Little Peacock’s Plumage | Ep. 304

Ever heard the saying "Beauty is skin deep”?

It means that how we look on the outside isn’t as important as what we’re like on the inside.

In today’s story, this idea of beauty “being skin deep” is put to the test. But instead of skin… it’s feathers!

Our episode is called “Little Peacock's Plumage.” Versions of this tale come from the East Asian country of China.

Voices in this episode include: GM Hakim, Jessica Rau, Erika Rose, Dawn Ursula, Matt Zambrano and Alfred Hsing, whom you grown-ups may know from “The Book of Boba Fett” on Disney+ and “Silicon Valley” on HBO. Alfred appears in the new film “Train Dreams,” in theaters now and coming to Netflix on November 21st.

This episode was adapted for Circle Round by Rebecca Sheir. It was edited by Amory Sivertson. 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

You can make your own “T.P. Peacock”!

Show your peacock to someone you love. And if you’d like, show it to us! Grown-ups: snap a photo of your Circle Round fan and their peacock, and email it to circleround@wbur.org.

With your permission, we may feature you in our monthly Circle Round newsletter, “The Lion’s Roar”! If you haven’t yet signed up to get special announcements, behind-the-scenes peeks and more, click this link!

Musical Spotlight: Guzheng

The guzheng (a.k.a. zheng) is an ancient instrument from China. And when we say “ancient,” we mean “ancient”: tThe earliest models date back some 2,500 years!

The guzheng’s creation led to the development of several other Asian zithers, such as the Japanese koto, the Korean gayageum, the Mongolian yatga and the Vietnamese đàn tranh.

The guzheng is a type of zither: an instrument consisting of many strings stretched across a thin, flat body. It’s made from a long plank of wood with 21-26 strings (originally made from silk), and it’s played with the fingers or, in some cases, fingerpicks. You can hear Eric Shimelonis’s use of the guzheng in our 2022 episode, "Strong Mind and Kind Heart”!

Script:

NARRATOR (host Rebecca Sheir): The Peacock Fairy was a mystical, supernatural being with the head and arms of a human and the slender, iridescent body of a peacock.

The Peacock Fairy knew all sorts of magic… and she could use her powers to conjure up nearly anything.

The peacocks of the world admired her greatly, and longed to learn her spells. So you can imagine their excitement when… one day, many moons ago… the Peacock Fairy called all of them to the foot of a shimmering waterfall and made an announcement.

FAIRY: My fine feathered friends! I have decided I shall take on… an apprentice! An assistant who shall help me work my magic by learning all of my spells! (beat) And one of YOU shall take the job!

NARRATOR: The peacocks let out a gasp. Becoming the Peacock Fairy’s apprentice would be the ultimate honor! But how would she make her choice?

FAIRY: I suppose you’re wondering how I will make my choice. With so many of you to choose from, it won’t be easy. So that's why I am issuing a challenge. I want you to come back to this waterfall at midnight. Make yourself look as different as possible from the others. Once you’ve all returned, and I’ve taken a good look at you, I shall select my apprentice.

NARRATOR: The peacocks beamed. With their fan-shaped tails of blue, green and gold, they were already among the most stunning and resplendent of birds. The idea of making themselves even MORE stunning and resplendent had them all aflutter!

Well… all but one. Little Peacock was the smallest of the bunch – and the most picked on.

LITTLE PEACOCK: Ugh. I’m so little and scrawny, there’s no way the Peacock Fairy would ever pick me to be her apprentice! I guess I’ll just go on my way and forget about it.

NARRATOR: As his fellow birds bustled away, Little Peacock heaved a sigh and shuffled down the road. He was passing a field when he caught sight of a farmer. It was the end of winter, but the weather was unseasonably warm, and the hardworking man was drenched in sweat. Little Peacock went scurrying over.

LITTLE PEACOCK: Pardon me, sir! It’s awfully hot out here and you look like you might pass out! If you don’t mind me asking, shouldn’t you take a break?

NARRATOR: The farmer mopped his brow.

FARMER: I wish I could take a break, little peacock! But I have to harvest these crops so I can take them to market! It’s never this hot this time of year, and the sun is draining the life out of me!

NARRATOR: Little Peacock thought for a moment. Then he flashed the farmer a grin.

LITTLE PEACOCK: How about you take some of my tail feathers and turn them into a fan? That should help you beat the heat! Then you can get your work done!

NARRATOR: The farmer blinked his tired eyes.

FARMER: You would really give me some of your blue, green and gold feathers? Just so I could cool down?

NARRATOR: Little Peacock nodded and plucked some plumage from his tail. The farmer spread them into a fan and waved it over his face.

FARMER: Whew! I feel better already! Thank you, little peacock!

NARRATOR: Little Peacock smiled and continued down the road. But as he rounded a bend, he heard the sound…

BOY: (ad-lib crying)

NARRATOR: … of someone crying!

BOY: (ad-lib crying)

NARRATOR: He picked up his pace and there, sobbing by the roadside, was a boy.

LITTLE PEACOCK: Excuse me, young man! Might I ask: why are you crying?

NARRATOR: The boy wiped his tears with the back of his hand.

BOY: (with tears) It’s my mother’s birthday tomorrow! Times have been hard, and I can’t afford to buy her a gift! She’s been so good to me, and I wanted to get her something special!

NARRATOR: Little Peacock grinned.

PEACOCK: How about you take some of my tail feathers? You can turn them into a wreath! It would look awfully nice hanging on your mother’s door!

NARRATOR: The boy’s teary eyes grew bright.

BOY: You know… blue, green and gold are Mother’s favorite colors! You’d really give me some of your feathers? Just so I could make her a present?

NARRATOR: Little Peacock nodded and plucked more feathers from his tail. The boy took hold of them and beamed.

BOY: These feathers are so pretty! Mother’s going to love them. Thank you, little peacock!

NARRATOR: Little Peacock’s once-full tail was decidedly less full now. But he didn’t mind. The other peacocks were always calling him a useless runt. So it felt good to be of help!

As he continued down the road, he glanced up and noticed the sun was about to set.

LITTLE PEACOCK: Hmmmm. I should probably get home. I’ve been out for a while and could use some dinner.

NARRATOR: As Little Peacock headed toward his nest, he came across two more people: a pair of women dressed in fancy clothing… and having an argument.

WOMAN 1: I can’t believe our wedding reception is in less than an hour, and YOU forgot to order the centerpieces!

WOMAN 2: I ordered all the VASES**! I thought YOU were in charge of ordering the FLOWERS to put IN them! [**we’ll pronounce “vase” to rhyme with “face”]

WOMAN 1: No! You were supposed to order the flowers!

WOMAN 2: Are you sure about that?

WOMAN 1: Yes!

WOMAN 2: Positive?

WOMAN 1: (annoyed) Yessss!

NARRATOR: As the couple feuded and fought, an idea bounced into Little Peacock’s head: a brilliant notion for how he might stop the bickering… and bring about some peace!

How do YOU think Little Peacock will step in and help?

We’ll hear what he has in mind… after a quick break.

[BREAK]

NARRATOR: Welcome back to Circle Round. I’m Rebecca Sheir. Today our story is called “Little Peacock's Plumage.”

Before the break, the Peacock Fairy announced she was seeking an apprentice to help with her magic. She ordered all the peacocks to meet her at the waterfall at midnight, and to make themselves look as different from the others as possible.

The peacocks were all very excited – save for the smallest one. Little Peacock figured he was so slight and ordinary, there was no way the Peacock Fairy would ever choose him.

As he walked down the road, he wound up giving away tail feathers to people who needed help: a farmer desperate to cool off, a boy in need of a birthday gift for his mother… and when Little Peacock encountered a pair of quarreling brides who needed flowers for their wedding, he decided to step in.

LITTLE PEACOCK: Hello, you two! Congratulations on your wedding! (beat) I was thinking… since you already have vases for your wedding tables… how about filling them with my tail feathers? 

NARRATOR: The women quit squabbling and stared at Little Peacock.

WOMAN 1: You would give us your tail feathers?

WOMAN 2: Just so we could have centerpieces at our wedding?

NARRATOR: Little Peacock nodded and pulled the last bunch of feathers from his tail. The women were all smiles.

WOMAN 1: This is so kind of you!

WOMAN 2: Thank you, Little Peacock!

NARRATOR: Little Peacock grinned and headed toward home. Night was falling and the cool evening air felt chilly on his bare backside.

As he passed through a moonlit village, he saw something that stopped him in his tracks. Through a window, he spied a little girl lying in bed. She looked pale and sickly. Beside her sat her father, gently stroking her hair.

DAUGHTER: Daddy? Is it spring yet? It feels like I’ve been sick in bed forever… and the doctor said I’d get well again come spring time!

FATHER: I know, pumpkin. And the way the sun was shining today, you would think that spring had sprung! But it’s still winter, I’m afraid. The first day of the Spring Festival is a way’s away!

DAUGHTER: (longing) Ohhh I love the Spring Festival! That first night, when fireworks explode in the air? Like a peacock’s feathers shooting through the sky? It’s the best! (beat) I swear: if I could see those fireworks right now, I would be all better again!

NARRATOR: As Little Peacock gazed through the window, his mind began to whirl.

LITTLE PEACOCK: (thinking) Wait a minute… “Fireworks exploding in the air…?” “Like a peacock’s feathers shooting through the sky…?” Ugh. If only I had some feathers left! I could fly up into the air and spread them in the moonlight, so the little girl THINKS they’re fireworks! And she’d get better again! (beat) But. Alas. I’ve given all my plumage away.

NARRATOR: Little Peacock sighed and went home. He ate dinner and tried to fall asleep… but he couldn’t drift off. So, just before midnight, he decided he’d return to the waterfall and see what the other peacocks were up to.

When he arrived, they were all there, strutting around and showing off their new looks. Clearly, they had gone to great lengths to set themselves apart. Some had decorated their tails with jasmine and lotus flowers… others had strung garlands of shiny pebbles around their necks. One peacock was wearing a crown crafted from seashells. Another wore golden anklets made from wheatstalks.

The Peacock Fairy stood at the foot of the waterfall, gazing at the gussied-up crowd with glittering eyes.

FAIRY: Greetings, friends! Thank you for coming back to see me. (beat) I must say: I am impressed by how different you all look. But in order to select my apprentice, I must examine each of you one by one.

NARRATOR: Slowly, she paced up and down the rows of proud, preening birds, giving each one a careful look.

FAIRY: (as she examines each bird and comments) Hmmmm… (beat) Interesting… (beat) Very creative… (beat) Fascinating choice…

NARRATOR: Standing at the very back – fretting with despair over how plain he looked – was Little Peacock. When the Peacock Fairy reached him, she paused.

FAIRY: Well! What do we have here? You certainly look different from everyone else, little one! What happened to your tail feathers?

NARRATOR: Little Peacock hung his head.

LITTLE PEACOCK: I… I gave them away, Peacock Fairy.

FAIRY: You did what?

LITTLE PEACOCK: I gave my tail feathers away! To people who needed them far more than I do! (fondly as he recalls) And you should have seen the looks on their faces when I offered them my plumage! The farmer looked like he might dance! The boy looked like he might sing! To say nothing of the brides at the wedding… (beat) But now… I’m left with nothing.

NARRATOR: The Peacock Fairy grew quiet. Little Peacock expected her to laugh… or give him a good scolding… but instead, she smiled!

FAIRY: Little Peacock. …YOU are the apprentice I choose.

NARRATOR: The other birds were gobsmacked. Little Peacock was the most gobsmacked of all!

LITTLE PEACOCK: You choose ME???? To be your apprentice???? Why would you choose ME??? All the other peacocks are so fancy! So distinctive! Why would you pick a scrawny, runty, bare-backed bird like ME?

FAIRY: Because, Little Peacock! You’re the one who truly set yourself apart from the rest! Not with what you have on the outside… but what you have on the INSIDE!

LITTLE PEACOCK: What do you mean?

FAIRY: Don’t you see, Little Peacock? Your backside may be empty and bare… But your HEART is FULL! Abundant! Brimming with kindness and generosity! (beat) And so, my amiable apprentice, it is time to show you some MAGIC!

NARRATOR: The Peacock Fairy flicked her hand… and the other peacocks gave a start! Because all at once, as if plucked by unseen fingers, a single feather lifted off each of their tails and went floating through the air!

The feathers drifted and glided, until they came together to form a massive, dazzling fan. The Peacock Fairy flicked her hand again… and the magnificent fan of feathers zoomed down to Little Peacock’s backside… and stuck there!

LITTLE PEACOCK: (GASP!) Whoa! I have a tail again!

FAIRY: Yes you do! But that’s not all!

NARRATOR: The Peacock Fairy knelt down and whispered some magic words in Little Peacock’s ear. And just like that, his tail feathers began to glimmer… and glow… until finally, they looked like a kaleidoscope of blue, green and gold fire!

FAIRY: Now GO, little peacock! Show what you can do!

NARRATOR: Little Peacock flapped his wings and lifted off the ground. He flew higher and farther than any peacock possibly could, with his tail sparking and sparkling behind him like a shooting star. When he reached the village and soared over the sick girl’s hut, she stared at the sky with awe.

DAUGHTER: Daddy! Look! I see the fireworks! The fireworks are here! (beat) I feel better already!

NARRATOR: She leaped out of bed and raced outside. Her father followed. When the other villagers caught sight of the fireworks, they too ran outside and started singing and dancing in the street.

To this day, it’s said that if you see fireworks exploding in the sky… and you look very, very carefully… you might find Little Peacock, with his fiery tail – and his generous heart – burning bright.