Waffles/Belinda the Bobble

Hey Story Pirates Podcast listeners, Lee here! On today's episode I get to explore an alternate reality where I never founded the Story Pirates. Sounds disturbing. And of course we have two brand new stories written by kids and more story love with Lee and Peter. But before we get there, I need to tell you about something really exciting. We've teamed up with Rhett and Link from the show Good Mythical Morning for a special story contest to celebrate their new book, Spaghetti Head and Chicken Fingers. About two kids who wake up to discover that their favorite foods have kind of taken over their lives. We want kids to write us stories from their imagination about characters who discover a new meaning behind the phrase, You Are What You Eat. Maybe, like the characters in Spaghetti Head and Chicken Fingers, your character wakes up one day to find out that their life has changed in a new food-centric way. And maybe it makes life harder or more interesting in a surprising way. And finally, maybe your character uses this experience to finally be brave enough to try something new to eat. All stories submitted will receive personalized reply from the story pirates, and one story will be adapted into a very special bonus episode of the Story Pirates podcast. Grown-ups can submit kids' stories at the link in bio and make sure to select Spaghetti Head and Chicken Fingers for the reason for submission. Okay, on to today's episode, coming up after a few words for the grown-ups. Ah, how I love driving! This road trip has really been everything I'd hoped it would be and more. You said it, Lee, and we're almost to storyteller con. I can't believe we're nearly there. I was actually gonna say the opposite. What do you mean, Rachel? I can't believe we aren't there already. We've been driving for months. It's almost like when Lee drives, he's trying to not get there. It's not true! Woohoo! Lee! Sorry, of course I'm trying to get there. It's been my biggest dream ever since I was a little storyteller to do a presentation at Storyteller Con, the most prestigious gathering of storytellers in history. Why would I be avoiding it? I don't know. Is it because you speak it closer, it's forcing you to face the fact that you don't actually have a plan and you're worried that the evil robot story pirates presentation will convince everyone that performing stories written by kids is not a worthy pursuit, forcing the real story pirates to disband? Um, no. Oh good. Then I guess you're just really bad at directions. Yeah, that's it. Say, I have an idea. Why don't we stop talking about this and do something totally different? Alright, how about we listen to something? Good idea. Let's listen to a podcast. I have one queued up. Hello human listeners and welcome to the Evil Robot Story Pirates podcast, where we take stories written by kids and fix them. And sometimes specifically this weekend, we go to Storyteller Con to give a thoroughly written, choreographed and well rehearsed keynote address that is guaranteed to put all the other less prepared presentations to shame. In fact, if we were any of the other presenters, we would give up now and turn our land ship around to drive back to the sea. And songs. Turn it off. Eric, why would you play that? I don't know. They have one song called The Human Story Pirates are Bad that's actually pretty catchy. What? Lee, what are you so worried about? I thought you had everything planned for Storyteller Con. You do have a plan, don't you? Of course I do. It's my job to have a plan. And I totally do. What kind of leader would I be if I just let us blindly into Storyteller Con with no plan? I have it all mapped out in my head. I promise there won't be any more surprises. Uh oh. Lee, did we just run out of gas again? Yes. All part of the plan. I love Storyteller. It just filled me up with joy. My mom loves the jokes. Yo, yo, my Jack. It made me very proud about my writing. Yeah, they are. They're good at take-home for the world, too. I definitely think I can be more creative now. I'm the champion. The Story Pirates. Welcome back to the Story Pirates podcast, everyone, where we take stories written by kids and turn them into sketch comedy and songs. For now. But if Storyteller Con goes as badly as I'm worried it will, this might be the end of the Story Pirates. Some leader you are, Lee Overtree. Look at you. Talking to yourself, walking down a long, empty road trying to find a gas station. Face it. You don't want to find one because if you do, you'll have to actually go to Storyteller Con where everyone will finally know the truth. That you're a fraud. That you don't know what you're doing. That you've wasted your life away. You know, sometimes I wish I'd never started the Story Pirates in the first place. Okay. Huh? You never started the Story Pirates. Who are you? The name's Clearmont. Clearmont the Angelo, and I'm just a lonely roadside hand-bell salesperson. And part-time guardian angel. What? You're a bell salesperson? Yep. You want one? It's only 12 ship coin. Did you say ship coin? How do you know about our private currency that only we use, despite my many attempts to get the rest of the world to buy into it? Lee Overtree, I know everything about you. And it really is too bad that you didn't start the Story Pirates. Why do you keep saying that? Don't worry. We're going to get into that. But maybe Lee Overtree the Story Pirate should enjoy one last story from a kid. Before he becomes Lee Overtree, just a guy. Huh. Okay. Whatever you say, strange man on the side of the road. It doesn't take magic to know that I'll always listen to a story from a kid. Great. Let's do it. Alright. And here's the author to introduce it. Hi. My name is Sophia. I'm 8 years old and I live in New York. This is my story, Waffles. Students, please welcome your new student council president, Sophia. Thank you. As my first official act, I have asked maintenance staff to investigate the weird smell coming from the trash can in hallway A. As my second official act, I am proud to announce that starting today, Waffles are banned. Well, that's quite the curveball. But as the teacher advisor to the student council, I prefer to take a hands-off approach. This concludes our assembly. Back to class, everyone. Um, hey Sophia, can I talk to you? Oh, it's my best friend, Carrie. What's up? So, banning Waffles, that kind of came out of nowhere, huh? I don't think so. I'm pretty sure I campaigned on it. No, I was your campaign manager and you definitely didn't. You campaigned on having a theme for Homecoming that wasn't forever young for once. And I'll fulfill that promise. But I should have added the Waffles thing. I hate Waffles. But why? Oh, you want to know why? Yes, that's why I asked. I'll tell you why. It's because I- Eww! I stepped in a waffle! Who could have done this? Hey Carrie, hey Sophia. Sorry about my waffle. You must have dropped it. Bye. Bye, Trevor. I hate Waffles. Stepping on a waffle doesn't seem like a good reason to hate Waffles. Stop saying Waffles! I've had enough of Waffles. I need everyone to hate Waffles. Now who's saying Waffles? Anyway, how are you supposed to get everyone to hate them? With the oldest trick in the book. Advertising! I'll make some signs with slogans and put them all over school. Hand me that marker. Here you go. There! All done. Go ahead and read it. Waffles are bad for people's minds. Is that true? Probably. Now read this sign. Waffles make people's brains soggy like syrup. Sophia! What? The research is vague. It seems extreme and you still didn't explain why you hate Waffles so much. You'll see. Once everyone hates Waffles at school, tomorrow! I'm back at school ready to see how my anti-waffle propaganda campaign went. I have a feeling things are going to be- Sticky! Looks like you stepped in another waffle. Who did this? Hey Sophia, hey Carrie. Trevor, is this your waffle? My be. I must have dropped it when I was carrying a whole stack of Waffles. You were carrying a whole stack of Waffles? Demand is through the roof. After those waffle posters went up yesterday, people can't stop eating Waffles. I guess the poster gave them the idea. But the posters were anti-waffles. Huh, I guess most of us stopped reading after we saw the word waffle. Well, bye. Bye, Trevor. But Waffles are banned! Sophia, maybe you should let this anti-waffle crusade go. Why do you hate Waffles so much anyway? Oh, you really want to know? Yes, I asked you before but you got distracted when you stepped in that waffle. Curs that waffle. It's time to ban them from the entire world. How are you going to do that? First, I'll make new signs with the word waffle, but spelled awful with a W so that everyone thinks Waffles are awful. Then I'll use my power as student council president to hold an assembly to vote on whether to ban Waffles so we can finally banish Waffles from the world! Ha ha ha ha! Cough, cough, cough. Sorry, that wasn't supposed to happen. Now help me make some signs. Done. Now to put up all these signs and then come back for the big waffle vote tomorrow. Students, welcome to the school-wide Waffle Ban Vote Assembly. Why is this happening? We teachers really try to stay out of the student council business. Please welcome your new student council president, Sophia. Fellow students, thank you for coming to today's Waffle Ban Vote. As your president, I am excited to take the first step into a waffle. Waffle? The whole floor is covered in them. And looking to the crowd, everybody's munching on Waffles. Hey everyone, Waffle Fight! Now the students are throwing Waffles like frisbees. I never saw such a monstrosity. Ha ha ha! Oh my goodness, she fell onto the floor. Sophia, are you okay? I'm fine. I'm just dramatically showing my disappointment. Give me a hand. Here. Up you go. Thanks, now, to deal with these Waffles once and for all. But why? Why do you hate Waffles so much? Oh, you really want to know? Do you all really want to know? Yes! It all started on my fifth birthday. Happy birthday, dear Sophia. Happy birthday to you. Thanks, Mom and Dad. Time to blow out my candles. Hahahaha, hilarious. You sure do love being funny, Sophia. That's why I've hired a special surprise for you. A clown. Come on in, Mr. Waffles. Mr. Waffles? That name is hilarious. Hey, uh, hiya. Meep meep. Mr. Waffles, don't you know? You're silly. That's the point. Now, to do my best trick, juggling some torches lit with fire. Oh, um, I don't know if that's a good idea, Mr. Waffles. Loud and clear, Dad. In that case, I'll do my second best trick, juggling torches that aren't on fire. Here I go. Hyah, hyah, hyah, hyah, hyah, hyah, hyah. Wow, he's actually doing it. Impressive. See, I told you. I'm a total professional. I would never drop, oh, whoops. He dropped a torch right on my cake. That cake looks pretty unstable. I think it's going to fall over. No! The cake fell over under my presence. My birthday is ruined. Mr. Waffles, I think you'd better leave. Yeah. Meep meep. And from then on, I hated Waffles. Still, it doesn't seem like actual Waffles were at fault. Quiet! I'm on a tirade. Listen here, fellow students. It is time to vote to ban Waffles once and for all. Can she do that? It's out of my hands. Hey, Sophia, catch this waffle. Hyah. I would never ever. Oh my gosh. The waffle ended right in Sophia's mouth. Sophia, what do you think? This waffle is... Amazing! Is this what I've been missing all these years just because of some misplaced anger? Yes. Does this mean you no longer want to ban Waffles? As student body president, I hereby declare that Waffles are not awful. The ban is lifted! Hooray! Sophia, I'm so glad that you learned that your anger was misdirected and I didn't need to intervene once. Now, who wants to see me juggle some torches? Juggle torches? Wait a minute. Mr. Waffles? Uh-oh. The end! Wow. That was a great story. I'll say. I loved that one. Well, it's too bad that we don't live in that world anymore. The world in which the story pirates take stories written by kids and turn them into sketch comedy and songs. All right, that's it. Would you stop saying creepy stuff? Wasn't my idea. You wished that you never started the story pirates. I just granted your wish. Yes, I did start the story pirates. If I didn't, then why do I have this story pirates logo secretly tattooed on the bottom of my foot? See? I don't see anything. Huh? My secret foot tattoo. It's gone. Because you never got it, Lee. What's going on? You ever see that movie? It's a wonderful life. No. Really? Hmm. This is a lot easier to explain if you've seen the movie. Hey, should we watch it? Never mind. I guess I'll just have to show you. Show me what? What the world is like without the story pirates. Come with me. Where? We're in the middle of nowhere. Oh, are we? Whoa, what was that? Hey, we're at a dock. What is this place? You don't recognize it? No. Take me back to my ship. Take me back to the tidal wave. But it's right here. What? That's not the... Hello, stranger. Are you looking to buy an old broken down pirate ship? Please say that you are. I'm desperate. Rollo, you know my name? You must have gotten one of my advertisements that I've been putting in glass bottles and throwing overboard. Though I ran out of bottles and ink a long time ago, so I've just been dropping blank pieces of paper into the water. I'm really surprised that it worked. Rollo, what happened to you? Your mustache is so long that it's dragging on the ground. Please buy this ship. Or take me with you. My life is meaningless sitting here in this old boat tied up to this dock. But I already did, remember? Season one, episode one, I used all of Peter's life savings to buy this ship, and we set sail, not knowing that none of us knew how to sail. What? Who's Peter? Rollo? What's all this racket out here? Smitty. As you know, I'm trying to avoid all social interaction in this ship because no one has ever tried to understand me. Smitty, it's me, Lee. Good for you, Lee. Now leave me alone. I have a world to ignore. Come on, Rollo. Make me some more flavorless, harbor water soup. Coming, Smitty. Goodbye, stranger. Clearmouth, they acted like they didn't know me. Why? Have you not been listening? They've never met you because you never came to buy this ship. It's just been sitting here rotten away. But what about all the rest of the story pirates? One of them must remember me. Well, why don't we take a look? Huh? Where are we now? Hello. Thank you for calling Printerco Limited Customer Service. My name is Megan. How can I help you? Megan? She works in an office? But she once told me that she was quote unquote literally allergic to desks. Instead of becoming a story pirate, she wrote and performed a one woman show called Dictionary the Musical that was so detested that one critic said quote, I spoke to all the other critics and we hear by band Megan from theater. She hasn't stepped on a stage since. I don't believe it. Even without the story pirates, she would still be an actor. She would never stop performing. Oh, I'm sorry you're having trouble with your printer. Let me connect you with my manager. One moment, please. To sit in silence. Hey, this is Tony. I'm a real guy. How can I help you? Oh, poor Megan. Without the story pirates, she lost her purpose. I don't know. Maybe she's happy doing this, finding little ways to perform. Maybe this is the purest theater of all. Wow, that is quite a problem, Carla. Let me connect you with my manager. Hello, it's me, the queen of the call center. I'm also a real guy. Never mind. This is just sad. Not as sad as this next one. Huh? Where are we now? You don't recognize it? It's the deserted island where you were stranded between seasons one and two. Oh, yeah, the island where Siegfried was stranded for nearly... A millennium! Ah, Siegfried! That's right! Though I can't be sure how long it's actually been. I've literally run out of surfaces to mark the days, so I've started tattooing check marks onto my face! I don't have a mirror, though. How does it look? Uh... good. Hmm, even though I know that you two are just illusions brought on by my island madness, I appreciate it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must continue my decades-long staring contest with this rock. I call it the Ragnarok. Ahhhh! Blank you, trickster rock! Ahhhh! Ahhhh! Ahhhh! Clear mug, please. No more! Oh, we've only just begun. Come with me. Huh? Where are we now? The bridge of a spaceship? Is that...? Captain Nimini, the enemy is hailing us. Lieutenant Lufa, put them on screen. Well, well, well, look who it is. Hello, Captain Nimini, Lieutenant Lufa. Admiral Rachel of Planet Rachel, why have you encroached on Earth's orbit? You know that Atchuce has jurisdiction over this quadrant of space. And you know that until we track down our missing Rachel, our planets are at war. Admiral, how many times do I need to ask? Which Rachel are you talking about? You come from a planet full of millions of Rachel's. That's the problem. This Rachel is the one Rachel in the universe who doesn't have a...thing. Unlike the rest of us. Like Calgirl Rachel here. Yee-haw! Or Sleepy Rachel. What? Sorry. Or Ventriloquist Rachel. Are you talking about me? This dummy here. Hey, watch it you knucklehead. The Rachel we seek is aimless. She jumps from job to job, never staying long enough to establish an identity which has made it nearly impossible to find a way to get her. But if you don't deliver her, we will have no choice but to invade your planet and find her ourselves. If Lufa and I have learned anything from our wandering the galaxy alone, with no friends, family or moral support system to guide us, it's that we can always rely on one thing. What's that? Fighting. Fire everything we've got! Return fire! What? What? What? What? What? What? What? What? What? What? What? Return fire! Whoa, what's happening? This is probably a good time to get out of here. Wait, but... Come on. Stop this, Claremont. I don't want to see anymore. Please, no more. Excuse me, do you have an appointment? Peter? You'll need an appointment if you want to talk to me. Peter, CEO of the Evil Story Vikings Incorporated. Evil Story Vikings? Guuuuust! We'll be right back after a few words for the grownups. Hey, grownups! Today's episode is sponsored by Children Incorporated. What if changing the world started with something as simple as helping one child go to school? Not someday, not when they grow up, right now. At Children Incorporated, we believe every child deserves the chance to learn, grow and dream big. But for many children living in poverty, everyday challenges can stay in the way. Sometimes it's not having shoes that fit. Sometimes it's missing school supplies. Sometimes it's food, warm clothing, or basic hygiene items that make it harder to focus, harder to participate, and harder to stay in school. That's where Children Incorporated comes in. For more than 60 years, Children Incorporated has been helping children, both in the U.S. and around the world by removing the barriers that prevent education. And here's what makes it special. It's personal. They work with trusted volunteer coordinators, often teachers, principals, and community leaders who personally know the children and families they serve. These are the people who see firsthand what a child needs and make sure support goes exactly where it should. So when you sponsor a child through ChildrenInCorporated.org, you're not just making a donation, you're helping one important child. Your monthly sponsorship provides clothing, shoes, school supplies, food, hygiene items, and other essentials that help children stay healthy, confident, and ready to learn. It's practical help with life-changing impact. And for parents listening, this is also a beautiful opportunity to show your own children what kindness and action looks like. Imagine being able to tell your child, we're helping another child go to school. Imagine teaching them that generosity isn't just something we talk about, it's something we do. Because sometimes the most powerful lessons we give our kids have nothing to do with homework. They come from showing compassion, choosing empathy, and helping someone else feel seen and supported. And because ChildrenInCorporated works through volunteer coordinators in the community, about 88% of every dollar goes directly to program support. That means your sponsorship makes a real, immediate difference. If you've been looking for a simple, meaningful way to help, and maybe even inspire your own family along the way, this is a wonderful place to start. Visit ChildrenInCorporated.org today to choose a child to sponsor. Because changing the world doesn't always start with something big. Sometimes it starts with helping one child believe a future is possible. Again, that's ChildrenInCorporated.org. I've become the best person on earth. How are you the best person? Because I've made the most money, of course. Is there any other way to measure it? Yes! By how kind and generous you are. By the positive effect that you have on others. What? I have literally never heard that. You didn't used to be like this, Peter. What happened? Well, stranger. When I was younger, all I did was eat snacks, use my overactive imagination, and I made my money up, hoping that someday someone with more vision than I would use my life savings to force me into a bold and creatively satisfying direction. But when that didn't happen, I just invested it all into a well-balanced portfolio fixed in common equities, which I guess blossomed into a fortune. So you started a company called the Evil Story Vikings? Yes! Don't you see? Like a Viking, life has plundered my dreams You sad. But also rich. I want that for everyone. So I started this company, whose mission it is to get all people to abandon their passions for the blind pursuit of money. First of all, that is incredibly convoluted. Second of all, how does a company make money by doing that? I honestly don't know. But I keep getting richer somehow, so it must be good. Peter, this isn't you. You're not a CEO. You're a goof. You love snacks and you're my friend. Friend? How dare you? Don't you know that we outlawed friendship? Friendship is outlawed? Of course! We outlawed it right after we abolished fiction written by kids. There's no more stories from kids? I mean, what's the point? Just a bunch of fantasy. Say, you never told me how you got in my office. Intern, get in here! Yes, sir. Ah, yes, intern. What's your name again? My name? It's a young adult without a mustache, sir. Casp, baby with a mustache. You grew up and you shaved? Of course. Why would anyone want to stay a baby? Everyone knows human beings are useless until they grow up. What? That's what dear Peter leader has taught us. To celebrate the ideas and words of adults and under no circumstances, children. But kids are creative geniuses. How dare you, intern, call security. Right away, sir. Clearmont, we have to do something. Clearmont, where'd he go? You'll pay for your crimes. Security here? Eric, not you. Shouldn't you be out exploring the ocean or something? Exploring? That's far too creative. Security is a much more practical use of my time. Seize this creatively unashamed man. Hey, gotcha. Hey, get your hands off me. Send him down the imagination chute. What's the imagination chute? Oh, just a giant garbage chute that I use to dispose of all creativity. Where does it go? Don't know. Don't care. Send him down. Into the chute, buddy. No, please. I'm sorry, Clearmont. I take it back. I want to be a story pirate. Off you go. I want to be a story pirate. Huh? Wait, where am I? Back on the side of the road? Clearmont, where are you? Wait, the bottom of my foot. Casp. Oh, tattoo. There you are at the bottom of my foot. You're so beautiful. I could kiss you. Mwah. Gotta change my socks more often. The tidal wave? Where are you? Ah, there it is. Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh. Story pirates. Story pirates. Lee, what is it? Why are you yelling? You interrupted Megan's one-woman show. Thank you, Lufa. The charography is my favorite part, too. Still want the spotlight on you, Megan? Rolo, has she ever said no to that question? Hey, why is everyone yelling up here? You interrupted my midday nap. Yeah, mine too. Has anyone seen my bottle? Oh, sorry. Is this your bottle? I think I accidentally drank it. Wow! That is sour. You're all here. You're all still weird. You're all you. Uh, thanks? Listen, I have something to admit. I've been afraid. The whole time we've been driving, I've been dreading the end of the road. But tomorrow, we arrive at StorytellerCon, and I don't really have a plan. You don't? No, but I'm not afraid anymore, Rachel, because I'm not alone. I have all of you, the weirdest, most creative band of misfits, actors, Vikings, pirates, babies, referees, explorers, aliens, and whatever Peter is. Just a little itchy and bloated. Too much milk. But most importantly, I have stories written by kids, and tomorrow, we're going to stand up in front of the whole storytelling community, and we are going to proudly celebrate the words and ideas of young people. Who's with me? Yeah! Then let's go! Lee, did you actually get gas while you were out there? I did not, Rachel. I did not. Hmm. Why don't we do another story while you go back and get some? Okay, listeners, this next story is about a bobble. Now, when I first read this story, I didn't actually know what a bobble is, but I found out that it's something you use in your hair to make cool hairdos. In America, you might call it a hair tie or a ponytail holder, but they're also called bobbles, especially in the UK, where this author is from. Here they are to introduce their story. Hi, I'm Imani. I'm nine years old and living in Nottingham, England. This is my story, Belinda the Bobble. Father, I'm going out to play. Belinda the Bobble, you wait just one minute. With whom are you going to play? Why does it matter? Why does it matter? Belinda, we are hair accessories living in a human bathroom closet. Whom you play with is all that matters. As you know, there are two kinds of hair accessories in this cabinet, the claw clips, which are two hard plastic pieces connected with a hinge to grab and hold the hair in place like the jaws of a lion. I know, Father. And us bobbles. Each of us bobbles is made from an elastic band with two hard plastic beads on each end that a human can use to tightly wrap a pony or pig tail by wrapping it and then securing the elastic band around one of the plastic bobbles. Why are you explaining this to me? It's important to know the difference because of the great war. Is it true that the claw clips and bobbles are at war with each other? It is all too true. Every human's hair has looked terrible since it started. How did it start? Nobody knows. Except the leader of the claw clips, master claw clip, and our leader, the Empress of Bobbles. Well, I think it's silly, and I'll prove it to you. I'm going to go play with some claw clips. Bye! Well, Linda, no! I guess she'll have to learn the hard way. So then I said, French braid, more like dandruff. Hello, fellow hair accessories of the cabinet. It's a fine morning, isn't it? Uh, Bobble, why are you talking to us? Don't you know we're claw clips? Of course I know that. I'm a claw clip, too. You don't look anything like a claw clip. Who's to say what a claw clip should look like? Maybe I'm a claw clip because I've decided to be a claw clip. If you're a claw clip, then show us how you can open and close like we can. Uh, sure. Okay, here I go. Goooo. Whoa! See, you're way too flexible to be a claw clip. Come on, guys, let's get out of here. See you around, Bobble. Ugh, fine. If the claw clips reject me, then I choose to be a Bobble. I will go to our leader, the Empress of Bobbles, and volunteer my services to the Empress. Attention, Bobbles. I, your Empress, am displeased. Not one of you has brought me any useful information on Master Claw Clip's next move. Please, Empress, if I may... What is it, advisor scrunchy? If the humans are inquiring when this great war might be resolved, they're outside the cabinet now. See? My hair is lopsided and not in a cool artistic way. My fringe is in my eyes. My part hits in the middle. Somebody help! Enough. I don't need to hear the squabbles of those frizzy, frivolous fools. What I need is a spy. I can do it. Who are you? Belinda the Bobble, your empressness. I've made myself a claw clip disguise. See? See? I'm a claw clip. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Belinda, was it? Yes, Empress. I want you to sneak into Master Claw Clip's office. That's what he calls the shoebox on the shelf in the cabinet where the claw clips are kept. And bring me back useful intel on what he'll do next. Don't disappoint the empire. I won't, Empress. To Master Claw Clip's office. Attention, claw clips. I, Master Claw Clip, am displeased. Not one of you has brought me any useful information on Empress Bobble's next move. Do we have any good spies in this shoebox? Right here, Master Claw Clip. My name's Belinda, and I'll spy on the Bobble Empire. What makes you think you can fit in among the Bobble's, Belinda? You look like a claw clip to me. Let's just say I'm flexible. Okay, that's all I need to hear. I'm going to bed. If you need me, I'll be in my mansion. You have a mansion? Well, it's a private shelf in the cabinet. But yes, I'm trusting you in my office alone. Let's go, everyone else. Wow, I don't want to brag, but I'm like really good at being a double agent. Okay, let's look over Master Claw Clip's desk. Master Claw Clip's diary? Let's see. February 29th, many years ago. Whoa, flashback? Nice. Hair ye, hair ye! Hair accessories of that cabinet, the human queen, are brouchos! Empress, did you hear? The queen! I have a sneaking suspicion it is to do with her hairdo for the leap year celebration. She knows that we two together make the coolest hairstyle. But before she gets here, I must give my Bobbles a good shine. Tell the queen I shall be there soon! As you wish, Empress. She's here! How shall I do my hair today? My queen, desire, Master Claw Clip, ready to make your hair cool. And where is the Empress of Bobbles? Well, she... Never mind, I'll just use another claw clip. Oh, me? No, my queen, I beg you! Whoa! And a clit there! I'm back. Wait, what's happening here? Empress Bobble, I can explain. You let the queen replace me with another claw clip? Hey, how you doing? I declare a great war between the Bobbles and the claw clips. And you can put that in your diary! Oh, I will! This war has been over a personal tiff? But aren't they all? No matter how it started, it's up to me to tie up split ends. To Master Claw Clip. A Master Claw Clip? Hello? Go away! It's two in the morning. Oh, it's you, Belinda. What are you doing over here on my shelf? I mean, my mansion? I have something to tell you. First of all, I'm not a Claw Clip. What are you? Costume reveal! You're a Bobble! Who's read your diary? And really, was it worth starting a war over the queen's hairdo? When you phrase it like that, it does sound quite silly. You need to meet the Empress right now and talk this out. Did someone say my name? Empress, what are you doing out and about so early? Ah, give me a break. Master Claw Clip? It has come to my attention that perhaps we should end our war. Never. Oh, come on! You two used to work together to make hair so cool. The cabinet, it's opening! Ah, how to do my hair today! The queen! Oh, there you are, Empress of Bobbles. Finally, I can use you and Master Claw Clip together to make cool hairstyles for everyone! Yay, the war is over! Wow, good ending. The end! And now, Lee speaks with the author! So, Imani, you wrote Belinda the Bobble. How did you come up with the idea for that story? Well, my dad was plaiting my hair. I used Bobbles because the claw clips don't fit in my hair, so I just played with the claw clip. I was like, a wide story about it. Do you own a lot of Bobbles? If so, how many do you think you own? Twenty? I have a couple of scrunchies and then I have loads of little finbob. And how many claw clips do you have in your house? About seven, eight. Watch out, claw clips! The Bobbles are coming for you. Yes, they are. They're going to take over the world soon. Are there any lessons that people should take away from this fight between Master Claw Clip and Empress of Bobbles? You should probably try and resolve your argument sooner so it doesn't take years to solve it. Got it. So, I love in your story how at the very end they make cool hairstyles for everyone. Can you describe what your favorite cool hairstyles are? Probably loads of little plaques. I can put them up and down and I can just put them in lots of different positions. Hairstyles are such a funny thing. Hair is such a part of our personality and who we are, don't you think? Yeah, I agree because everyone is different. Everyone has different. It's long, it's short, it's wide, it's poofy, it's curly, it's straight. There's so many different things you can do with your hair and what your hair looks like. Have you ever had your hair a certain way that made you feel really good when you left the house and you just thought, this is really me? I think when I have plaques because my dad can do free plaques and it looks different to loads of plaques and I really like it. My dad helps with my hair a lot. So, when you and your dad are doing that and you're just sort of sitting around, how do you pass the time? Do you talk? Do you watch something? What do you do during that time? Well, I read and I make stories. We'll just say random things out loud and then it just comes into a story. That's amazing. You know, like I think when people think about times during their day, when they're feeling creative enough to make up stories, I'm not sure like doing your hair is a time that a lot of people think about it, but it sounds like for you, it can be a creative time. Yeah, like if you're bored, pick up a piece of paper or like just say random words and then you can just let them all take over and make a story. That's amazing. And Monnie, it was so wonderful to talk to you. Thank you for letting us perform your story. Thank you too. All right. Thanks Monnie. Bye. Bye. We'll be right back after a few words for the grown-ups. Welcome back to Story Love where we take stories written by kids and then we talk about them. Peter. Yes. Hi. Hi. How are you? I'm in a great mood. Wow. Are you everything okay? Yeah, but my tone is broken, but I'm very happy. Okay, great. You're just going to have to trust me on this one. Sorry. Hold on. Okay. Oh, okay. I fixed it. Oh wow. Welcome back. Would you like to read this first one, Peter? Very much so. I would. Lee, this first story comes to us from an eight-year-old from South Dakota named Arlandria. And Arlandria's story is called The Haunted House. Spooky. It was a dark and gloomy night. The story begins with a family in a house in a graveyard. Sophie and her parents, Linda and Dave, just moved in. Their cat, Lily and dog, Oliver, loved the house. Oliver loved the house because there were so many bones. Red flag. Red flag. Lily likes it because there were so many sheets. Yellow flag. Yeah. Still a flag. The family didn't like it. It is so scary, said Sophie. Yes, it is. Agreed Linda and Dave. Since we got here so late, I think we should go to bed. Said Linda. Yeah. Agreed Dave. Night. Whispered Sophie. Zzz. Zzz. Zzz. Zzz. Zzz. Zzz. Zzz. Zzz. Zzz. Zzz. Zzz. Zzz. Zzz. Zzz.哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎 And one reason I love it is because it has something that's always been true for me when in doubt ask your aunt Yeah ants know so many things so much and they're not Corrupted by whatever is going on in the immediate vicinity that you're in true They're also not ultimately responsible for you. That's right. So they don't have to think through the consequence of their advice That's right. They give you the clearest the raw information That's right. Go to Sam's Club, which has everything apparently. Yeah, go spray. I love a Sam's Club I've never been to Sam's Club. I have I just like being a part of something. Do you think that they needed to? buy like 25 ghost sprays. Oh, well you're required to you know to get like a half barrel, right? Ounce for out the fluid ounce for fluid ounce best price on the market I'm hoping that it's like an aerosol. Yeah, and not like a Like a pump liquid like like a weed like a weed repellent One of these I put it all over the wall. You got to put a tent over my house. Yeah, sorry We got a spray for ghosts. Oh my gosh. You got to go to the other graveyard for the weekend So the you know so the house was on a graveyard Yeah on a graveyard and the goat the bones I'm Strewing about the strewn about in the house Whatever the whoever the ghosts were these were their bones. I'm assuming well when you're in a graveyard you really The bones could come from anywhere now what I one of the things I love about this story is that Sophie and her parents Linda and Dave. Yeah are having a very different experience than Oliver and Lily the dog Lily and Oliver love like this place is great, and I think this dog is maybe digging up these bones Do you think so from the graveyard or that I mean or there are bone if their bones strewn about this is a very haunted house Yeah, I think there's just bones strewn about so there's like skeletons around like this the spooky walk around kind I know I think they're just the the former Bones of whoever the ghosts were oh Wow, so so this is a very spooky house. This is a very haunted house. Yeah. Yeah, obviously in incredible story Lee you want to read this next story? I would love to from a seven-year-old in Massachusetts named Ryan here is The one flying penguin who this is pip pip the penguin hi he can fly but he can't fly accurate ah That's him flying Inaccurately I assume he is also a superhero. He saves the day and goes back to his base He looks at his security cameras for crime, and he goes to fight crime The end it's so funny to have a superhero. It's like all right. I'll see you later. Oh I honestly feel like there's a good chance Ryan You're gonna be a filmmaker in some way the the storyboards that you've done here very visual unbelievable so visual Love it anything else. I love it Yeah, me too Ryan. Oh also kudos. I love it All right Peter would you like to read our last story? I sure would this story comes to us from a 12 year old from Australia named Annabelle and Annabelle story is called What to do when your grandfather turns into an evil French lobster? Thank you. I've been wondering What happens when your grandfather turns into an evil French lobster? He locks your actual grandfather in a closet He chases you around refuses to cook you seafood. He grows along a moose stash Said how it's written He twirls his long moose stash He puts you in timeout and you have to sit in the TV room But only watch documentaries on the marvelous growth of sea algae To defeat your French evil grandfather lobster you have to Rip his moose stash off and go tell granny He hogged the TV and stole biscuits from the jar granny will go tell him off and the French evil grandfather Lobster will feel threatened by granny and run away You now have permission to go untie your non-French totally normal lobster free grandfather from the closet You can all be happy now, but just please I'm begging you Don't eat lobster or the French evil grandfather lobster will come back Don't ask me why because I don't know The end wow wow wow so this is not your grandfather turning into a evil French lobster This is an imposter. Yeah at first you think that's what's okay. Yeah, you realize that he's been abducted right in a closet Yeah, he's just actually right over there. Yeah, but he's Yeah, and he and this evil French lobster only comes when you eat lobster Yeah, oh, so he's a defender. So he's a lobster. He's really a hero Yeah, he's just defending the lobsters from these evil humans who eat them You ever see the pictures from like California and like the 40s where there's like a strong guy in the beach They like dove down and like picked up a huge lobster. They're just they were everywhere They were like the rats of the war these lobsters everywhere. We hate these lobsters at the California guy This is the California guy be like I love lobsters. I'm from Los Angeles I'm a lobsterman. Oh Boy, I got I should visit Boston where they actually have them well Can you do speaking of accents? Could you do an evil French lobster? Do you have an idea of what that accent sounds like this is what happens when your father turns into an evil French lobster? This is my Amazing to be clear about that line it says he grows along moustache and it's spelled m o s T a c h and then an parenthetical said how it's written so I was saying moustache following the direction also It's a more fun way to say moustache moustache moustache I was like granny telling him off now you get out of here you Because I'm gonna got it here And guess what grown-ups you can find an even longer and visual version of today's story love on YouTube And while you're there why not subscribe to our channel and make sure to watch new videos each week and grown-ups story Love isn't just the name of a segment on our show It's also the name of our incredible corporate volunteer program to find out more about story love or story quest our digital creative writing program or story Pirates change makers our nonprofit arm check the show notes for links That's it for today's episode thanks to today's authors and money and Sophia and guess what you can still Send us your stories, and we respond to every single one 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 Story Pirates podcast is a production of story pirate studios Executive produced by Lee overtree and Benjamin Salka Co-executive producers are Holly and Rizwan Kasim Monalisi Aaron Moore Murray Samson Jack Schaefer and Jacob Vaughn This episode was produced by Isabella Ricchio Sam Bear Christina Gross-Peach Peter McNerney Lee overtree and Britney stall Recording sound design and mixing by Sam Bear at the Relic Room in New York City Additional production by Brett to Vin theme song by Bobby Lord musical scoring by Eric Erson and Jack Mitchell Our head writer is Peter McNerney staff writers are Megan O'Neill and Alexis Simpson Contributing writers are Lee overtree Rachel Robertson and Alexis Simpson episode artwork by Camilla Franklin This episode features performances by Rick Anderson Eric Austin Colin Batten Langston Darby Sasha Diamond Grinch and Johnson Justin Coon Caroline Lux Anna Marr Mary McDonald Peter McNerney Kyle Moore Megan O'Neill Leo Retreat Dave Kignones Rebecca Robles Anna Rock Peter Russo Julia Schroeder Rachel Winnitsky Nimini where Matt Zimbrano and Brandon Zellman Hey everybody, I just have to say and I'm being completely honest and genuine here But I am so glad that I started the story pirates because without the story pirates I could have never gotten my own private luxury bathroom I mean without the story pirates I could never have inspired so many kids to write their own stories And I never would have gotten my own private luxury bathroom and believe me it really means so much to me To have my own private luxury bathroom I mean it means so much to me to be able to inspire kids and to have my own private luxury bathroom. I Promise that for as long as I am able I am always going to continue using my own Private luxury bathroom. I mean I promise I'm gonna continue to help inspire kids to write their own stories and I'm gonna use my own private luxury bathroom It is so nice in there