Quackling E:230
An original story written by Aaron Shephard about a clever duck who lends the king some money, and when he demands to be repaid, finds himself in a bit of a pickle. A fun story by author and storyteller, Aaron Shephard who describes this as a not so grim Grimm’s tale. (duration 11 minutes). An episode from storytelling podcast, Journey with Story.
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June 8, 2023
E 230
Quackling
Written by Aaron Shepard
A Not too Grim- Grimm Fairy tale
Has anyone ever borrowed something from you – either money or a book or some piece of clothing or something else. Did they always return what they borrowed? Has anyone every borrowed from you and then NOT returned it? What did you do to get it back?
Hello everyone. I’m Kathleen Pelley. Welcome to Journey with Story. I wonder how you answered this question and what some of you did to get back what had been borrowed from you. Today’s story is a fun story written by a wonderful storyteller called. Aaron Shepard and it is all about a clever duck who lends the king some money and when he goes off to demand the king repay him, he lands up in a terrible pickle, but luckily he has some friends who can help him out.
Before we begin, we have some friends of JWS who have been helping us out by….giving us some great reviews…
Listen to this one from Millie Barkman in NZ
Hi my name is millie barkman i’m 11 (i know i’m a bit old) and i’m from wellington new Zealand 🇳🇿 i absolutely love this podcast so much it helps me get to sleep every night and makes me have amazing dreams i have also recommended this podcast numerous times and everyone has loved it thanks so much for creating this podcast and taking your time to make theese episodes-can i pleasee have a shout-out it would mean so much to me byeee-millie barkman”
Oh, thank you Millie – and we see you sent this review last year and so sorry it has taken us this long to give you your shout out – but here it is today. Thank you Millie, this episode is especially for you.
Let’s take a journey with Quackling by Aaron Shepherd who calls this a not too grim Grim Fairy tale – because as you will hear, it does sound a tiny bit like one of Grimms fairy tales, but this one is a lot funnier….
Once there was a very small duck with a very loud quack. So they called him Quackling.
Now, Quackling was clever and he worked hard, so he saved up a good deal of money. In fact, he saved up so much that the King himself came to borrow some.
Quackling was proud to loan his money to the King. But a year went by, then two, then three, and the King never paid him back.
“I’ve waited long enough,” said Quackling.
So he took a sack for the money, and he started for the castle, calling,
“Quack! Quack! Quack!
I want my money back!”
Before long, he came upon a ladder leaning against a wall.
“Where are you going, Quackling?” said Ladder.
“To the King for my money,” said Quackling.
“To the King!” said Ladder. “How wonderful! Will you take me with you?”
“Why not?” said Quackling. “One can never have too many friends.” And he called out,
“Quack! Quack! Quack!
Ladder into sack!”
Quick as you can blink, Ladder was in the sack. Then Quackling walked on, calling,
“Quack! Quack! Quack!
I want my money back!”
Not much later, he came upon a river flowing through a wood.
“Where are you going, Quackling?” said River.
“To the King for my money,” said Quackling.
“To the King!” said River. “How splendid! Will you take me with you?”
“Why not?” said Quackling. “One can never have too many friends.” And he called out,
“Quack! Quack! Quack!
River into sack!”
Quick as you can wink, River was in the sack. Then Quackling walked on, calling,
“Quack! Quack! Quack!
I want my money back!”
In a little while, he came upon a beehive hanging from a tree.
“Where are you going, Quackling?” said Beehive.
“To the King for my money,” said Quackling.
“To the King!” said Beehive. “How marvelous! Will you take me with you?”
Now, Quackling’s sack was getting full, but he thought there might be just enough room.
“Why not?” said Quackling. “One can never have too many friends.” And he called out,
“Quack! Quack! Quack!
Beehive into sack!”
Quick as you can think, Beehive was in the sack. Then Quackling walked on, calling,
“Quack! Quack! Quack!
I want my money back!”
Soon after, Quackling arrived at the King’s castle. He marched right up to the guards and told them, “I’ve come for my money!”
The guards went inside and told the prime minister. The prime minister told the King.
“Who does that Quackling think he is?” said the King. “Never mind. Just put him in the pit!”
So they put Quackling in the pit and left him there.
“Help!” cried Quackling. “I’ll never get out!”
Then he remembered Ladder. So he called out,
“Quack! Quack! Quack!
Ladder out of sack!”
Quick as you can blink, Ladder was out of the sack. Ladder leaned against the side of the pit, and Quackling climbed out.
Then Quackling stood there, calling,
“Quack! Quack! Quack!
I want my money back!”
“How did that Quackling get out of the pit?” said the King. “Never mind. Just put him in the pot!”
So they put Quackling in the pot and set it on the fire.
“Help!” cried Quackling. “I’m in a stew!”
Then he remembered River. So he called out,
“Quack! Quack! Quack!
River out of sack!”
Quick as you can wink, River was out of the sack. River put out the fire and flowed away. Then Quackling got out, calling,
“Quack! Quack! Quack!
I want my money back!”
“How did that Quackling get out of the pot?” said the King. “Never mind. Just bring him here, and I’ll put him in his place—for good!”
So they brought Quackling to the King. The King tried to grab him.
“Help!” cried Quackling. “This is the end!”
Then he remembered Beehive. So he called out,
“Quack! Quack! Quack!
Beehive out of sack!”
Quick as you can think, Beehive was out of the sack. The bees rushed from the hive and started to sting the King.
“Help!” cried the King. He fled from the castle, and the bees followed. They chased him all the way to— Well, no one knows where, for they never saw him again.
“Hooray!” cried the people of the castle, and the prime minister said, “We never liked that King anyway.”
So they put Quackling on the throne and gave him a crown.
“Will you be our King?” said the guards.
“Why not?” said Quackling. “One can never have too many friends.”
What do you think this story’s souvenir is? Maybe it is that you can never have too many friends? Or is it that you should always return what you borrow? Might be fun to discuss with your friends or family.
And remember – if you have not already done so, do take a moment to rate and review our podcast – and you might just get a shout out too on our podcast, just like our friend in NZ – Millie Barkman
Cheerio then, join me next time for JWS
