January 4, 2021

Folktales Week Vietnam Night (1-4-2021)

by Chompers

Background show artwork for Chompers

Tonight we hear the conclusion of our Vietnamese folktale.

Where to Listen

Transcript

>> Rachel: Welcome back to Chompers, your morning and night toothbrushing show.  It’s Folktales week, and tonight we continue our story from the country of Vietnam -- the story of The Fly (SFX FLY).  


Start brushing on the top of your mouth. Pick a side and make small circles over each tooth with your brush.


>> Kids: 3, 2, 1 brush!!


>> Rachel: The rich man has promised to cancel the little boy’s parents debts, but the little boy is worried the rich man won’t keep his promise. 


The little boy looked at the rich man and said. Ok sir, I will tell you where my parents are, and you will cancel their debts. But I want a witness -- somebody who sees you make this promise to me.  That fly over there on the steps will be our witness. (SFX fly buzzing)


The rich man laughed to himself. (SFX) How could a fly hold him to his promise?  


Of course, the rich man told the little boy. Now, tell me where your parents are


Switch your brushing to the other side of the top of your mouth, and give your tongue a brush too!


The little boy said, “My dad is cutting down bamboo, and making a fence.” 


He went on, “And my mom as at the market, selling fans so that she can buy oil for our lamps.”  


So the rich man decided to leave and come back another day. And when he did, the little boy’s parents were home.


The rich man called out, “I am here to collect my money!” (SFX coins jiggling)


The little boy’s parents said, “Please sir, we don’t have the money yet.”


The rich man began to look around their home for something valuable to steal. 


Just then, the little boy spoke up, “Mom, dad, don’t pay him! He PROMISED me that he would cancel your debt if I told him where my parents were!  And so I told him -- and now he has to keep his promise!”


Switch your brushing to the bottom of your mouth, and brush the molars in the way back too. 


The rich man laughed (SFX)  and said “This little boy is a liar! I’m going to take this to the officials!”


And the rich man picked up the little boy and carried him to the judge’s house.


When he got to the judge’s house the rich man told the judge his side of the story.


The judge turned to the little boy. “Can you prove your side of the story?”


“Yes!” The little boy said. “I have a witness, who SAW him promise to me!”


The rich man laughed again.  “There is no witness!  This child is so silly.”


“Sir,” the little boy shouted, “you know very well there was a witness! You PROMISED to the fly sitting on your big fat nose!”


Switch to the other side of the bottom of your mouth, but don’t brush too hard 


The rich man grew angry.  “What?” He shouted out, “that fly wasn’t sitting on my nose, he was sitting on the steps!”


The judge looked at the rich man, and said “So you are saying that you DID promise to cancel the family’s debt?”


The rich man was caught.


The judge turned to the little boy and his parents. “I am going to officially clear your debt. You no longer owe this man any money.” 


The family celebrated.  


And the rich man learned a valuable lesson. Keep your promises -- even if they are only to a fly on the wall. (SFX FLY)


That’s it for Chompers tonight, but we’ll be back with another folk tale tomorrow. Until then, rinse with water before you 


>>Kids: 3, 2, 1 spit!