Diamonds in the Sky | Ep. 278

Have you ever had a tough time getting along with someone?

It happens to all of us. We have that sibling or friend or classmate we always seem to be bumping heads with.

We’re about to meet two sisters who have trouble getting along, and what happens to these quibbling siblings is out of this world!

Our story is called “Diamonds in the Sky.” It was inspired by tales told in the Philippines: a Southeast Asian country consisting of more than 7,000 islands in the South China, Philippine and Celebes Seas.

Voices in this episode include Joe Hernandez, Jessica Rau, Mila Harris and Kyriana Kratter. Mila Harris stars in the recent Netflix film, “Mary.” She will next be seen in the sci-fi action movie, “World-Breaker.” Kyriana Kratter has appeared on the Disney comedy series, “Bunk’d” and the CBS sitcom “The United States of Al.” She most recently starred in “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” on Disney+.

This episode was adapted for Circle Round by Rebecca Sheir. It was edited by Dean Russell. Original music and sound design is by Eric Shimelonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn.

GROWN-UPS! PRINT THIS so everyone can color while listening. We’re also keeping an album so please share your picture on Facebook and Instagram, and tag it with #CircleRoundPodcast. To access all the coloring pages for past episodes click HERE. Our resident artist is Sabina Hahn and you can learn more about her HERE.

Now it’s your turn!

Think about one thing you can do this week to share.

Maybe you can share a toy with a sibling or friend. Perhaps you can share time with a relative you haven’t seen in a while. Or you can share clothing or food by donating to a charity.

Think about how you’ll share, then find some paper and draw a picture of it. Hang your picture where you can always see it, and over the next week find ways to make that vision come true!

Musical Spotlight: Kendang

The kendang is a double-headed drum used by peoples from Maritime Southeast Asia: i.e. the countries of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, East Timor and the Philippines. Traditionally, the kendang has a wooden body with drum heads made from buffalo hide. Kendang drums are typically tuned and played in pairs, with the "female drum" (kendang wadon) leading and the "male drum" (kendang lanang) following.

In gamelan music, played by a traditional Indonesian percussion orchestra, the kendang player directs the other members of the ensemble. Gamelan music often changes tempo (i.e. speed), so the kendang player signals the tempo, style, and starting and finishing points to the rest of the orchestra.

The kendang is also used in kulintang ensembles in Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines (fyi: you can hear Eric Shimelonis playing an actual kulintang in our live episode, “The Sea and the Sky”!).

Story Transcript:

NARRATOR: Long, long ago… when the world was much younger than it is now… two sisters lived on an island with their mother. The sisters’ names were Araw and Buwan, and they were as different as day and night.

Not that the sisters would have known what “day” and “night” were. Because long, long ago, day and night didn’t exist. There was no sun – no moon, either – so the sky always took on a dim cast of twilight.

Now, like we said, Araw and Buwan were very different. Araw was warm-hearted and good-natured.

ARAW: Look at this bouquet of lilies I picked for Mother, Buwan! Don’t they smell lovely?

NARRATOR: Buwan, on the other hand…

BUWAN: (disgusted) “Smell lovely”???

NARRATOR: …was NOT.

BUWAN: These flowers smell like bad perfume, Araw! Are you trying to make Mother sick? Because I feel like I’m gonna toss my cookies!

NARRATOR: Buwan was cold and prickly with just about everyone – especially her sister. She was always picking on Araw and pushing her buttons.

She teased her…

BUWAN: You’re such a goody-two-shoes, Araw… it’s more like goody-two-HUNDRED shoes!

NARRATOR: She messed with her stuff…

BUWAN: I borrowed your new dress, Araw – and I spilled juice all over it! Guess you’ll need another one!

NARRATOR: She even blamed her for her own misdeeds.

BUWAN: Mother! Araw was playing ball inside the house and she broke your favorite vase!

ARAW: I did NOT! Buwan was the one with the ball!

BUWAN: (mimicking her sister) Buwan was the one with the ball!

ARAW: Are you MIMICKING me?

BUWAN: (mimicking her sister) Are you MIMICKING me?

ARAW: STOP it!

BUWAN: (mimicking her sister) STOP it!

ARAW: I SAID, STOP it!

BUWAN: (mimicking her sister) I SAID, STOP –  (gets interrupted)

MOTHER: (interrupting) ENOUGH!!!! (beat) By the power of Batala, the creator spirit himself, I wish the two of you could get along.

ARAW: We COULD get along, Mother… if Buwan was nicer to me!

BUWAN: Oh, so it’s MY fault? I’m the bad guy?

ARAW: That’s not what I’m saying!

BUWAN: It sure sounds like it!

MOTHER: Look, girls. I love both of you so much. And all I want is for my two favorite people in the world to peacefully coexist. So I'll tell you what. Why don’t you go to the market together and pick up some groceries? You can have a nice talk along the way.

NARRATOR: Mother flashed her daughters a smile. Araw smiled back. Buwan…

BUWAN: Uch.

NARRATOR: …did not.

BUWAN: (annoyed, snarky, sarcastic) Fine. We’ll go to the market together. I’m sure it’ll be a blast.

MOTHER: That’s the spirit! Here’s a purse full of money for each of you. I’ll see you when you get back.

NARRATOR: Buwan rolled her eyes, then followed her sister down the road. As they rounded a sharp bend, they heard a voice.

BATALA: (old beggar voice) Excuse me! Might you have some money to share with the poor? Just a few coins…?

NARRATOR: Sitting in the dirt by the side of the road was an old man. He was haggard and disheveled, with a tangled beard, ragged clothing, and shabby shoes.

Araw instantly reached for her purse.

ARAW: I can share more than “a few coins,” sir. Here. Take everything.

BATALA: (old beggar voice) Thank you, miss!

NARRATOR: The man grinned as Araw emptied her purse into his weathered hands. Then he turned his gaze toward Buwan.

BATALA: (old beggar voice) Might YOU have a few coins to spare?

NARRATOR: Buwan wrinkled her nose.

BUWAN: Are you serious? Like I’m going to share ANY of my money with a BEGGAR like you? (beat) Look, mister. My goody-two-shoes sister already gave you an entire purseful. You’re getting nothing from me!

BATALA: (old beggar voice) Is that so…? I’m “getting nothing from you”...? Then YOU are getting nothing from ME either!

NARRATOR: Buwan let out a laugh.

BUWAN: (scornful laugh) You’re a poor beggar! What could YOU possibly offer ANYONE?

NARRATOR: The man said nothing. Instead, he raised his arms into the air and closed his eyes. Suddenly, there was a puff of smoke…

…and the beggar was gone. In his place was a tall, regal-looking man, his entire body glowing with light.

BATALA: (powerful, warm god voice for rest of scene) I suppose I ought to introduce myself. I am Batala, the divine creator of all things. But before I showed my true face, what was it you asked me?

NARRATOR: Batala fixed his eyes on Buwan.

BATALA: Ah yes! You asked ‘what I could possibly offer ANYONE’!!! The answer… is THIS!!!

NARRATOR: The powerful spirit extended a glimmering arm. In his hand was a diamond – the size of a grapefruit! The giant gem twinkled brighter than anything the sisters had ever seen.

BATALA: This diamond is for YOU, Araw. For treating ME – and EVERYONE – with such kindness.

ARAW: Really? Wow! Thank you, Batala! I will treasure and honor this gift!

NARRATOR: Araw took the diamond and made a low deep bow. Buwan looked on with outrage.

BUWAN: (indignant) Umm, HANG on! Where’s MY gift? Don’t I get a diamond too?

NARRATOR: Batala fixed Buwan with a hard stare.

BATALA: The fact of the matter is… I was HOPING to give you a diamond, Buwan. I was hoping that if I came down from my kingdom in the sky… and I disguised myself as a penniless beggar… you might open your heart! And show some kindness! (beat) But alas, your heart remains closed… locked up tight and clouded with anger and scorn. So I shall give you nothing.

NARRATOR: No sooner had the god uttered these words than there was another puff of smoke…

…and he was gone.

BUWAN: Okay. That was totally crazy – AND totally UNFAIR! My goody-two-shoes sister gets to go home with that amazing diamond, while I go home with NOTHING?

ARAW: Perhaps we could SHARE the diamond, Buwan! You could keep it in YOUR room for a week, then I’ll keep it in MINE…

BUWAN: (interrupting) No way! I’m not SHARING! I want a diamond of my OWN!

NARRATOR: Buwan gritted her teeth and stomped away. But she didn’t go to the market, and she didn’t go back home. Instead, she made her way to the tallest mountain on the island… and began to climb.

You see, according to island lore, if you climbed the tallest peak on the tallest mountain, you could magically enter Batala’s kingdom in the sky. And that was precisely what Buwan was planning to do.

BUWAN: If Batala won’t give me my own diamond, then I’ll sneak into his kingdom and TAKE one. (beat) I’m every bit as worthy as my sister. (dramatic) And now… I’m going to PROVE it!

NARRATOR: Will Buwan succeed in stealing from Batala?

We’ll find out, after a quick break.

[BREAK]

NARRATOR: I’m Rebecca Sheir. Welcome back to Circle Round. Today our story is called “Diamonds in the Sky.”

Before the break, Batala the creator spirit rewarded kind-hearted Araw with a sparkling diamond the size of a grapefruit. He gave nothing to her cold-hearted sister, Buwan.

So Buwan decided she would visit Batala’s kingdom in the sky and steal a diamond. She summited the tallest mountain on the island. And when she pushed through the clouds surrounding the tallest peak, what should she spy glittering all around her…

BUWAN: Jackpot!!!!

NARRATOR: …but diamonds! Hundreds and thousands of sparkling gemstones. Seizing the biggest, brightest diamond she could find, she scrambled back through the clouds and down the mountain, laughing all the way.

BUWAN: (self-satisfied laughter)

NARRATOR: Back at home, the house was quiet; Araw and Mother were fast asleep in their rooms. Clutching her new prize in her hand, Buwan crept to her sister’s bed. Beside it was the diamond Batala had given her. As Buwan compared her own diamond with her sister’s, her face fell in dismay.

BUWAN: My diamond is nowhere near as big as Araw’s is! Or as brilliant! (beat) (angry yelling) This is SO UNFAIR!!!

NARRATOR: Buwan’s outburst roused Araw from her sleep.

ARAW: (waking up) Buwan? What’s the matter?

BUWAN: The matter…? Is YOU! It’s ALWAYS been you! (beat) You’re so nice…. so good… there’s no way I can measure up! Even my DIAMOND can’t measure up! I snuck up to Batala’s sky kingdom and stole the very best one I could find… and yours is still better!!!

ARAW: You stole a diamond from Batala?? You shouldn’t steal from ANYONE – especially a GOD!

BUWAN: Well… if it helps at all… now I regret it. Because your diamond is BETTER! Which is why I’m going to make it MINE!!!!

NARRATOR: Buwan stretched out her arms and lunged toward Araw’s diamond. But Araw stopped her, grabbing her sister’s hands and holding them tight. Buwan struggled to break free.

BUWAN: (struggling to break free) Let go of me! I am taking that diamond!

ARAW: (struggling to stop her sister) It isn’t yours to take! I offered to share it!

BUWAN: (struggling to break free) I told you! I DON’T WANT TO SHARE!

ARAW: / BUWAN: (ad-lib efforting sounds of fighting, tussling, etc.)

NARRATOR: The sisters began to tussle, rolling around and around on the bed.

BUWAN: Let go of me!

ARAW: Only if you leave my diamond alone!

BUWAN: But it’s MINE! MINE!

ARAW: / BUWAN: (ad-lib efforting sounds of fighting, tussling, etc.)

NARRATOR: The ruckus eventually awakened Mother. When she raced into Araw’s room, her eyes widened.

MOTHER: What are you two doing? Wrestling? Stop it right now!

NARRATOR: But the girls wouldn’t stop. Buwan fought tooth and nail to grab the diamond… and Araw fought tooth and nail to defend it. The sisters rolled off the bed and landed on the floor… but still they fought. They kicked…

ARAW: / BUWAN: (ad-lib efforting sounds of fighting, tussling, etc.)

NARRATOR: …they jabbed…

ARAW: / BUWAN: (ad-lib efforting sounds of fighting, tussling, etc.)

NARRATOR: …they poked…

ARAW: / BUWAN: (ad-lib efforting sounds of fighting, tussling, etc.)

NARRATOR: Mother tried pulling them apart…

MOTHER: (as she tries separating them) Girls! Please!

NARRATOR: …but she wasn’t strong enough, and got knocked to the floor.

MOTHER: Oh! By the power of Batala! I wish my daughters would stop this fight!

NARRATOR: No sooner had she desperately uttered those words, then there was a puff of smoke…

…and who should appear right there in the room, but Batala himself!

BATALA: Oh dear! What have we here?

NARRATOR: Mother was so shocked she nearly fainted. Batala stared at the scrapping, skirmishing sisters and made a decision.

BATALA: What must be done, must be done!

NARRATOR: He raised his arms high and closed his eyes. All of a sudden, Araw and Buwan were flung off the floor, out the open window, and into the sky. Their two diamonds – the gifted and the stolen – flew into the sky with them.

And there they remained.

Araw and her diamond became the sun, and lit up the sky during what we now call “day.” Buwan and her diamond became the moon, and glowed and shimmered during what we now call “night.”

After this cosmic incident, Buwan was flooded with an unexpected emotion: remorse. Now that she was up in the sky, separated from her family, she felt regrets about how she had treated – or mistreated – her sister.

In fact, she felt so ashamed that to this day, Buwan – the moon – doesn’t always show her full face. Sometimes she shows just a sliver… or a quarter… or a half… Once a month, if you gaze up at the sky, the moon doesn’t show her face at all.

Araw knows how bad her sister feels. So, every now and again, she invites Buwan to share the sky with her. That’s why you’ll sometimes see both the sun and the moon floating above. But you’ll never see them fighting. Instead, they coexist, gracing the heavens with their radiant jewels, in peace.