16:04

tapestries. That must be where

16:06

the warrior is digging, she

16:08

said. Hello? I'm looking for

16:10

the strongest husband around

16:12

and the castle says this

16:15

is where I can find you.

16:17

From the darkness of the

16:19

hole, a voice came echoing back.

16:21

It sounded like a very

16:23

strong voice. Momo? Is that

16:25

you? You, you know me? No you. said

16:28

the voice coming out of the

16:30

hole now. Momo, I love you!

16:32

It was Fabio! He came

16:34

out, long blonde hair flowing.

16:36

You've been tunneling

16:38

into the castle? she asked.

16:40

I've been making us a

16:43

place to live, he said, and

16:45

a lovely queen like you

16:47

deserves a castle. Oh Fabio!

16:49

Momo said and leapt into

16:51

his arms. They were married

16:54

shortly shortly after shortly

16:56

after. Momo's father was there

16:59

to give her away, and he did

17:01

it with pride. In the end,

17:03

all he had really wanted was

17:05

to see Momo happy, and

17:07

Fabio was, after all, the

17:10

strongest one around. The End.

17:12

Today's story of Mice and

17:14

Mench was an adaptation of a

17:16

Japanese fable written for you

17:19

by Daniel Hines. It was

17:21

edited and produced for

17:23

you by Andrew Martin. and perform

17:25

for you by me, Amanda Weldon.

17:27

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