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Circle Round Stories, 'Queen of the Forest' | Ep. 161

'Queen of the Forest' | Ep. 161

NARRATOR: In a thick, green forest on a steep, rugged hillside… lived Mountain Lion.

Mountain Lion had a sleek brown body and a long tan tail tipped with black. She was a beautiful creature… but she was also a very bossy one, who took great delight in pushing around all the other animals in the forest.

MOUNTAIN LION: Chipmunk!! Can you quit skittering around like that? You're making me nervous!

CHIPMUNK: But Mountain Lion! I have to build my nest! My family is expecting a new litter and we need a place to – [SOT: gets cut off somewhere]

MOUNTAIN LION: (interrupting) Not my problem! (beat) And Elk!! What do you think you're doing grazing in this part of the forest?! I was about to take a nap here!

ELK: But Mountain Lion! Couldn't I graze here for a little while, just this one time? I promise I'll only eat a little bit – [SOT: gets cut off somewhere]

MOUNTAIN LION: (interrupting) Absolutely not! Go graze somewhere else!

NARRATOR: This kind of thing went on and on. And the more Mountain Lion bullied the other animals, the less they bothered to stand up for themselves.

MOUNTAIN LION: Badger!! Did you really just drink from that stream? I always get the first sip!

BADGER: (meek) Sorry, Mountain Lion! How could I forget?! I'll be sure to remember next time!

MOUNTAIN LION: That's more like it! (beat) And Beaver!! Enough with the dam-building already! The way you're splashing those logs around in the water, I can hardly hear myself think!

BEAVER: (meek) Sorry, Mountain Lion! I just won't build a dam this year!

MOUNTAIN LION: Good!

NARRATOR: Mountain Lion turned into such a dictator – such a tyrant – that she actually came up with a title, officially declaring herself…

MOUNTAIN LION: …Queen of the Forest!

NARRATOR: Well, as you can imagine, the other animals were extremely unhappy about their new so-called Queen.

So one morning before sunrise, while Mountain Lion was still snoozing away, Beaver called everyone together for a secret meeting.

BEAVER: Okay, folks. This Mountain Lion thing is getting out of hand! Thanks to that bully, I can't even build a dam this year!

CHIPMUNK: And I'm afraid to build my nest!

ELK: And I'm afraid to graze anywhere!

BADGER: And I'm afraid to take a drink!

BEAVER: But what can we do? Other than… give up?

CHIPMUNK: Surrender?

ELK: Throw in the towel?

BADGER: Raise the white flag?

CRICKET: Um, you guys all know that those mean the same thing, right?

NARRATOR: The animals whipped their heads around, trying to see who had just piped up.

CRICKET: Down here, folks! It's me! (beat) Cricket!

[SOT: cricket chirp]

NARRATOR: The animals stared down at tiny, chirpy Cricket… with his short, stubby body, his six little legs, and his double sets of miniature wings.

CRICKET: Okay. Now that I have your attention, you'll be happy to know that I have the perfect plan for teaching Mountain Lion a lesson. All I have to do is get a hold of—

BEAVER: (interrupting) Um, thanks for chiming in, Cricket – or, uh, chirping in! (beat) But no offense… If we bigger animals can't figure out how to cut Mountain Lion down to size… then how in the world can a teeny little bug like you?

CRICKET: Okay first of all, I am not a “bug,” I am an “insect.” (quickly going into faux-lecture mode) Bugs are a type of insect, but they have straw-shaped mouths known as “stylets,” as well as partially-hardened wings.

BEAVER: Oh! So that's the difference! Did you guys know that?

CHIPMUNK: / ELK: / BADGER: I definitely didn't! Wow, I had no idea! Whaddya know? Isn't that wild?

CRICKET: (cutting them off to get back on track) Okay folks, we're getting off track here. The point is, I know exactly how to solve our problem! (beat) (dramatically, slowly) And believe it or not… the solution is even teenier than I am!

[theme music in]

NARRATOR: What do you think little Cricket's big idea is?

We'll find out, after a quick break.

[theme music out]

[SPONSOR BREAK]

[theme music in]

NARRATOR: Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Sheir. Today our story is called “Queen of the Forest.”

[theme music out]

NARRATOR: Before the break, Mountain Lion declared herself “Queen of the Forest”... and the other animals were growing tired of her bossiness.

Then one of the smallest critters – Cricket – told Chipmunk, Elk, Badger and Beaver that he had an idea for teaching Mountain Lion a lesson.

CHIPMUNK: Well? Tell us your idea, Cricket!

ELK: Yeah! Come out with it!

BADGER: Spill the beans!

BEAVER: Let the cat out of the bag!

CRICKET: I actually don't have time to explain right now, friends. The sun will be up soon, and so will Mountain Lion! And to set my plan in action, I must get to her before she wakes up. (beat) Toodle-oo!

CHIPMUNK: (calling out as CRICKET leaves) Good luck!

ELK: (calling out as CRICKET leaves) Godspeed!

BADGER: (calling out as CRICKET leaves) Break a leg!

BEAVER: (calling out as CRICKET leaves) May the forest be with you!

NARRATOR: Quickly and quietly, Cricket made his way to the thicket where Mountain Lion was sleeping. Then he crept inside one of Mountain Lion's big pointy ears… rubbed his wings together… and let out a chirp!

[SOT: cricket chirp]

NARRATOR: Immediately, Mountain Lion snapped open her eyes…

MOUNTAIN LION: (immediately waking up) Wha – what?! ?

NARRATOR: … looked around wildly…

MOUNTAIN LION: Who goes there??! Who?! ?

NARRATOR: …then narrowed her gaze on Cricket.

MOUNTAIN LION: (furious) You! You woke me up with your chirping, you pesky little bug!

CRICKET: Actually, I'm not a “bug,” I'm an “insect.” (quickly going into faux-lecture mode again) A bug is a type of insect, but it has a straw-shaped mouth known as a “stylet,” as well as—

MOUNTAIN LION: I don't care! The point is, you roused me from my sleep! And no one rouses the Queen of the Forest from her sleep!

CRICKET: (trying to get a rise out of MOUNTAIN LION as he sets his plan in motion) “Queen of the Forest,” huh? You really think you're the mightiest one around, don't you?

MOUNTAIN LION: “Think” it?!? I know it, you pipsqueak! One swipe of my powerful paw, one bite of my ferocious fangs, and anyone in this forest would be a goner!

CRICKET: (continuing his plan) Huh. So you say…

NARRATOR: Cricket's bulging eyes gleamed.

CRICKET: But what would you say if I told you I have a cousin who's far mightier than you are…? And she's barely half my size?

MOUNTAIN LION: (laughs) I would say you're out of your tiny little mind! It's crazy to think that someone half your size could possibly – [SOT: gets interrupted after “size”]

CRICKET: (interrupting/correcting MOUNTAIN LION) Barely half my size!

MOUNTAIN LION: Even better! (finishing his thought) …Barely half your size could possibly be mightier than I am!

CRICKET: Then let me prove it to you! Come back to this thicket tonight at sundown. I'll bring my cousin… you bring your “powerful paws” and “ferocious fangs”... and we'll see who comes out on top. (beat) Do we have a deal?

NARRATOR: Mountain Lion's face broke into a smug grin.

MOUNTAIN LION: (smug, ominous, even a bit dismissive) Oh yeah, Cricket. We have a deal.

NARRATOR: Well, it wasn't long before the other animals caught wind of Cricket's challenge – and thought he was out of his mind!

CHIPMUNK: Cricket is off his rocker!

ELK: He's lost his marbles!

BADGER: He's flipped his lid!

BEAVER: He's gone off the deep end!

CHIPMUNK: Does he really think that someone half his size could possibly—

ELK: (interrupting/correcting CHIPMUNK) Barely half his size!

CHIPMUNK: Right. (finishing the thought) …Barely half his size could defeat Mountain Lion?

ELK: Apparently… yes.

BADGER: Well, this I've gotta see.

BEAVER: Me too! Let's go!

NARRATOR: As the sun balanced on the horizon like a big orange ball, Mountain Lion came loping over to the thicket. Cricket – and all the other forest animals – were waiting.

MOUNTAIN LION: Okay, Cricket! The Queen of the Forest has arrived! Where is that mighty cousin of yours?

CRICKET: She's not here yet.

MOUNTAIN LION: Perhaps she's had second thoughts, then! Gotten cold feet! Though goodness knows those feet couldn't be anywhere near as big as my powerful paws! (laughter)

NARRATOR: As Mountain Lion cracked up at her own joke, the other animals leaned down toward Cricket.

CHIPMUNK: (stage-whisper) Um Cricket, are you sure your cousin didn't get cold feet?

ELK: (stage-whisper) Chicken out?

BADGER: (stage-whisper) Fly the coop?

BEAVER: (stage-whisper) Cut and run?

CRICKET: Don't worry, friends. My cousin will be here. She likes it best right after the sun goes down. Which should be right about…

NARRATOR: Cricket fixed his eyes on the horizon.

CRICKET: …Now!

NARRATOR: The moment the sun dropped out of sight, a high-pitched buzzing sound filled the air…

[SOT: mosquito buzz]

NARRATOR: …and suddenly Mountain Lion was leaping this way and that, gnashing her “ferocious fangs” and swatting her face with her “powerful paws”!

MOUNTAIN LION: Ouch! Ow! What's going on?!? I feel as if I'm being nipped and bitten all over! Yow! Ow! Oh!

NARRATOR: As the animals looked on, they realized exactly who Cricket's mysterious cousin was! The one “barely half his size”? It was none other than…

CHIPMUNK: / ELK: / BADGER: / BEAVER: (slowly) Mosquito!!! !

NARRATOR: Indeed! And as the tiny bug nipped and bit Mountain Lion all over her—

[SOT: buzzing stops]

MOSQUITO: (interrupting) Actually, if I might interrupt… Like my cousin, I'm not a “bug,” I'm an “insect.” (quickly going into faux-lecture mode) A bug is a type of insect, but it has a straw-shaped mouth known as a “stylet,” as well as—

NARRATOR: Right! Sorry.

[SOT: buzzing starts up again]

NARRATOR: As the tiny insect nipped and bit Mountain Lion all over her body, the so-called “Queen of the Forest” leaped and howled as if she were being attacked by a creature twice her size.

MOUNTAIN LION: (yelps, leaps, howls)

CRICKET: Well, Mountain Lion? Now what would you say if I told you I have a cousin who's far mightier than you are…?!? And she's barely half my size?! ?

MOUNTAIN LION: I would say – Ouch! Eek! Ooo! – that you're right! And I'm sorry! Oo! Eek! Ouch! I surrender!

CRICKET: (proud, satisfied) That's what I thought! Our work is done here!

NARRATOR: Cricket rubbed his wings together and let out a chirp, to signal Mosquito to stop.

[SOT: cricket chirp]

NARRATOR: Mosquito took one last nip at Mountain Lion's neck…

MOUNTAIN LION: Ouch!

NARRATOR: …then flitted away through the darkness.

[SOT: mosquito buzz gets quieter and quieter, then disappears]

NARRATOR: Well, that was the last time Mountain Lion lorded over the animals as the so-called “Queen of the Forest.”

Now that she'd been humbled by two little critters with the power of small, she became friendlier, kinder, and never again “bugged” anyone with her bullying.

CRICKET: Um, nice play on words, but like Mosquito and I said, we're not “bugs,” we're “insects.” (tired of reciting this at this point) A bug is a type of insect, but— oh… never mind.


'Queen of the Forest' | Ep. 161 Königin des Waldes" | Ep. 161 Reina del bosque' | Ep. 161 森の女王」|第161話 "Королева лісу" | Епізод 161 “森林女王”| ep。 161

**NARRATOR:** In a thick, green forest on a steep, rugged hillside… lived Mountain Lion.

Mountain Lion had a sleek brown body and a long tan tail tipped with black. Der Berglöwe hatte einen glatten braunen Körper und einen langen lohfarbenen Schwanz mit schwarzer Spitze. She was a beautiful creature… but she was also a very bossy one, who took great delight in pushing around all the other animals in the forest. Sie war ein wunderschönes Geschöpf... aber sie war auch sehr herrisch und hatte große Freude daran, alle anderen Tiere des Waldes herumzuschubsen.

**MOUNTAIN LION:** Chipmunk!! Can you quit skittering around like that? Kannst du aufhören, so herumzuhüpfen? You're making me nervous!

**CHIPMUNK:** But Mountain Lion! I have to build my nest! My family is expecting a new litter and we need a place to – [SOT: gets cut off somewhere] Meine Familie erwartet einen neuen Wurf und wir brauchen einen Platz zum - [SOT: wird irgendwo unterbrochen]

**MOUNTAIN LION:** (interrupting) Not my problem! (beat) And Elk!! (Beat) Und Elk!! What do you think you're doing grazing in this part of the forest?! Was fällt dir ein, in diesem Teil des Waldes zu grasen?! I was about to take a nap here!

**ELK:** But Mountain Lion! Couldn't I graze here for a little while, just this one time? Könnte ich nicht eine Weile hier grasen, nur dieses eine Mal? I promise I'll only eat a little bit – [SOT: gets cut off somewhere] Ich verspreche, dass ich nur ein kleines Stückchen essen werde - [SOT: wird irgendwo unterbrochen]

**MOUNTAIN LION:** (interrupting) Absolutely not! Go graze somewhere else!

**NARRATOR:** This kind of thing went on and on. So ging es weiter und weiter. And the more Mountain Lion bullied the other animals, the less they bothered to stand up for themselves.

**MOUNTAIN LION:** Badger!! Did you really just drink from that stream? Hast du wirklich gerade aus diesem Bach getrunken? I always get the first sip! Ich bekomme immer den ersten Schluck!

**BADGER:** (meek) Sorry, Mountain Lion! How could I forget?! Wie konnte ich das nur vergessen?! I'll be sure to remember next time!

**MOUNTAIN LION:** That's more like it! MOUNTAIN LION: Das ist schon besser! (beat) And Beaver!! Enough with the dam-building already! The way you're splashing those logs around in the water, I can hardly hear myself think!

**BEAVER:** (meek) Sorry, Mountain Lion! I just won't build a dam this year!

**MOUNTAIN LION:** Good!

**NARRATOR:** Mountain Lion turned into such a dictator – such a tyrant – that she actually came up with a title, officially declaring herself… Berglöwe entwickelte sich zu einer solchen Diktatorin - einer solchen Tyrannin - dass sie sich sogar einen Titel ausdachte und sich offiziell zu einer...

**MOUNTAIN LION:** …Queen of the Forest! BERGLÖWE: ...Königin des Waldes!

**NARRATOR:** Well, as you can imagine, the other animals were extremely unhappy about their new so-called Queen.

So one morning before sunrise, while Mountain Lion was still snoozing away, Beaver called everyone together for a secret meeting.

**BEAVER:** Okay, folks. This Mountain Lion thing is getting out of hand! Die Sache mit Mountain Lion gerät außer Kontrolle! Thanks to that bully, I can't even build a dam this year!

**CHIPMUNK:** And I'm afraid to build my nest!

**ELK:** And I'm afraid to graze anywhere!

**BADGER:** And I'm afraid to take a drink!

**BEAVER:** But what can we do? Other than… give up?

**CHIPMUNK:** Surrender?

**ELK:** Throw in the towel? ELK: Das Handtuch werfen?

**BADGER:** Raise the white flag? BADGER: Die weiße Flagge hissen?

**CRICKET:** Um, you guys all know that those mean the same thing, right? CRICKET: Ähm, ihr wisst doch alle, dass das das Gleiche bedeutet, oder?

**NARRATOR:** The animals whipped their heads around, trying to see who had just piped up. Die Tiere drehten ihre Köpfe herum und versuchten zu sehen, wer sich gerade gemeldet hatte.

**CRICKET:** Down here, folks! CRICKET: Hier unten, Leute! It's me! (beat) Cricket! (Beat) Cricket!

**[SOT: cricket chirp]**

**NARRATOR:** The animals stared down at tiny, chirpy Cricket… with his short, stubby body, his six little legs, and his double sets of miniature wings. Die Tiere starrten auf die winzige, zwitschernde Grille hinunter... mit ihrem kurzen, gedrungenen Körper, ihren sechs kleinen Beinen und ihren zwei Paar Miniaturflügeln.

**CRICKET:** Okay. Now that I have your attention, you'll be happy to know that I have the perfect plan for teaching Mountain Lion a lesson. Da ich nun Ihre Aufmerksamkeit habe, wird es Sie freuen zu hören, dass ich den perfekten Plan habe, um Mountain Lion eine Lektion zu erteilen. All I have to do is get a hold of— Alles, was ich tun muss, ist, zu erreichen...

**BEAVER:** (interrupting) Um, thanks for chiming in, Cricket – or, uh, chirping in! BEAVER: (unterbricht) Ähm, danke, dass du dich gemeldet hast, Cricket - oder, äh, gezwitschert hast! (beat) But no offense… If we bigger animals can't figure out how to cut Mountain Lion down to size… then how in the world can a teeny little bug like you? (Beat) Aber nichts für ungut... Wenn wir größeren Tiere nicht herausfinden können, wie man den Berglöwen zurechtstutzt... wie kann das dann ein winzig kleiner Käfer wie du?

**CRICKET:** Okay first of all, I am not a “bug,” I am an “insect.” (quickly going into faux-lecture mode) Bugs are a type of insect, but they have straw-shaped mouths known as “stylets,” as well as partially-hardened wings. CRICKET: Okay, zunächst einmal bin ich kein "Käfer", ich bin ein "Insekt". (geht schnell in den Fauxpas-Vorlesungsmodus über) Wanzen sind eine Art von Insekten, aber sie haben strohförmige Münder, die als "Stilett" bekannt sind, sowie teilweise gehärtete Flügel.

**BEAVER:** Oh! So that's the difference! Did you guys know that? Habt ihr das gewusst?

**CHIPMUNK: / ELK: / BADGER:** I definitely didn't! Wow, I had no idea! Wow, ich hatte ja keine Ahnung! Whaddya know? Wer hätte das gedacht? Isn't that wild? Ist das nicht verrückt?

**CRICKET:** (cutting them off to get back on track) Okay folks, we're getting off track here. CRICKET: (unterbricht sie, um zum Thema zurückzukehren) Okay, Leute, wir kommen hier vom Thema ab. The point is, I know exactly how to solve our problem! (beat) (dramatically, slowly) And believe it or not… the solution is even teenier than I am! (Beat) (dramatisch, langsam) Und ob du es glaubst oder nicht... die Lösung ist sogar noch kleiner als ich!

**[theme music in]**

**NARRATOR:** What do you think little Cricket's big idea is? Was, glaubst du, ist die große Idee der kleinen Cricket?

We'll find out, after a quick break. Das werden wir nach einer kurzen Pause herausfinden.

**[theme music out]**

**[SPONSOR BREAK]**

**[theme music in]**

**NARRATOR:** Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Sheir. Today our story is called “Queen of the Forest.”

**[theme music out]**

**NARRATOR:** Before the break, Mountain Lion declared herself “Queen of the Forest”... and the other animals were growing tired of her bossiness. Vor der Pause erklärte Berglöwe sich selbst zur "Königin des Waldes"... und die anderen Tiere hatten genug von ihrer Herrschsucht.

Then one of the smallest critters – Cricket – told Chipmunk, Elk, Badger and Beaver that he had an idea for teaching Mountain Lion a lesson. Dann erzählte eines der kleinsten Tiere - Cricket - dem Streifenhörnchen, dem Elch, dem Dachs und dem Biber, dass er eine Idee habe, wie er dem Berglöwen eine Lektion erteilen könne.

**CHIPMUNK:** Well? CHIPMUNK: Und? Tell us your idea, Cricket!

**ELK:** Yeah! Come out with it!

**BADGER:** Spill the beans! BADGER: Raus mit der Sprache!

**BEAVER:** Let the cat out of the bag!

**CRICKET:** I actually don't have time to explain right now, friends. CRICKET: Ich habe jetzt eigentlich keine Zeit, das zu erklären, Freunde. The sun will be up soon, and so will Mountain Lion! Die Sonne wird bald aufgehen, und Mountain Lion auch! And to set my plan in action, I must get to her before she wakes up. Und um meinen Plan in die Tat umzusetzen, muss ich bei ihr sein, bevor sie aufwacht. (beat) Toodle-oo!

**CHIPMUNK:** (calling out as CRICKET leaves) Good luck!

**ELK:** (calling out as CRICKET leaves) Godspeed!

**BADGER:** (calling out as CRICKET leaves) Break a leg! BADGER: (ruft, als CRICKET geht) Hals- und Beinbruch!

**BEAVER:** (calling out as CRICKET leaves) May the forest be with you!

**NARRATOR:** Quickly and quietly, Cricket made his way to the thicket where Mountain Lion was sleeping. Then he crept inside one of Mountain Lion's big pointy ears… rubbed his wings together… and let out a chirp! Dann kroch er in eines der großen spitzen Ohren des Berglöwen... rieb seine Flügel aneinander... und ließ ein Zwitschern hören!

**[SOT: cricket chirp]**

**NARRATOR:** Immediately, Mountain Lion snapped open her eyes… Sofort riss Berglöwe die Augen auf...

**MOUNTAIN LION:** (immediately waking up) Wha – what?! ?

**NARRATOR:** … looked around wildly…

**MOUNTAIN LION:** Who goes there??! MOUNTAIN LION: Wer geht da hin??! Who?! ?

**NARRATOR:** …then narrowed her gaze on Cricket.

**MOUNTAIN LION:** (furious) You! BERGLÖWE: (wütend) Du! You woke me up with your chirping, you pesky little bug! Du hast mich mit deinem Gezwitscher geweckt, du lästiger kleiner Käfer!

**CRICKET:** Actually, I'm not a “bug,” I'm an “insect.” (quickly going into faux-lecture mode again) A bug is a type of insect, but it has a straw-shaped mouth known as a “stylet,” as well as— CRICKET: Eigentlich bin ich kein "Käfer", ich bin ein "Insekt". (schnell wieder in den Pseudo-Vortragsmodus übergehend) Ein Käfer ist eine Art von Insekt, aber er hat einen strohförmigen Mund, der als "Stachel" bekannt ist, sowie...

**MOUNTAIN LION:** I don't care! The point is, you roused me from my sleep! And no one rouses the Queen of the Forest from her sleep! Und niemand weckt die Königin des Waldes aus ihrem Schlaf!

**CRICKET:** (trying to get a rise out of MOUNTAIN LION as he sets his plan in motion) “Queen of the Forest,” huh? CRICKET: (versucht, MOUNTAIN LION zum Lachen zu bringen, während er seinen Plan in die Tat umsetzt) "Königin des Waldes", hm? You really think you're the mightiest one around, don't you? Sie halten sich wirklich für den Mächtigsten hier, nicht wahr?

**MOUNTAIN LION:** “Think” it?!? I know it, you pipsqueak! Ich weiß es, du Schwachkopf! One swipe of my powerful paw, one bite of my ferocious fangs, and anyone in this forest would be a goner! Ein Hieb meiner mächtigen Pranke, ein Biss meiner wilden Reißzähne, und jeder in diesem Wald wäre tot!

**CRICKET:** (continuing his plan) Huh. So you say…

NARRATOR: Cricket's bulging eyes gleamed. Crickets vorgewölbte Augen funkelten.

**CRICKET:** But what would you say if I told you I have a cousin who's far mightier than you are…? And she's barely half my size? Und sie ist kaum halb so groß wie ich?

**MOUNTAIN LION:** (laughs) I would say you're out of your tiny little mind! MOUNTAIN LION: (lacht) Ich würde sagen, du hast deinen winzig kleinen Verstand verloren! It's crazy to think that someone half your size could possibly – [SOT: gets interrupted after “size”] Es ist verrückt zu denken, dass jemand, der halb so groß ist wie du, möglicherweise - [SOT: wird nach "Größe" unterbrochen]

**CRICKET:** (interrupting/correcting MOUNTAIN LION) Barely half my size!

**MOUNTAIN LION:** Even better! (finishing his thought) …Barely half your size could possibly be mightier than I am! (beendet seinen Gedanken) ...Kaum halb so groß wie du, könnte er mächtiger sein als ich!

**CRICKET:** Then let me prove it to you! Come back to this thicket tonight at sundown. I'll bring my cousin… you bring your “powerful paws” and “ferocious fangs”... and we'll see who comes out on top. (beat) Do we have a deal?

**NARRATOR:** Mountain Lion's face broke into a smug grin.

**MOUNTAIN LION:** (smug, ominous, even a bit dismissive) Oh yeah, Cricket. MOUNTAIN LION: (selbstgefällig, bedrohlich, sogar ein wenig herablassend) Oh ja, Cricket. We have a deal.

**NARRATOR:** Well, it wasn't long before the other animals caught wind of Cricket's challenge – and thought he was out of his mind! Es dauerte nicht lange, bis die anderen Tiere von Crickets Herausforderung Wind bekamen - und dachten, er sei verrückt geworden!

**CHIPMUNK:** Cricket is off his rocker! CHIPMUNK: Cricket hat den Verstand verloren!

**ELK:** He's lost his marbles! ELK: Er hat den Verstand verloren!

**BADGER:** He's flipped his lid! BADGER: Er hat den Verstand verloren!

**BEAVER:** He's gone off the deep end! BEAVER: Er ist völlig übergeschnappt!

**CHIPMUNK:** Does he really think that someone half his size could possibly— CHIPMUNK: Denkt er wirklich, dass jemand, der nur halb so groß ist wie er, möglicherweise...

**ELK:** (interrupting/correcting CHIPMUNK) Barely half his size! ELK: (unterbricht/korrigiert CHIPMUNK) Kaum halb so groß wie er!

**CHIPMUNK:** Right. (finishing the thought) …Barely half his size could defeat Mountain Lion? (beendet den Gedanken) ...Kaum halb so groß wie er könnte Berglöwe besiegen?

**ELK:** Apparently… yes.

**BADGER:** Well, this I've gotta see. BADGER: Nun, das muss ich sehen.

**BEAVER:** Me too! Let's go!

**NARRATOR:** As the sun balanced on the horizon like a big orange ball, Mountain Lion came loping over to the thicket. Als die Sonne wie ein großer orangefarbener Ball am Horizont schwebte, kam Berglöwe in das Dickicht getrottet. Cricket – and all the other forest animals – were waiting. Cricket - und all die anderen Waldtiere - warteten schon.

**MOUNTAIN LION:** Okay, Cricket! The Queen of the Forest has arrived! Die Königin des Waldes ist da! Where is that mighty cousin of yours? Wo ist dein mächtiger Cousin?

**CRICKET:** She's not here yet. CRICKET: Sie ist noch nicht da.

**MOUNTAIN LION:** Perhaps she's had second thoughts, then! MOUNTAIN LION: Vielleicht hat sie es sich ja anders überlegt! Gotten cold feet! Ich habe kalte Füße bekommen! Though goodness knows those feet couldn't be anywhere near as big as my powerful paws! Aber Gott weiß, dass diese Füße nicht annähernd so groß sein können wie meine kräftigen Pfoten! (laughter)

**NARRATOR:** As Mountain Lion cracked up at her own joke, the other animals leaned down toward Cricket. Als Berglöwe über ihren eigenen Witz lachte, beugten sich die anderen Tiere zu Cricket hinunter.

**CHIPMUNK:** (stage-whisper) Um Cricket, are you sure your cousin didn't get cold feet? CHIPMUNK: (Bühnenflüstern) Ähm Cricket, bist du sicher, dass deine Cousine keine kalten Füße bekommen hat?

**ELK:** (stage-whisper) Chicken out? ELK: (Bühnengeflüster) Feigling raus?

**BADGER:** (stage-whisper) Fly the coop? BADGER: (Bühnengeflüster) Das Nest verlassen?

**BEAVER:** (stage-whisper) Cut and run? BEAVER: (Bühnenflüstern) Abhauen und weglaufen?

**CRICKET:** Don't worry, friends. My cousin will be here. Mein Cousin wird hier sein. She likes it best right after the sun goes down. Am liebsten mag sie es gleich nach Sonnenuntergang. Which should be right about… Das sollte ungefähr so sein...

**NARRATOR:** Cricket fixed his eyes on the horizon. Cricket richtete seinen Blick auf den Horizont.

**CRICKET:** …Now!

**NARRATOR:** The moment the sun dropped out of sight, a high-pitched buzzing sound filled the air… In dem Moment, als die Sonne aus dem Blickfeld verschwand, erfüllte ein hohes, summendes Geräusch die Luft...

**[SOT: mosquito buzz]** [SOT: Mückensummen]

**NARRATOR:** …and suddenly Mountain Lion was leaping this way and that, gnashing her “ferocious fangs” and swatting her face with her “powerful paws”! ...und plötzlich sprang der Berglöwe hin und her, knirschte mit seinen "wilden Zähnen" und schlug ihr mit seinen "mächtigen Pfoten" ins Gesicht!

**MOUNTAIN LION:** Ouch! Ow! What's going on?!? I feel as if I'm being nipped and bitten all over! Ich fühle mich, als würde ich überall gekniffen und gebissen werden! Yow! Ow! Oh!

**NARRATOR:** As the animals looked on, they realized exactly who Cricket's mysterious cousin was! Als die Tiere zusahen, erkannten sie genau, wer Crickets geheimnisvoller Cousin war! The one “barely half his size”? Der, der "kaum halb so groß ist wie er"? It was none other than… Es war niemand anderes als...

**CHIPMUNK: / ELK: / BADGER: / BEAVER:** (slowly) Mosquito!!! CHIPMUNK: / ELK: / BADGER: / BEAVER: (langsam) Mosquito!!! !

**NARRATOR:** Indeed! In der Tat! And as the tiny bug nipped and bit Mountain Lion all over her— Und als der winzige Käfer den Berglöwen in den Hintern biss, da...

**[SOT: buzzing stops]**

**MOSQUITO:** (interrupting) Actually, if I might interrupt… Like my cousin, I'm not a “bug,” I'm an “insect.” (quickly going into faux-lecture mode) A bug is a type of insect, but it has a straw-shaped mouth known as a “stylet,” as well as— MOSQUITO: (unterbricht) Eigentlich, wenn ich unterbrechen darf... Wie mein Cousin bin ich kein "Käfer", sondern ein "Insekt". (geht schnell in den Pseudo-Vortragsmodus über) Ein Käfer ist eine Art von Insekt, aber er hat einen strohförmigen Mund, der als "Stachel" bekannt ist, sowie...

**NARRATOR:** Right! Sorry.

**[SOT: buzzing starts up again]**

**NARRATOR:** As the tiny insect nipped and bit Mountain Lion all over her body, the so-called “Queen of the Forest” leaped and howled as if she were being attacked by a creature twice her size. Als das winzige Insekt den Berglöwen am ganzen Körper biss und stach, sprang die so genannte "Königin des Waldes" auf und heulte, als würde sie von einer doppelt so großen Kreatur angegriffen werden.

**MOUNTAIN LION:** (yelps, leaps, howls)

**CRICKET:** Well, Mountain Lion? Now what would you say if I told you I have a cousin who's far mightier than you are…?!? Was würdest du sagen, wenn ich dir sagen würde, dass ich einen Cousin habe, der viel mächtiger ist als du...? And she's barely half my size?! Und sie ist kaum halb so groß wie ich?! ?

**MOUNTAIN LION:** I would say – Ouch! MOUNTAIN LION: Ich würde sagen - Autsch! Eek! Ooo! – that you're right! And I'm sorry! Oo! Eek! Ouch! I surrender! Ich ergebe mich!

**CRICKET:** (proud, satisfied) That's what I thought! CRICKET: (stolz, zufrieden) Das habe ich mir gedacht! Our work is done here! Unsere Arbeit ist hier getan!

**NARRATOR:** Cricket rubbed his wings together and let out a chirp, to signal Mosquito to stop. Die Grille rieb ihre Flügel aneinander und gab ein Zirpen von sich, um Mücke zu signalisieren, dass sie aufhören sollte.

**[SOT: cricket chirp]** [SOT: Grille zirpt]

**NARRATOR:** Mosquito took one last nip at Mountain Lion's neck… Mosquito biss ein letztes Mal in den Hals von Mountain Lion...

**MOUNTAIN LION:** Ouch!

**NARRATOR:** …then flitted away through the darkness. ...und huschte dann durch die Dunkelheit davon.

**[SOT: mosquito buzz gets quieter and quieter, then disappears]** (SOT: Das Summen der Mücke wird immer leiser und verschwindet dann)

**NARRATOR:** Well, that was the last time Mountain Lion lorded over the animals as the so-called “Queen of the Forest.”

Now that she'd been humbled by two little critters with the power of small, she became friendlier, kinder, and never again “bugged” anyone with her bullying. Jetzt, da sie von zwei kleinen Tieren mit der Kraft des Kleinen gedemütigt worden war, wurde sie freundlicher und gütiger und hat nie wieder jemanden mit ihren Schikanen "genervt".

**CRICKET:** Um, nice play on words, but like Mosquito and I said, we're not “bugs,” we're “insects.” (tired of reciting this at this point) A bug is a type of insect, but— oh… never mind.