Throwback: Two Daughters

Summary

Stories Podcast: A Bedtime Show for Kids of All Ages

Episode: Throwback: Two Daughters
Release Date: June 11, 2025
Host: Amanda Weldon
Authors: Written by Daniel Hines, Performed by Amanda Weldon

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Introduction

In this throwback episode of Stories Podcast: A Bedtime Show for Kids of All Ages, host Amanda Weldon brings listeners a heartwarming and insightful tale titled "Two Daughters." This episode, originally from the podcast’s archives, offers a blend of traditional storytelling with original elements, aimed at both children and their parents. The narrative explores themes of parental love, individual identity, and the challenges of maintaining harmony within a family as children grow and develop their unique personalities.

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Story Summary

"Two Daughters" centers around a devoted father and his twin daughters, Ava and Mia, who are identical in appearance but begin to diverge in personality as they grow older. The father loves both daughters equally and goes to great lengths to ensure their happiness, initially through simple gestures like feeding them their favorite foods and playing games together.

As the girls mature, Ava and Mia develop distinct preferences and habits. Ava enjoys hearty meals like chicken and thrives under sunny weather, while Mia prefers salads and finds solace in the rain, which nourishes her beloved garden. Their differing desires lead to conflicts, especially regarding weather preferences. The father, unable to meet all their individual needs through ordinary means, seeks the help of Maggie, the village witch, to cast spells that alter the weather to align with each daughter's wishes.

Maggie successfully delivers sunshine to please Ava and rain for Mia, but the father's attempts to balance both results in catastrophic weather chaos. A powerful tornado threatens the village, forcing the father and his daughters to confront the consequences of his overextending attempts to make everyone happy. In the climax, they work together with Maggie to reverse the spells, restoring balance and learning valuable lessons about accepting differences and the importance of compromise.

The story concludes with Ava and Mia apologizing to their father, expressing gratitude for his unwavering love, and committing to respect each other's individuality. The family enjoys a harmonious breakfast together, symbolizing their renewed understanding and stronger familial bonds.

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Key Points and Insights

1. Parental Love and Equality
   The father's unwavering love for his daughters is a central theme. Amanda Weldon narrates, "He loved them both with all of his heart," emphasizing the importance of parental equality and unconditional love (02:00).

2. Individual Identity Development
   As Ava and Mia grow, they develop unique interests and preferences, reflecting the natural progression of individual identity. Ava's love for the sun and hearty meals contrasts with Mia's affinity for rain and salads, illustrating how siblings can be both similar and distinct (04:30).

3. Challenges of Balancing Needs
   The father's struggle to satisfy both daughters' differing needs leads him to seek magical solutions. This highlights the realistic challenges parents face in balancing the desires and well-being of each child (07:50).

4. Consequences of Overextension
   The attempt to use magic to satisfy both daughters simultaneously results in disastrous weather events. This serves as a metaphor for the unintended consequences that can arise from trying to please everyone without considering the complexities involved (15:12).

5. Resolution Through Compromise
   The climax teaches the importance of compromise and mutual respect. Ava and Mia's decision to "agree to disagree" signifies personal growth and the strengthening of family relationships through understanding and acceptance (20:00).

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Amanda Weldon (Narrator):
  "He loved Them both the same, too. Which is to say, he loved them both with all of his heart." (02:00)

• Father:
  "My heart is split plum down the middle and you both have a half." (09:58)

• Ava:
  "When I feel the sun, I feel a warm and golden love. The sunshine keeps the gray away and makes everyone want to say I love the sun." (11:56)

• Mia:
  "We know the storm was our fault. We never agree on anything, but you always try to make us happy." (21:30)

• Father:
  "It only took a tornado for us to learn. We got your watch back, too." (21:50)

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Themes and Moral Lessons

1. Unconditional Love:
   The father's consistent love for his daughters, despite their growing differences, underscores the enduring nature of parental love.

2. Embracing Individuality:
   Ava and Mia's journey teaches listeners the importance of recognizing and celebrating individual differences within a family.

3. The Power of Compromise:
   The story illustrates that attempting to satisfy everyone all the time can lead to unforeseen problems, whereas finding a middle ground fosters harmony.

4. Responsibility and Consequences:
   The catastrophic weather resulting from the spells serves as a lesson on taking responsibility for one's actions and understanding the impact of decisions.

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Conclusion

"Two Daughters" is a touching narrative that combines magical elements with profound life lessons. Through the experiences of Ava, Mia, and their father, listeners are encouraged to appreciate the complexities of familial relationships and the beauty of individual identities. Amanda Weldon's heartfelt performance brings the story to life, making it a memorable and impactful episode for both children and their parents.

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About the Authors and Contributors

• Daniel Hines:
  The writer behind the adaptation, Daniel Hines crafted a story that resonates with both young listeners and adults, blending traditional storytelling with modern themes.

• Amanda Weldon:
  As the host and narrator, Amanda Weldon delivers the story with warmth and emotion, enhancing the listening experience with her expressive narration.

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Supporting Stories Podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting Stories Podcast by leaving a five-star review on iTunes, checking out their merchandise at storiespodcast.com/shop, or commissioning a special video on Cameo. Follow them on Instagram @storiespodcast to stay updated on new stories and share your favorite moments from the show.

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Note: Time stamps in the notable quotes section reference points within the transcript where specific quotes occur.

Transcript

[Amanda Weldon]

Hello. Welcome to Stories Podcast. I'm your host, Amanda Weldon. Today's story is a throwback episode. Tune in to hear one of our classic stories from the archive that you might have missed the first time around. We have Stories Podcast merch, [e-mail] shop. We're also on cameo for all of your personalized video message needs. And don't forget to follow us on Instagram Stories Podcast if you send us a drawing of your favorite scene or character, we'll share it on our feed. Now, here's a word from our sponsors.

[Jim]

It is estimated that over 4 million people have been abducted by alien lifeforms, but only one of them asked for it.

[Maggie]

This is Elio of Earth. If any aliens are listening, come and.

[Jim]

Get me from Disney and Pixar.

[Amanda Weldon]

Yes, it's really happening.

[Jim]

He'll go where no one has gone before.

[Maggie]

Welcome to the community. What is this, please? These are the lava tunnels. Gordon.

[Amanda Weldon]

I am.

[Maggie]

No, not fireproof.

[Jim]

Disney and Pixar's Elio. Rated pg. Parental guidance suggested only in theaters. Tickets available now.

[Narrator]

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[Amanda Weldon]

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[Narrator]

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[Amanda Weldon]

Thanks. Enjoy the episode. Two Daughters Once upon a time, in an old village, there was a father with two twin daughters. Their names were Ava and Mia and they were identical down to the last freckle, just exactly the same. He loved Them both the same, too. Which is to say, he loved them both with all of his heart. From the time they were old enough to blink up at him with their big brown eyes, he knew that he would do anything to make them happy. And making them happy was easy enough. When they were babies, he fed them their favorite food for dinner. Mashed peas. He sang them their favorite lullaby at bedtime. Twinkle, twinkle, little star. And during the day, they played their favorite game, hide and go seek. They were good girls, and he was a good dad, and their house was full of laughter. When they got a little older, it was trickier, but still he managed. The girls still looked identical down to the last freckle, but their personalities were starting to change. Of course, their father still loved them the same, but it wasn't as easy to make them both happy. Now he had to make two dinners. Chicken for Ava and salad for Mia. They still liked the same lullaby, though, and their games of hide and seek were better than ever. Their shouts and peals of laughter would echo across the neighborhood. They got a little older still, and things got more complicated. They were still good girls, identical down to the last freckle, but they were less and less the same. Now it was getting to be a challenge for their father to keep them both happy. Just take bedtime, for example. I want to hear a song about the moon, Ava would say. That's okay, but I want to hear a song about the stars instead. Mia would counter, and the argument would start. In the end, their father would just sing both songs, one after the other. The same with dinner and even games. He'd cook chicken and rice for Ava, who loved a hearty meal. Then he'd prepare a salad for Mia, who had become a vegetarian. Hide and seek was still fun, but even that wasn't often agreed on. Finally, they got even older, and they weren't so much alike anymore. They wore their hair differently, they wore different clothes, and they even spoke differently. They were, in short, two completely different people. And really, the only things that were still identical were their freckles. Different as they were, their father still loved them the same. Sometimes the girls would tease him and try to get him to pick a favorite, but he always said the same thing. My heart is split plum down the middle and you both have a half. The girls accepted this answer, but they didn't particularly like it. They were still good girls, but they had gotten used to their father doing everything to make them happy. In fact, they had gotten so used to their father saying yes, they didn't know how to handle it. When he finally told them no, it all came to a head one day when the girls were a little more than 12 years old. They were upset about the weather. It had been blustery and gray for days. Always on the verge of raining but never quite able to manage was gloomy, depressing weather, and the girls asked their father about it constantly. Daddy, can't you please fix it outside? Ava whined, yeah, Daddy, this weather is the worst. Make it better, agreed Mia. Their father said, of course, and headed out of the house. He didn't know how to change the weather any more than he knew how to stop the sun from rising. But he did know old Maggie, the village witch. It was known that she had some power for nature magic, and for the right price you could get a weather spell. The father didn't know what the right price might be, so he was sure to bring a full purse. When he made his way to her hut, he raised his fist to knock, but she called out before his fist hit the wood.

[Maggie]

Come in, Rory, father of Ava and Mia.

[Amanda Weldon]

He smiled and pushed open the door. Inside the hut it was clean and orderly, but redolent of strange spices. Maggie made them tea and he told her of his daughters and how he'd do anything to make them happy. This weather is just making them miserable and I can't stand to see them that way, he finished. I've heard you know some spells for the weather. Would you be able to make it sunny, please? Maggie nodded and began to rummage around her hut, pulling down a dash of this and a leg of that. She started combining it all in a big stone bowl with sharp ridges.

[Maggie]

Of course, a sunshine spell. That'll be 10 gilders, please.

[Amanda Weldon]

The father looked in his purse. He only had 20 guilders all told, but it was worth it if it made them happy. He passed Maggie the coins. She bit each one and then licked her lips. Ah, yes, sir, the genuine article.

[Maggie]

And tasty, too. The sun will be out by the time you get home, my friend, she.

[Amanda Weldon]

Said and ushered him out the door. Well, he had his doubts, but sure enough, on the walk home, the sunshine streamed through the clouds. The hazy gray quilt that had smothered the village was burned away and the sky was blue once more. Girls, he called when he came back inside. I've been to see Maggie and she's made the sunshine for us. Come and see. Ava ran out into the sunshine, arms raised, twirling. Yes, thank you, Daddy. It's perfect. Her father beamed to hear it, but his joy was short lived. After a single joyous evening, unhappiness struck again. The next day, Father found Mia in the backyard sulking. The sun was baking down on the little garden she had planted and the greens were beginning to wilt. Daddy. She cried when she saw him. The days of shade and then the strong sun is killing my garden. I need rain. Can't you please talk to Maggie and make it rain, Daddy? Of course. He couldn't bear to see her so sad and went right back to Maggie's hut again. He lifted his hand to knock and was preempted.

[Maggie]

Come in, Rory, father of Ava and Mia.

[Amanda Weldon]

He sighed and pushed open the door.

[Maggie]

Back so soon?

[Amanda Weldon]

I still see the sun shining, so.

[Maggie]

Surely you can't want a refund. Also no refunds.

[Amanda Weldon]

Hut policy. Father sank down into a chair and accepted a past mug of steaming tea. I don't want a refund. I want another spell. The sun is too bright for Mia's plants. They need a good watering. And it's been weeks since our last hard rain. Maggie nodded and began to rummage around her hut. Pulling down a teaspoon of this and an eye of that, she started combining it all in an earthenware jug with fluted sides.

[Maggie]

Of course, a rain spell. That'll be ten guilders, please.

[Amanda Weldon]

The father once again opened his purse. Ten guilders was all he had left, but he'd spend it gladly to make his daughters happy. He passed Maggie the coins. She sniffed each one deeply and then placed them on her cheeks.

[Maggie]

Ah, once again the genuine article.

[Amanda Weldon]

And fragrant too.

[Maggie]

Best hurry home now. It's a hard rain.

[Amanda Weldon]

Gonna fall, she said and ushered him out the door. Of course, Father had learned his lesson and didn't doubt Maggie at all. He pulled his jacket up over his head and a moment later the rain started to fall in buckets. The earth drank it in gratefully. Girls, he called when he came back inside. I've been to see Maggie and she's made it rain for us. Come and see. Mia ran out into the rain, arms raised, twirling. Yes, thank you, Daddy. It's perfect. Her father beamed to hear it, but this time his joy was even shorter lived. Not a moment later, Ava stomped in, dripping wet.

[Maggie]

My son.

[Amanda Weldon]

It's gone, Daddy. You need to fix it. Mia followed in behind her, pulling back her rain drenched hair. No, Daddy, we need rain. No, we need sun. Rain, sun, rain, sun.

[Ava]

Well, when I feel the sun, I feel a warm and golden love. The sunshine keeps the gray away and makes everyone want to say I love the sun.

[Amanda Weldon]

I love the sun.

[Ava]

I love the sun I love you love we all love the sun.

[Amanda Weldon]

Nuh uh.

[Ava]

Well when I feel the rain I feel that life is all around. You need rain to rainbow Spring it makes everyone want to sing I love the rain I love the rain I love the rain cause I love you love we all love the rain not everyone I love the sun I love the rain I love the sun, the.

[Amanda Weldon]

Rain.

[Ava]

I love the rain I love.

[Amanda Weldon]

The sun.

[Ava]

I love the rain the.

[Amanda Weldon]

Sun now for a quick ad break. 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.

[Jim]

It is estimated that over 4 million people have been abducted by alien life forms, but only one of them asked for it.

[Maggie]

This is Elio of Earth. If any aliens are listening, come and.

[Jim]

Get me from Disney and Pixar.

[Amanda Weldon]

Yes, it's really happening.

[Jim]

He'll go where no one has gone before.

[Maggie]

Welcome to the community Verse. What is this place? These are the lava tunnels, Gordon. I am not fireproof.

[Jim]

Disney and Pixar's Elio Rated pg. Parental guidance suggests. Only in theaters. Tickets available now.

[Amanda Weldon]

Thanks. And now back to the story. Their father looked back and forth between them. He had always done everything he could to make them happy. But this. This was impossible, wasn't it? Oh, wait here. He cried. I'll be right back. This time he sprinted over to Maggie's and didn't even wait for her greeting before throwing open her door. Maggie, I need another spell. The old witch blinked up at him with her owlish eyes.

[Maggie]

Another spell? So soon? I see the rain spell is still working. What do you need?

[Amanda Weldon]

I need the rain spell and the sun spell, both at the same time. Maggie laughed for a moment and then stopped when she saw he was serious.

[Maggie]

A sunshine spell and a rain spell together? It's never been done.

[Amanda Weldon]

It could be dangerous.

[Maggie]

Who knows how the weather will react?

[Amanda Weldon]

Please, father said, sinking to his knees, hands clasped. I'm begging you. I need it for my daughters. Maggie looked down at him for a long while and then took a deep breath. Okay, but it will be costly. I've got no gilders left, he said. The old witch started to shake her head, but Father kept going. Wait. My watch. It was my father's old gold. It's worth 30 guilders at least. He unbuckled it from his wrist and put it on her table. Maggie picked it up and held it to her ear, listening intently. Mmm. Third time pays for all. And this Is the genuine article and melodic, too. Best get home now. Old Maggie's never done this before and things may be a little wild. She rolled up her sleeves and ushered him out the door. Father stepped outside and the sky began to shudder. The sun shone down and then. Was that. Yes. Rain started falling from the heavens, too. It had actually worked. He burst into the house at a dead run. Girls. Girls. I've been to see Maggie. I've told her to make it sunny and rainy together. The girls came over, bewildered. How is that possible? Asked Mia. Daddy, did it work? Asked Ava. Let's go see, he answered, opening the door and leading them outside. For a moment, the girls both cheered, but only for a moment. Thunder crashed so loudly the house rattled behind them. Doors all along the street opened and people came outside to see. They were chased right back inside by a wind that howled like a werewolf, shaking windows in their frames. The sun stretched and blurred and the sky darkened, then brightened again. Dogs began to howl and cats began to screech. Rain started and stopped and then fell in buckets that swirled madly in the air. Daddy, look. On the horizon, a dark smudge was forming. Under the wild sun and rain, a maelstrom began to spin. It started slouching towards their town, growing larger even as it grew closer. Soon the wind found its harmony and began to roar again, and the maelstrom became a tornado, one so large it seemed to fill the sky. No. What have I done? Scooping up the girls in his arms to protect them, Father ran for Maggie's hut once more. This time he didn't knock, but slammed through her door, falling in a wet wind blown heap on her floor with the girls. The spells. You need to stop the spells, he croaked. Maggie blinked and then looked out the window. Her eyes went wide and she covered her mouth with her hand. She began grabbing ingredients and throwing them in a twisting spiral glass. There was a pinch of this and a spleen of that.

[Maggie]

Hurry.

[Amanda Weldon]

Cried the girls. The walls of the hut began to rattle and shake. Jars and glasses and vials and jugs were shimmied off their perches and shattered on the ground in a symphony of destruction. The air was full of strange smells, ranging from good to revolting. The wind ripped free some boards from the hut's wall and sent them cartwheeling away through the gap they left. The tornado loomed into view, the sun and rain still switching wildly off and on. Finish, please. The girls yelled. Maggie looked around, panicking.

[Maggie]

My eye of newt.

[Amanda Weldon]

It got blown over.

[Maggie]

I need one.

[Amanda Weldon]

Quickly now. The roaring grew louder. The wind peeled off more of the hut's boards, the nails screeching in protest as they were wrenched free one by one. The tornado was getting closer. Soon they'd all be sucked inside. Father rolled and saw the newt's eyes on the floor like tiny orange black beads spilling out of a cracked brown jar. He Hefted the jar in one hand. Maggie, catch. He threw it as hard as he dared. It soared through the air towards Maggie's outstretched hand as she tried to catch it. The wind howled and the world shook. The jar was sucked out through the hole in the wall. Maggie cried out in horror. Then Father was against her, taking her hand. Some eyes had spilled from the cracked jar into his sleeve, and he poured them now into Maggie's hand. Bracing against the wind, she dropped one into her concoction and howled out her magic words, the wind ripping them from her lips. The tornado seemed to scream, and they all screamed back, and then there was silence. Everyone okay? Father said, helping Maggie to her feet. Yeah, we're okay, the girls said. Together they were under the table, huddled in each other's arms. We would like to go home now, please. Finally, father said with a smile. Something you agree on. They walked home together, hand in hand. The next day, when Father got up to make his girls breakfast, he found them waiting for him at the table. You two are up early. Just give me a few and I'll get food going. Eggs and bacon for you, Ava, and toast and jam for you, Mia. Actually, said Ava, today we made our own breakfast. And we made one for you, too. Mia brought over a plate. It had fried eggs on toast, his favorite girls. Thank you, he said, surprised. We wanted to say sorry, mia said. We know the storm was our fault. We never agree on anything, but you always try to make us happy. Yeah, we love you, dad, ava added. And we're not going to do that to you anymore. From now on, we'll agree to disagree. Yeah, said Mia with a wry smile. It only took a tornado for us to learn. We got your watch back, too, ava said, putting it on the table with a smile. How? He asked. With wonder. We helped Maggie put all our ingredients and stuff back where they belong. I'm gonna smell like eye of newt for a week. They all laughed and sat to eat their breakfast. In the end, Father was convinced it was the best meal he'd ever had. The End Today's story, Two Daughters, was an adaptation of a traditional story written for you by Daniel Hines and performed for you by me, Amanda Weldon, with a song by us both if you would like to support Stories podcast, you can leave us a five star review on itunes. Check out all of our merch [e-mail] Shop Commission a special video on Cameo. Follow us on Instagram oriespodcast or simply tell your friends about us. Thanks for listening.

[Jim]

Do you wanna spend another summer stuck at home?

[Maggie]

Hey Jim, how's your back?

[Jim]

Oh, you know.

[Maggie]

I hear ya.

[Jim]

Leave the small talk behind because Disney and Pixar invite you on an out of this world adventure.

[Amanda Weldon]

Engaging Hyperspeed this is awesome.

[Jim]

On June 20th.

[Maggie]

Welcome to the community verse. Prepare to be conquered. I just got here. Follow me. What is this place? These are the lava tunnels. I am not fireproof.

[Jim]

Disney Pixar's Elliot in theaters June 20th. Tickets available now. Waiting PG. Parental guidance suggested.