← Stories Podcast: A Bedtime Show for Kids of All Ages
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Hello.
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Welcome to Stories Podcast.
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I'm your host, Amanda Weldon.
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Today's story is called Beth and the
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Twilight Star, an original story written for you by Richard M. Elam, adapted for audio by Daniel Hines.
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We have Stories Podcast merch, available@storiespodcast.com shop. We're also on Cameo for all of your personalized video message needs. And don't forget to follow us on Instagram oriespodcast. If you send us a drawing of your favorite scene or character, we'll share it on our feed.
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Now, here's a word from our sponsors
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That's a full year to wear it and love it.
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And you will now available in Canada too. Don't keep settling for clothes that don't last. Go to quince.com stories for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com stories as schedules fill up with activities, travel and spring events, it can be challenging to make learning consistent. IXL makes it simple to stay on track with focused, flexible practice that fits your routine. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that fits seamlessly into homeschooling. It offers interactive practice across math, language arts, science and social studies from Pre K through 12th grade. IXL personalizes learning for each child, keeps them engaged and gives parents clear insight into progress. IXL's interactive practice and clear explanations make it easy to reinforce learning as you prepare for end of year assessments or milestones. Everything is organized by grade and subject so you can quickly find what each child needs without juggling multiple resources. Over 15 million students use IXL. More than 75 research studies show it delivers real results and it's been proven to improve achievement in all 50 states, giving homeschool families added confidence. Make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and stories. Podcast listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today. Www.ixl.com dragon to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.
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Thanks.
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Enjoy the episode Beth and the Twilight Star it was a cool, clear night, an endless field of stars stretching overhead. Beth Harrison and her father had driven into the desert to look for dead branches of jumping cactus. Beth's father used them to make cool lamps for Mr. Harrison's tourist shop in Tucson. He and Beth had just gotten out of the station wagon and were gazing up a slope of bristly cacti. Beth smiled up at her father. This looks like a good place, dad, Beth said. Mr. Harrison nodded. We'll have to hurry, though. It's getting late, and I don't want to be here too long after dark. Right, beth said. They started up the sandy slope with canvas grocery bags to hold all the branches. Beth loved collecting cacti with her dad. It was fun to be out in the desert at night, and she had heard stories about aliens and flying saucers landing there recently. She was always intrigued by aliens, even if they spooked her a bit, too.
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Maybe we'll see some flying saucers, she said, half jokingly.
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I was reading that someone said they
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saw one out here a couple weeks ago.
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Her father grinned. Flying saucers indeed. You and that lively imagination of yours, Beth. They set to work searching for dead branches. They found a few good specimens, but they were not enough to suit Beth, and she decided to broaden the search. She went over the slope and up and down another, and before long her roaming carried her out of sight of her father. Amidst the stunning array of stars, Beth could make out her favorite star, Sirius, the brightest true star in all the sky. It reminded her of a perfect white pearl glowing in the heavens. Soon Beth had a bag full of cactus wood for the lamp shop. She was about to return to her father when suddenly she saw something in the brush she hadn't noticed before. Almost hidden within a dense thicket of smoky green palo verde trees was a shiny surface that reflected the pinpoints of starlight. Her imagination stirred. Beth decided to investigate. She put down her bag and made her way into the thicket. As she moved carefully through the thorns, she found some of the branches pushed aside as if someone had used this path before. She was almost through when she tripped and fell head first. Her forehead bumped against something hard and glassy, and now she saw stars from that.
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Ouch.
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Ugh, beth moaned. She didn't know how long she lay on the ground, half stunned before she got to her feet. There was a painful bruise on her forehead, but her curiosity was still strong. She got up and ran her hands along the strange glassy wall hidden among the trees. Jeepers, beth said to herself. What can it be?
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She reached out to touch the glass, but before she could do so, a
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section of it slid open suddenly, like a door. Lights spilled out, and Beth saw it wasn't a glass wall.
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It was the side of a flying saucer.
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The saucer was made of a strange glassy metal that blended in with the trees around it, but with the door open, there was no mistaking it. A ship, Beth said. Beyond the door, the first thing she noticed was a soft yellow light filling a pretty room. Feeling like Alice on the threshold of Wonderland, Beth stepped inside, more thrilled than afraid. She heard a sigh behind her and saw the door close. Only then did she become frightened. She beat against the wall, wishing that she had not been so rash as to go into such a strange place alone.
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Dad.
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She called. Sorry, he can't hear you, said a pleasant voice from behind. Beth turned and saw a girl of about her own age standing on a richly carpeted platform across the room. The odd unearthliness of the girl struck Beth immediately. She was pretty, even though her ears were pointed and her nose was snubbed like a cat. Her skin was a swirl of blue and white. Her clothes seemed to be of a blue glowing material, as did her shoes. Her short hair was as red and bright as glowing coals.
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Who.
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Who are you? Beth stammered. I am Linnea, the girl replied in a voice that sounded almost as if she were singing. You are Beth? Yes, beth replied in amazement. But how did you I can read your mind. Beth gulped. You can come over and sit down, linnea said. We can talk. Linnea sat in a nearby chair that looked so frail it seemed to be made of matchsticks. Beth sat in the chair opposite and found that it was very sturdy. You are thinking that I look very strange to you, linnea said. You seem strange to me too. But that is because we are from different worlds. Beth gulped again. D Different worlds. Suddenly the yellow light in the room changed to a pulsing orange. Linnea straightened up quickly. That is the signal she spoke. I did not expect it so soon. We must hurry and prepare ourselves. Beth started asking questions, but Linnea said, not now. Beth found herself following the girl across the room to a row of couches. Beth lay down on one and somehow
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knew exactly what she was supposed to do.
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She guessed that Linnea was putting the thoughts into her head. Still, Beth lifted the straps that hung at the sides and buckled them across her body. The couch was soft as a cloud, and Beth was thinking how much she would like to have a bed like this, when all at once she found herself sinking deeply into the cushion as if a great hand were pushing her down. For several moments she was as giddy as if she were riding the roller coaster at the carnival. Then finally her breath came back and
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she felt herself rise to the top
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of the cushion again. We can get up, she heard Linnea say. We're coasting now. Now for a quick ad break.
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We'll be back with the rest of the story after this. If you'd like Stories Podcast and other favorite kid Podcasts ad Free. Subscribe to Wondery Kids on Apple Podcasts. Have you ever had a time when
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your kid is screaming and crying, throwing up and running a fever, and you just realized you're completely out of Baby Tylenol and Pedialyte? I have, and that's why I use Doordash. Being a person is hard enough these
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days, let alone a parent. No matter how hard you plan or
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how prepared you try to be, sometimes life with kids gets a little chaotic. Real life needs real relief. That's why Doordash is there for whatever
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you need whenever you need it.
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For those days when everyone is sick and you're completely out of tissues and NyQuil. Or the days when your kid lets you know at the last minute that they have a project due tomorrow and you can't find any glue sticks in the entire house.
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Or.
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Or when you've been running from gymnastics to play rehearsal to hockey practice and everyone is exhausted and needs a little treat. Doordash is there when life happens. Get a little order delivered with DoorDash order now.
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They unbuckled their straps and rose to their feet. Linnea walked over to the wall and pressed a button, and a blind rolled back, revealing a long window. Look, linnea said. Beth joined her and looked out the window. Her heart jumped into her throat.
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She was up in the sky.
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Far up in the sky, through a
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veil of clouds beneath, she could see the curve of the Earth itself. She was hovering in a flying saucer above the planet.
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Beth seized Linnea by the arm.
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Jeepers, what's going on? Where are you taking me?
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Linnea pointed to the white beacon of Sirius in the blue black sky.
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You're from Sirius?
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Beth asked in amazement. Yes. From Tatamuri, one of its planets. Our work on Earth is through for right now, and my father and I are returning home to make a report. Linnea went on to say that her father's spaceship was only one of many which were studying the Earth to see how the people here lived. Her father's assignment had been to make an analysis of the soil. The visitors intended no harm, and in time they planned to meet the people of Earth face to face
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Well, I
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have already met you, Beth said boldly,
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and I'm ready to go back.
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Linnea shook her flame topped head. We tried to keep our ship hidden, but you found it, Beth, and so there is nothing to do but take you back with us for a while. When you came close you accidentally opened the door and came inside before it was time for any Earth person to see one of our ships. But my father and mother, Beth said
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desperately, and my friends.
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They'll be worried to death you can't take me. Linnea, please, isn't there something you can do?
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Linnea studied Beth's pleading face. Then she replied, I'll talk to my father. He's busy running the ship. But I'll do what I can for you while I'm gone. You can see what it's like on our world by pushing the button on that cabinet against the wall. It works like one of your televisions. Father and I look at the film sometimes to keep from getting homesick. Linnea left, leaving Beth alone in the room. Beth was in no mood for looking at pictures. She was feeling worse by the minute as she considered what it would be like to be parted from her family and friends as she sat in the chair, dreading and wondering. Suddenly it became too much for her and she began to cry. Jeepers, why did I ever wander off from dad? She moaned. The tears made her feel better and presently she was calm enough to go over to the cabinet and turn it on. A large screen brightened and she saw a strange land unfolding before her eyes. There were winding highways raised into the sky and skyscrapers like tall crystal columns. She saw motor cars of teardrop design and helicopters filling the air. The people looked much like Linnea, with glowing clothing and all had hair as flaming red as Linnea's own. Yes, Tata Moori looked like an excellent place to visit, but it was not a visit Beth would want to make without another person from her own planet. As she thought about her predicament, she began to be scared again and the tears filled her eyes once more. Why? Sirius was trillions of miles from Earth. She went to the window. The dwindling Earth was becoming a green ball against the black deeps of space. The stars were dazzling and seemed as countless as the sands of the seashore. The view made Beth terribly homesick. Finally, Linnea returned. Beth looked at her anxiously, trying to read her fate in the foreign girl's eyes.
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What did your father say?
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Beth asked with fluttering heart. Did he say he'd take me back?
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Please tell me he did.
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Linnea smiled. Yes, Beth, he said that we are not supposed to take younger persons to tatamori. He was angry with me for not telling him you were aboard, but I told him you came in just before we blasted off. He understands that it was an accident. Aw, gee, I'm so relieved, Beth said happily. I don't mean I wouldn't like your company, Linnea, but you know how it is. Yes, I know, Linnaea replied wistfully. I have missed my mother and friends too. I had to take my brother's place on this trip when he became sick. Yes, you see, everyone on tatamori learns science when they are very young.
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I've been wondering how it is that
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you speak English, Linnea. We keep tuned in on your radio and television, Linnea answered. That's how we learned your language and so many other things about you. Your people seem to be ahead of us in progress, Beth said. I believe there is much we can learn from you. We can learn much from you too. Linnea spoke. I hope the people of our planets are permitted to meet very soon. The girls had to belt down on their couches again because of the mounting speed at which they were returning to Earth. Beth felt herself sinking deeply into her cushion once more, and she grew breathless again. Minutes later, the ship stopped moving. Beth hurriedly unbuckled and ran over to the window. Through a break in the Palo Verde thicket she could see her father's station wagon parked at the roadside. She was back at the same place she had started from. Thank goodness, she breathed. Linnea walked with her to the outer door. My father said he'd like to have met you, linna said, but he is too busy preparing for our blast off again. We must hurry because we are behind schedule. But I won't forget you, Beth, and when it comes time for our worlds to meet, I'll come and find you again. I hope you do, said Beth. Goodbye, Beth, Linnea said.
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Goodbye, Linnea.
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Beth heard the sighing of the door as it closed behind her. Suddenly her head began to ache and she remembered the fall she had taken earlier. As she made her way out of the thicket, she began to have a strange feeling about her adventure. It made her wonder if perhaps she might not have been dreaming the whole thing. When she reached the car, her father said with some concern, you were gone so long I started to come look for you. Beth, what happened to your forehead? I slipped and fell into a spaceship, she said.
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It blasted me off to Sirius, but
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I convinced my alien friend Linnea to take me back. Right, said dad. How hard did you hit your head? Beth looked at him and burst into laughter, and a second later he did the same. Did you see something land a few minutes ago, dad? Beth asked. Mr. Harrison grinned. You mean maybe a flying saucer? No, I'm afraid I didn't. Are you sure your imagination isn't working overtime again, Beth? As they were about to get into the car, Beth saw a dark object in the distance rise from the ground and move off into the deepening twilight. She was certain she did not imagine this. You saw that, didn't you, Daddy? Beth asked. Mr. Harrison nodded.
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Probably a hawk.
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Hmm. It looks like it's headed right for the Evening Star, doesn't it? Beth gazed at the brilliant light of Sirius, gorgeously bright now with darkness closing in. Dad, she said, smiling to herself, I think you're exactly right. The End Today's story, Beth and the Twilight Star, was an original story written for you by Richard M. Elam and adapted for audio by Daniel Hines. It was edited and produced for you by Ellie Hines and performed for you by me, Amanda Weldon.
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If you would like to support Stories Podcast, you can leave us a five star review on iTunes. Check out all of our merch available at storiespodcast. Com, Shop commission a special video on Cameo. Follow us on Instagram at Stories Podcast, or simply tell your friends about us. Thanks for listening.