The Flame Keeper | Ep. 280

Have you ever given up something you value so that someone else can benefit?

It’s what we call a “sacrifice.” Sometimes we make sacrifices to benefit people we know, like when we let a friend step ahead of us in line. Sometimes we make sacrifices to benefit people we don’t know, like when we donate our possessions or free time to a charity.

We’re about to meet a character who makes her own sacrifice. And when she does, she truly heats things up!

Our story is called “The Flame Keeper.” It was inspired by tales from the Huichol people: an indigenous group from Mexico, the southernmost country in North America.

Voicing all the characters in this episode (!) are Camron Jones and Joy Ofodu.

Camron Jones’s credits include “Panic” on Prime Video and the Showtime series “Shameless.” You can also see him in the award-winning short film, “Chocolate With Sprinkles.” Joy Ofodu is a comedian, voice actor and podcast host who heads her own company, Enjoyment Endeavor. Joy is working on a short film about fathers and daughters. You can find a link to the project – and learn how you can be part of it – here.

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!

Opossum took a chance to make the world a better and brighter place. What’s something you would like to take a chance on… or something new you’d like to try?

Perhaps you can try placing your own order at a restaurant or climbing higher on the playground. Maybe you can try out for a new team or try making a new friend.

When we take chances it stretches us and takes us out of our comfort zone. But even if it’s challenging, it can bring big, bright rewards!

Musical Spotlight: Latin Percussion

Latin percussion uses an exciting variety of drums, blocks, bells and other objects you play by hitting or striking them. Some of these instruments play specific notes, while others make a ‘boom’ or ‘chick’ sound. Latin music relies on a collection of these noisemakers each taking their turn and adding their sound to a more complex beat.

In this episode, Eric Shimelonis focuses more on different kinds of Latin drums. You can hear Eric playing an even larger assortment of Latin percussion in our episode, “The Banana Split.”

Story Transcript:

NARRATOR: Long, long ago… in earlier times… all the fire on earth was kept locked away by a mysterious man known as the Flame Keeper.

The Flame Keeper hoarded the fire in his house atop a mountain. And every now and again, a desperate group of cold, shivering people would venture up the slope and knock at his door.

PERSON 1: Flame Keeper? We’ve come to ask you about your fire!

PERSON 2: The only heat we enjoy comes from the sun!

PERSON 3: The only light, too!

PERSON 4: Can you please share one little flame?

NARRATOR: But each and every time…

FLAME KEEPER: (mocking them) “Share one little flame”?

NARRATOR: …the response was the same.

FLAME KEEPER: I will NOT “share one little flame.” I will not share ANY of my fire! With ANYONE! Now GET LOST!

NARRATOR: The animals of the world saw the people's suffering. And one animal took pity on them.

The clever, nimble creature known as Opossum had a long, pointed face… small, rounded ears… and, back in those long-ago times, a fluffy, bushy tail. One day, Opossum called all the animals together to make an announcement.

OPOSSUM: Friends! I have decided I shall visit the Flame Keeper’s house… and bring fire to the people!

NARRATOR: The animals’ mouths, snouts, and beaks dropped wide open.

ANIMAL 1: Are you for real, Opossum?

ANIMAL 2: The Flame Keeper’s mountain is steep and tall!

ANIMAL 3: And the Flame Keeper is nasty and mean!

ANIMAL 4: He’ll never share his fire with you!

OPOSSUM: Don’t worry. I have a plan. But in order for it to work, I need your help. I need you to gather… wood.

ANIMAL 1: / ANIMAL 2: / ANIMAL 3: / ANIMAL 4: WOOD????

OPOSSUM: Yes! The other night I journeyed up the mountain and hid outside the Flame Keeper’s house. When I peeked through the window, I saw that he was FEEDING the fire… with WOOD!e was dropping in all these branches, sticks and twigs, and the flames gobbled them up! (beat) So… while I’m gone…I need you to collect as much wood as you can, then pile it into a big heap at the foot of the mountain. Can you do that for me? 

NARRATOR: The animals agreed. And while they set to work gathering firewood, Opossum jumped into action. First, she scampered through the forest, yanking vines off trees.

OPOSSUM: (ad-lib efforting sounds of yanking vines)

NARRATOR: Then, she wove the vines into a net.

OPOSSUM: (as she weaves) Over, under… over, under…

NARRATOR: After that, she tracked down a papaya tree and picked as many bright orange fruits as she could – pausing every now and then to devour one herself.

OPOSSUM: (ad-lib gobbling a papaya) Gotta keep my strength up if I want my plan to work!

NARRATOR: Then… with her net full of papayas slung across her back… Opossum clambered up the mountain, all fired up to face the Flame Keeper and set the fire free!

What will Opossum do when she meets the Flame Keeper?

Will her plan succeed?

We’ll find out, after a quick break.

[BREAK]

NARRATOR: Welcome back to Circle Round. I’m Rebecca Sheir. Today our story is called “The Flame Keeper.”

Before the break, Opossum asked her fellow animals to gather a big stack of firewood. Then she picked a bunch of papayas and under the light of the moon, she climbed to the mountaintop abode of the Flame Keeper: a mysterious man who was keeping the world’s fire to himself.

Poking her head through the window, Opossum smiled her friendliest smile.

OPOSSUM: Good evening, Flame Keeper! (beat) May I come in?

NARRATOR: The Flame Keeper flashed his unwanted visitor a glare.

FLAME KEEPER: No, Opossum! You may NOT come in! ESPECIALLY if you’re going to beg me to share my fire, as all those silly people have been doing!

OPOSSUM: I won’t do anything of the sort! (beat) But I WILL offer you THESE!

NARRATOR: She held up her net of papayas.

OPOSSUM: The way you guard that fire all day and night, you must be hungry! I’d be happy to give you all the papayas in this net – IF you let me sleep by your fire tonight. Then in the morning, I’ll get up nice and early and bring you more wood!

NARRATOR: The Flame Keeper stole a glance at his dwindling stack of branches, and his waning stash of food.

FLAME KEEPER: Alright. Fine. If you give me those papayas, AND you gather more wood in the morning, you may sleep by my fire.

OPOSSUM: Thank you, Flame Keeper! Thank you!

NARRATOR: Opossum bounded through the door. And as the Flame Keeper tore into the papayas…

FLAME KEEPER: (ad-lib eating juicy papaya noises/sounds)

NARRATOR: …Opossum stretched out by the fire… wrapped her fluffy, bushy tail around her body… and PRETENDED to fall asleep.

OPOSSUM: (ad-lib faux sleeping noises/sounds)

NARRATOR: It was late at night, and soon the Flame Keeper began to nod off. He fought to keep his eyes open, but within minutes he was snoring away, rivulets of sticky papaya juice streaming down his chin.

FLAME KEEPER: (ad-lib faux sleeping noises/sounds)

NARRATOR: Opossum rose to her feet and tiptoed to the stack of firewood. She grabbed a stick, clenched it in her teeth, then lowered it into the flames, allowing one end to catch fire. Then she spun around and raced toward the door, her fluffy, bushy tail wagging with delight.

Unfortunately, as she scurried past the snoozing Flame Keeper, the thick fur of her fluffy, bushy tail tickled his face… and he woke right up!

FLAME KEEPER: (waking up) What’s that?? What’s going on?

NARRATOR: When the The Flame Keeper caught sight of Opossum, his angry eyes glowed as bright as the fire.

FLAME KEEPER: Opossum! You were trying to steal my fire! How dare you???

NARRATOR: The furious man grabbed the stick from Opossum’s mouth, and flung it into the flames.

FLAME KEEPER: There! So much for your pathetic attempts at robbery, Opossum. I should have known I couldn’t trust you, you rascally thief! 

OPOSSUM: “Rascally thief”???

NARRATOR: Opossum felt a rush of rage.

OPOSSUM: YOU’RE the one who’s been hoarding all the fire in your house! And refusing to share it! If anyone is a “rascally thief” in this scenario, it’s YOU!

NARRATOR: The Flame Keeper gnashed his teeth. Next thing Opossum knew, he was lunging right at her…

FLAME KEEPER: (ad-lib lunging efforting sound)

NARRATOR: …doing his best to grab her fluffy, bushy tail. Opossum jumped back to get away from him.

OPOSSUM: (efforting sounds)

NARRATOR: …but in doing so, she ventured too close to the fire. Her tail brushed against the flames… and the fur began to spark and smolder!

OPOSSUM: Oh no!

NARRATOR: The Flame Keeper’s face broke into an evil grin.

FLAME KEEPER: (cackling laughter) I’ve heard of a thief getting caught red-HANDED, Opossum. But I’ve never heard of one getting caught red-TAILED! (beat) Until NOW! (more cackling laughter; continue beneath Narration that follows)

NARRATOR: As the Flame Keeper fell down in hysterics, clutching his belly and hooting and howling, Opossum saw her chance. With her tail flaming behind her, she took to her heels and bolted out the door.

OPOSSUM: (as she runs) Oh my tail! My poor, poor tail! How foolish was I to think I could take fire from the Flame Keeper!

NARRATOR: Opossum fought back tears as she dashed down the steep slope. But when she neared the foot of the mountain, and caught sight of the animals’ stack of firewood, her tears vanished.

OPOSSUM: Wait a minute! I DID take fire from the Flame Keeper! I DID!!!

NARRATOR: Without missing a beat, she sprinted toward the woodpile and took a running leap.

OPOSSUM: (ad-lib springing-into-air efforting sound)

NARRATOR: The moment she landed…

OPOSSUM: (ad-lib landing efforting sound)

NARRATOR: …the fire on her tail spread to the branches, sticks and twigs. The moment they began to crackle and spark, Opossum dove to the ground and batted her tail on a stone, to snuff out the flames.

OPOSSUM: (ad-lib trying to snuff out flames)

NARRATOR: All the commotion brought the other animals running.

ANIMAL 1: Opossum! You’re back!

ANIMAL 2: And you brought fire!

ANIMAL 3: Just like you said you would!

ANIMAL 4: But…what happened to your TAIL?

NARRATOR: Opossum stared at her friends. Then she stared at her tail. The fluffy bushy appendage was no longer on fire… but it was also no longer fluffy or bushy! Thanks to the burning-hot flames, every single hair had been scorched off. And Opossum’s tail was now skinny, pink, and bald.

But you know what? That skinny, pink, bald tail wound up coming in quite handy! To this day, Opossum uses her naked, muscular appendage to climb trees and balance on branches… She even uses it to pick up and grasp on to food.

What’s more, ever since that fateful day, Opossum has held a place of honor in Mexico. The Huichol people revere the opossum as a symbol of wisdom, because of the kind and courageous way she put her life – and tail – on the line… to bring warmth and light to the world.