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One. Three Plus subscribers can listen to

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little stories everywhere early and and free

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right now. Join Wonder You Plus in

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the Wonder He App or Wondered Kids

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Plus on Apple Podcasts. From

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wandering I'm Robbie Dame and in

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this. Is a little stories

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everywhere. Each episode will bring

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new stories for kids that

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sparked the imagination, take you

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to other worlds and bring

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joy. This is. Tales

0:36

of Apple Landsea Kenny

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Spring Time. Swamp Party.

0:51

In the far off world. Of Apple

0:53

lens magic flows through everything

0:55

from portals that can take

0:57

you anywhere with just the

0:59

flash of a smile to

1:01

win the war hawks that

1:03

weighs around like helicopters. It's

1:05

a place of wonder for

1:07

the gators. Possums and swamp

1:10

critters. That live there. One

1:12

such swap critter goes by

1:14

the name of can he

1:16

Can. He is around and

1:18

furry and looks a bit

1:20

like a giant sweet gumball

1:22

covered in mud. Unlike most

1:24

swap critters who prefer to

1:27

hide in the reads, Kenny

1:29

is pretty sociable, In

1:31

fact, he's the first swap. Critter

1:33

Ever to open a flower

1:35

shop, but today he's having

1:37

no luck finding flowers. and

1:39

as he searches around the

1:42

swamp can he shivers and

1:44

rubs his furry arms. And

1:47

Furries in Asia to be the

1:50

longest winter in the history of

1:52

Appalachia. can he's right it

1:54

it is the longest winter in the

1:56

history of appalachia spring should have come

1:58

ages ago The sun should be

2:01

shining, the birds should be singing,

2:03

and the water lilies should be

2:05

blooming. To make

2:07

matters worse, Kenny is supposed

2:09

to host Appalachia's finest springtime

2:12

party next week. But

2:14

who wants to celebrate spring when it feels like

2:16

winter? Then how is Kenny going

2:19

to celebrate if there aren't any flowers?

2:22

Oh, there's gotta be some blooms around here

2:24

somewhere. I just have to

2:26

follow my nose. Being

2:29

a swamp critter, Kenny has an

2:31

extraordinary sense of smell. He

2:34

can sniff out the dew drops

2:36

on a strand of spider silk,

2:39

and the first muscadine fresh on the

2:41

vine. His nose has never

2:43

let him down. But so

2:45

far... No,

2:49

I can't smell anything but mud. Just

2:54

then, a wind blows over the

2:56

swamp, rustling the bare tree limbs.

3:00

I'm catching a whiff of something. Nostrils

3:03

wide, Kenny follows the trail

3:05

over fallen logs and marshy

3:07

patches. Past the weeping willows

3:09

and gator bait bog, he

3:12

ventures deeper into the swamp than

3:14

ever before. He really

3:16

wants to find some flowers. Eventually,

3:19

he comes to a great circle

3:22

of cypress trees, rising so high

3:24

out of the water that their

3:26

long, mossy beards block out the

3:29

life. Kenny

3:36

hears wild laughter and a banjo

3:38

coming from beyond the trees. What

3:42

in the swamp, gaff, do we have here?

3:45

Carefully, he squeezes through the

3:47

curtain of moss, and

3:50

an oasis is revealed to him.

3:53

Weirdly, it's filled with dozens of... possible

3:57

poo! I'm

4:00

gonna find you! But there's something

4:02

else that surprises Kenny about the

4:05

oasis. Wait a minute.

4:08

It's warm out here. It

4:10

feels just like... spring!

4:14

The sun is shining, and the

4:17

magnolias are blooming. It's

4:19

the perfect little paradise. The

4:21

last thing he expected to see on such

4:23

a mucky gray day. Meanwhile,

4:26

the possums haven't noticed him at all.

4:29

They're too busy playing volleyball, doing

4:31

backflips off tree branches, and dancing

4:33

to swamp music. And

4:36

in the middle of it all, an ancient

4:38

tree covered in the strangest flowers

4:40

Kenny has ever seen, corkscrews

4:43

up toward the sky. The

4:46

flowers are bright blue with little

4:48

pink furry dots in the center.

4:50

They shimmer and shake in the

4:52

secrets. Wow! Those

4:56

blossoms could really tie my springtime

4:58

swamp party together. Kenny

5:00

plods over to the tree and bends down

5:02

to take a whiff. Very

5:07

interesting. Smells

5:09

like birthday cake and shrimp

5:11

shampoo all at once. You

5:17

back away from them flowers, critter. Kenny

5:20

looks up. The party has

5:23

done. And all the

5:25

possums are staring at him with their

5:27

little marble eyes. An

5:29

old possum with a big beard and

5:32

mangly teeth hobbles up to Kenny. He

5:35

has a pink nose and a long, hooped

5:37

tail shaped like a question mark. Don't

5:40

you know that's the sacred bloom

5:42

of the ancient possum

5:45

gathering tree? It's

5:47

for possum-don't it? So you know, boom, get

5:49

your sniffer out of here. Kenny

5:52

backs away from the tree. Sorry,

5:54

I didn't mean to offend.

5:57

Well, you did. I'm sure You

5:59

did. The A Great granddad

6:01

Opossums A nice place. Would

6:04

I say those know bucks

6:06

A bad. Mood

6:08

Mags. He lives and.

6:10

Seventy The Swamp Critter. Just

6:13

tourists passes. Fast foods do

6:16

when. Jenny gestures

6:18

his claws toward the paradise

6:20

surrounding them. I can't help

6:23

but notice a spring here.

6:25

snarls, scowls, Would

6:29

have Saudis. Well. It's Windsor

6:31

everywhere else in the swamp. In

6:33

Windsor for ages. Darn dude.

6:37

Possums. We decided we'd

6:39

take spring for ourselves

6:41

a year. He

6:44

their apples. Know.

6:47

Our say the fall. So the

6:49

possums class their paws cheering on

6:51

their leader. Why would

6:54

you want to do that? Is the

6:56

best season for the whole swamp?

6:58

Yeah you? why? the passenger sick

7:00

and tired of lane. Paid him

7:02

for granted and as why I

7:04

told ya, Dahlia. Jenny

7:06

raises his theory eyebrows

7:09

in surprise way he'll

7:11

the swamp plane all

7:13

year and didn't waver.

7:15

Nobody's. Snarl

7:17

waves he's walking stick around. since.

7:20

then he jumps back. Ever

7:22

seen some so worked up before?

7:25

I've never thought of that. I like that. Whole

7:29

problem. Nobody thinks about us

7:31

much, you know, and when

7:33

I do that, it's downright

7:36

nasty. The other possums rush

7:38

over to Kenny, hollering their

7:40

complaints. I say are smiles are

7:43

funny I say we say we

7:45

try. This is true that

7:47

and I know farm at other fab

7:49

say it. Can.

7:51

He thinks for a minute the

7:53

swamp has been sparkling clean every

7:55

time he's gone searching for flowers.

7:58

the jenny had no idea been doing

8:00

all the work. Snarl

8:02

flashes his sharp little teeth at

8:05

Kenny. Show! We

8:07

rounded up our possum magic and

8:09

used it to keep winter going

8:11

everywhere but our little spot right

8:14

here at the ancient

8:16

possum gathering tree. Snarl

8:20

waves his paw at the twisted

8:22

tree, covered in those mind-boggling blue

8:24

and pink flowers Kenny was first

8:26

drawn to. For once,

8:28

the possums are on top

8:31

of the world, and we

8:33

aim to keep it that

8:35

way. Kenny looks

8:37

at Snarl sympathetically. I'm

8:40

sorry about your struggles, but

8:43

it's not fair to punish the whole swamp

8:45

just because folks aren't nice to you. Aren't

8:48

you hurting the kind folks as well as

8:50

the mean ones? Not

8:53

our problem. It's about

8:55

respect, and we don't get

8:57

nearly enough of it. Nope, no, sir,

8:59

we don't. Kenny knows all

9:02

too well what it's like to be pushed

9:04

aside. When he was

9:06

growing up, he was a smelly little

9:08

swamp critter covered in mud and leaves.

9:11

No one in the whole of Appalachia wanted to hang

9:13

out with him. But

9:15

when he opened his flower shop, things

9:18

got better. All sorts of creatures

9:20

stopped by, and he made friends with all

9:22

of them. They just

9:25

needed a reason to

9:27

get to know him.

9:29

That's it. Kenny hunches

9:31

down a little so he can look Snarl

9:34

in the eye. I'm hosting

9:36

a party pretty soon, and

9:38

it's for the whole swamp. Why

9:40

don't you all come along? Snarl

9:42

takes a moment to ponder the offer, and

9:46

he puts his furry paw on

9:48

his chin. Hmm, well, no one's

9:50

breaking it. Parties

9:52

ain't really our scene. It's

9:54

everybody's scene. That's the whole point of

9:57

a swamp party. Kenny

9:59

Turns to the tall. Possum with the banjo

10:01

in the short, pass him with the

10:03

fiddle. you could bring. Your instruments and play

10:05

a little. Bastard

10:07

during sex during. The

10:10

know was a faster baylor mais

10:12

si en m sell me twice.

10:15

Your music is the finest avert

10:17

in ages snarl. Get along

10:19

great with Maisie the Wild Pig. I

10:22

say you could trade old swap stories

10:24

his you can saw tales. With the

10:26

new to yes there's. Room as long

10:28

as yours. Snarls.

10:30

Quincy's eyes deep in thought the

10:33

other possums week for his decision.

10:38

We have think him that he

10:41

can give him his kindest reading

10:43

his looks which isn't very easy

10:45

for a big old swamp printer.

10:47

He hides his claws behind his

10:50

back and try to keep his

10:52

fangs certain types beneath his smile.

10:57

Maybe this will work Sale

10:59

worries day in and around

11:02

for said we thank batting

11:04

next day. Before we

11:06

draft some, pass some magic down

11:09

you to. Protect

11:11

scurries out of the possums, releases

11:13

them back into the cold, dreary

11:16

gray of the winter is. A

11:23

week later Chinese finishing the prep

11:26

for the big players sees hung

11:28

streamers from the of trees and

11:30

put swamp from hers on the

11:33

grill. The fireflies are doing their

11:35

best to light up the frosty

11:37

night, but there are no flowers

11:40

and everybody knows that a spring

11:42

time swamp parties just isn't the

11:45

same without them. The

11:47

crowd is smaller than usual. The

11:50

Cold: the gators are wearing ear

11:52

muffs. the. Raccoons are hiding

11:54

their mittens. The wild pigs

11:56

are wrapped in scarves months

11:58

now. Even

12:00

Ukraine's are wearing fur lined

12:03

You try flooded with broussard.

12:06

Dj double rebut is spinning records

12:09

but nobody's in the dancing mood.

12:13

So. Much for a party. Suggests.

12:16

This winter might just last

12:18

forever. Office

12:21

why are you desire There's think

12:23

they'll have. Such

12:26

up as a small com the

12:28

whole fab Go have. Saved

12:32

up for Souza food

12:34

and musical instruments galore

12:36

and hearts like a

12:38

bullfrog inside his chest.

12:41

You guys. That

12:44

he just kills the music and. The party

12:46

comes to a standstill. The.

12:48

Possum shuffle around, warily blinking

12:50

their little eyes. One.

12:52

Of them sneezes a hit. By.

12:56

A scout, Out here. Maisie,

12:59

the Wild Pigs snorts

13:01

shuffling her hooves cause

13:04

it's cold this winter

13:06

Steal! An awkward silence

13:08

follows. No one

13:11

knows what to say to the new guests. At

13:15

home see any I know but

13:17

it won't hear. Guess we'll be

13:19

go and. Snarled

13:22

turned to leave, motioning for the

13:24

other possums to follow the ten

13:26

runs to stop them. With

13:29

was so glad you're here. Really?

13:31

We are. No

13:34

same, I get a little

13:36

possum. Walks into the crowd with

13:38

the steaming hot cauldron. Clutch in

13:40

his mittens. Pause. While

13:42

some say. That

13:45

night says Tearing Down Mouse.

13:47

Or Low the alligator. Trust Silver

13:50

to the Dumbo and a seriously

13:52

tough food. Critics are Low gives

13:54

a sniff with his lungs deal.

13:57

He knows. smooth

14:00

Pretty good. Arlo

14:02

takes a slurp, his giant

14:04

pink tongue lapping it straight

14:06

from the pot. Woo-hoo-hoo! Tastes

14:09

even better. Is that

14:12

jalapeno? Kenny

14:14

scampers over to the musicians and gathers

14:16

them in a huddle. Strike

14:18

up a tune, folks. We need to

14:20

get dancing to stay warm. The

14:24

possums grab their banjos and fiddles,

14:26

and they begin to play. Slowly,

14:30

the creatures of the swamp begin stomping

14:32

out the heat and clapping

14:34

along. Snarl brings

14:36

out a picnic basket full of

14:38

his famous biscuits and gravy and

14:40

passes them around. Users

14:43

follow his lead, handing out their own

14:45

dishes. Woo! Taste this little

14:47

bootleg bode with all the musk crab

14:49

monsters that'll put scales on your belly.

14:52

It's my mama's recipe. It's a little

14:54

sweet, but you'll like it. I invented

14:56

that from a half a potato and

14:59

a toothpick. Woo, this one smells

15:01

like home. Smells like shoes.

15:04

Three soon, the party goers are

15:07

scarfing down Cajun rice, mashed potatoes,

15:09

and grilled corn on the top.

15:12

No one's ever had collard greens as good

15:14

as this before. Maisie, the

15:16

wild pig, looks up at Kenny,

15:18

her mouth full of gumbo. Kenny,

15:21

these possums are the coolest. Why

15:24

didn't you bring them all this soon? Kenny

15:26

notices a toothy smile appear

15:29

on Snarl's snout. I

15:31

guess they were just waiting for an

15:34

invitation. See

15:36

me. As if by magic.

15:39

And it was magic. The

15:41

sun bursts from the clouds.

15:44

Everyone cheers. They toss their

15:46

mittens, scarves, and eat them

15:48

up beside. Woo! Woo! Woo!

15:51

We're free! Oh, have a laugh.

15:53

Wow, don't need it. Oh, hooray.

15:57

It's springtime at last. The

16:04

band speeds into a frenzy

16:06

as the whole swamp comes alive.

16:09

Flowers bloom on lily pads and

16:11

hyacinths burst open like a firework.

16:15

Honeysuckle dangles from the trees and

16:17

the bees come abut it, which

16:21

is finally over.

16:24

Can he feel the sunshine on his

16:26

face and smile? Snarl

16:29

hobbles over to Kenny and pats him on

16:31

the back. Hey, buddy,

16:36

this is for you to

16:38

say thanks. Snarl

16:41

holds out a bright blue flower with

16:43

a pink furry dot in the center.

16:46

It's from the ancient possum gathering

16:49

tree. Don't you be

16:51

selling it now. It's sacred

16:53

possum blue. Kenny

16:56

beams. You can't dream

16:58

of it. Let's

17:00

go get some grub. Somebody

17:03

pass the hob-dah. Anybody

17:05

got an answer? Who ate all

17:07

the cold bread? I was

17:10

gonna be shucking my head off. Hey, get your

17:12

snut out of there real quick. We're havin' all

17:14

my time. I can't eat. This

17:17

is the best springtime swamp party ever. From

17:28

the laundry, this is Little

17:30

Stories Everywhere. This

17:32

is Tales of Appalachia, Kenny's

17:34

Springtime Swamp Party. Written

17:37

by Jimmy Cajola. I'm your host,

17:39

Robbie Damon. Our editor

17:41

and senior producer is Sarah Serrano.

17:43

Audio assistance by Sergio Enriquez. This

17:46

episode is sound designed by Lucas

17:48

Ingalls. Nothing Laylock is our coordinating

17:50

producer. And Matt Gant is our

17:52

managing producer. Don't you think

17:54

Ben is our senior managing producer? Jennifer Klein

17:57

is our series producer. Jenny Bloom is our

17:59

senior managing producer. Our Thank

18:01

You Producers are Jenny Lower Beckman,

18:03

Jimmy Morlow, Marshall Lowy, and Paul

18:05

Walters.