Here you will find the Global Story Unfolding Across All 24 Time Zones
On December 1st, 13 storytellers told a 24 part story over the course of one day. Below you can listen to that story.
Each story is between 10 and 20 minutes. Some begin in silence - just keep listening!
Introduction and Part One: The River's Story
The story begins with a river and a Blum Gum tree talking to one another. They are old friends. It is a hot day and the tree is grumpy as all the birds have moved by the billabong, in the shade. To soothe his loneliness, the river tells him the story of Opa - an eccentric old man who, a long time ago, arrived on a boat of blue butterflies, with a parrot on his shoulder and a spider living in his shoe. He left his home wanting to find the best butter for Oma's apple pie, but got lost along the way. After walking for a very long time, Opa meets a little girl.
Part Two: The Bridge Apple
Along the Onondaga River, a ailing storyteller tells a story about a traveler that walked around the world following this river and listening to the trees along its banks. Over time the traveler heard a name repeated over and over. It was Joy. And as he spoke or sang this name, he was filled with energy and healing. When Janet, the ailing storyteller finished the story, the community sings a song of joy, hoping she might feel better. Instead she felt the impulse to walk, to travel, and to see the world along the banks of the river.
Part Three: Sparkles of the Universe
The story begins in some distant universe that is newly forming. the planets chat with each other. animals, plants, other creatures can hear them just fine and understand them but humans don't seem to. They asked the question across many universes and they all are still wondering.
Part Four: When the Witch Woke
A wicked witch enters the story. People say she is dead. But is she really? We follow her walking along the river, searching for truth. And in her dreams she is reminded of a time when she was loved by her people. But what happened when she woke?
Part Five: When She was Young
A little girl who walks barefoot by the river, carefree, was well loved by her mother who wrapped her in a warm clean cloth and sang to her- you are my sunshine, as she grew she romped the forest, she loved to talk to the trees and plants, she fell asleep under a laurel tree and when she awoke there was the apple. The apple whispered stories of the people who also walked along this river, she could hear the plants talking to the planets and she knew "everything would be ok." She tried to share this apple with others, but many did not understand. She maybe grew up to be misunderstood, but was she truly wicked, or had she just remembered something?
Part Six: Joy's Imagination
Joy has fallen into a place she doesn't know. She is quite curious and content, but there is only darkness so she imagines her favorite forest and her favorite magical apple tree which she had planted long ago. She encounters an old woman who speaks like the sound of trees, who tells her she will wait here until it is time. She offers her a magical stew and Joy become aware that many many people are looking for her because they don't where she's gone, but she doesn't know, so she waits for them to find her.
Part Seven: Opa and Jane Begin Their Journey
Opa meets young lost girl Jane. An old woman appears from behind the tree and says she knows how to help them find their butter and home. She tells them they must journey through the river for seven bends and on the seventh bend they will discover a golden lake and waterfall. Behind the waterfall is a cave and in the cave lives a Dracon. The Dracon is protecting the many colored apples. Inside the apples they will find the butter Opa is seeking. At each river bend they will find a gift for the Dracon and the world. Opa and Jane see a golden raft floating towards them pulled by a flock of kookaburas. They board the raft and he old woman shares a loaf of bread wrapped in an emerald colored silk. Off they float.
Part Eight: The Cottage at the First Bend
Jane and Opa arrive at the first bend in the river, and they see a welcoming cottage. In the garden there is a woman singing to bee hives in a strange language, (perhaps she is of the fair world, perhaps she is a witch?), and she gives them some honey for their bread and speaks of the bees singing the sounds of the stars. She also believes they will need a jar of her honey (perhaps as an offering to the Dracon?) Jane notices as they go to leave that in her pocket is a small matchbox with a picture, painted by her mother of a small golden raft.
Part Nine: The Lighthouse at the Second Bend
Opa and Jane continue along the river when they are swept away in remarkable sounds: a clear crystal song mixed with sound of the sea. She looks up and sees that ahead, at the second bend, is a lighthouse. They are in a reverie of sound as the raft brings them to the shore and they walk along a winding path through the woods to see a lighthouse. There sitting on a bench is a woman of all ages humming the same tune Jane could hear. The old woman recieves the honey and gives them a gift in return. What could it be?
Part Ten: A Ribbon of Swirling Colors
Jane and Opa are surprised at the lighthouse lady's disappearance but curious as to the gift she left behind: a Jade box full of swirling colors revealing a small koi fish inside humming a song. The song says "here am I" and the fish tells Jane and Opa that they have a choice to make, either to take the raft into the ocean, or to follow the river to the next bend. They choose the river way, and fall asleep on the raft. They awake to see the jade box thrown overboard. Jade tries to fetch it out but can not. A magical thing happens as the swirling colors start to seep out of the box into the river itself causing the whole river to now take on the colors, of electric orange green magenta and yellow. The fish itself grows larger and is also multi-colored. It talks to Jane and Opa saying follow me to the next bend in the river! As it swims out in front of it, a ribbon of swirling colors comes out of its tail leaving a trail to follow.
Part Eleven: A Memory of Pirate Camp
The two embarked on a mission to discover the origin of mysterious little footsteps found at pirate camp. They sailed the Seven Seas and investigated the area, eventually finding a wooden boat that emitted a wind-like story when played. When they encountered a tiny creature resembling a gnome. Jane and Opa realized these were the same footsteps Opa had seen as a child, leading to a happy reunion with the gnomes. Jane and Opa gathered materials to start a fire, using matches from a woman at a cottage. They collected water from the river and prepared tea using pine leaves, berries, and laurel leaves.
Part Twelve: A Cathedral of Gem Stones
Opa discovered a trail of sparkling stones while camping with Jane, which led them deeper into the forest. The stones, which included various colors, seemed to guide them to a cave. Opa and Jane then feel guided by an earthy presence to take these gifts on their journey. As they emerged from the cave into the forest at night, they carried the stones in their satchels, feeling a sense of warmth and purpose. They continued following the river, noticing animal footprints in the mud, and set off through the forest, carrying the rainbow path with them. followed the footprints of a fox after considering whether to trust the animal prints leading them. The fox eventually approached them cautiously, and Opa reached out to gently touch its head, allowing the fox to communicate its willingness to guide them around the next river bend.
Part Thirteen: Joy Remembers
In the place outside of time and the time outside of place, the old woman paces. She feels and catches glimpses of the koi dracon/ and his energy rippling around her. The scent of the gingerbread and pickles bothering her nose, she feels hungry and recalls the taste of the apple she had just eaten when she had begun to fall and fall until she landed on the soft moss beneath the apple tree not knowing where she was but she hears the sounds of the voices calling for Joy and the clear beautiful sound of the mysterious song coming straight toward her. Suddenly she is surrounded by sound and when it quiets one by one the gnomes appear and they laugh and laugh as she realizes what has happened and they mischievously plot together over tea, how to deliver the next message to Opa. They decide there must be a hero, a witch, and apples. Definitely apples.
Part Fourteen: How to Help Jane
Jane woke from what seemed like a dream-she could hear the gnomes and bells? Was this a dream or another time and place? She woke with a gasp and felt so hot. She was in the arms of Opa. He was carrying her and his voice sounded urgent. He was talking to the fox about getting Jane help. She seemed to have a very high fever. The fox said we must get her to the badger. The river is the fasted route to the next bend. There will be rapids. They made it to the bend. A giant owl awaited and below the tree and int the ground they found the grumpy badger. He didn't like waking in mid winter. He grabbed his blue coat and red boots and let the way to the hare. They found the hare who led them to a misty meadow and bonfire. The old woman was sitting by the fire. She seemed to be waiting for them. She took Jane in her arms and healed her. Jane now felt cool and so grateful. She didn't want to leave without sharing her gratitide. Just then Opa remembered the spider living in his shoe. He took her out and she spun a warm silvery silk blanket for the woman. They headed back to their golden raft but not without the fox-nothing like the gift of friendship.
Part Fifteen: What the Fox Saw
Opa and Jane return to their raft after a healing excursion. The fox accompanied them, and despite their distraction, a spider climbed out of Opa's shoe and communicated with the fox, who then received a mysterious golden scarf. The fox later caught Opa's eye, signaling that it had completed its task, and then they all fell into a protective sleep.
Part Sixteen: More About Opa
We explore Opa's history of being born and raised in Northern Africa and his passion for tightrope walking. There was a particular artist who used to sing a song while walking that sent Opa into a trance. While in the trance, he would imagine a fox. The fox became his friend and in time he believed that he and the fox were one. He searched for the fox but instead he found Oma, his wife.
Part Seventeen: The Dracon Statue
Opa and Jane continue on until they reach the next bend. Ahead they see something that shines like the moon and this gives them both memories of the past. As they approach, they see that it is in fact a statue of the Dracon, or guardian dragon. At the base of the statue is a gift for them. A flute. They take the flute with them.
Part Eighteen: Joy's Flute
From the bend their current spot they hear humming. They follow the sound to the next bend to find Joy, lounging under an apple tree humming to herself and carving a flute from an elderberry branch. They invite her to join them in their journey downstream to the lake and Dracon. She was delighted to join them, and brought along her songs and flute (another gift for the Dracon). As they are drifting downstream, Jane admires the silvery fish swimming alogside the boat. She begins humming and then is surpised when a lovely tinkling music seems to come from everywhere at once. The travelers look in every direction but can't seem to place the point of origin until Jane looks down and realizes the sound is coming from the fish. Could they be mer-folk she wonders? Opa loves this thought and they are each content to continue their journey with these magical fish as guides/companions.
Part Nineteen: Apple Tree of the Fifth Bend
Jane was looking down into the water admiring the rainbow fish when she began to feel rain drops and heard the rain and wind howling. The fish swam away and the water began to swirl as the boat rocked back and forth. Jane smelt peanut butter and the smell reminded her of her grandmother telling stories in the rain and she always smelled like peanut butter. Opa fell overboard but was saved by the merfolk. He was struggling though after his rescue and closed his eyes. Jane and Joy were worried about his well being. They came to the 5th bend and decided to stop for a rest and further assess Opa. When they landed it was dark and they could barely see, only a sliver of moonlight shining through the many branches of the tree. They were in a grove but were standing under the tallest tree with branches stretching wide in every which way. Joy remembered that sprinkling apples with salt as a healing remedy. She couldn't remember what this was called (apple slinky). They gave some to Opa and he woke. The trees had a lot to say. They shared that the rest of the journey will be hard the river will be difficult to paddle alone. Jane remembered the flock of kookaburas from when they first boarded the boat. They appeared again to help and the merfolk along with their dolphin and sea turtle friends also agreed to help. As they were leaving they noticed something sparkling in a hole in the tree. It was a beatuful smooth seashell and a note. The note said this journey is not what you think.....it will surpise you. But it will be way better than you could ever imagine. And off they went......
Part Twenty: The Tightrope Across the Big Bend
In the Star Fields the cows much on rainbow grasses while inside there are kitchen sounds and someone humming to themselves. Over on the riverbank, Opa, Jane and Joy have woken up after camping for the night. The blue butterfly has returned. The fox too. He still wears the golden scarf woven by the spider. Opa knows they will soon come to the next bend. The Big Bend. They climb back onto their raft and the sky begins to darken. The fox and Opa have a plan. The blue butterfly must know it because she takes the end of the thread that Opa holds in his fingers. He has pulled it from the scarf. The butterfly carries it across the vast open waters and land on the other side creating a tiny bridge of golden light that Opa steps out onto. He balances (he is a skilled tightrope walker, after all) all the way to the middle of the water but the sky has grown very dark and the wind is picking up. Suddenly there is sound everywhere around him and the sound of a flute begins to play "You Are My Sunshine" and Opa goes still on the tightrope over the great river as he falls deep into a trance as the wind begins to whip around him. Frightened, Jane yells but Opa can't hear her. She looks around her for help only to find that Joy is gone. Across the water in the darkness there is a dark shape that could be an old witch. In her hand it looks like she could be holding a small light colored shell. Jane suddenly hears the phrase "smooth on one side and rough on the other. But not unpleasantly so."
Part Twenty One: Surrender
The story continues with Opa on the tightrope. Only Opa knows that if he doesnt remain on the thread that it will break and calamity will ensue. Therefore he keeps very very still, holding the thread together with all of his will. Meanwhile on the banks of the river: Jane is becoming increasingly anxious, Joy has entered a meditative state to send protection energy and the fox is on heightened alert. Jane becomes very scared and slips on the bank, falling into the treacherous dark water, the fox jumps in immediately to help her but is swept away and under the current. Jane is also swept under the current. Opa sees this unfolding but knows that he must hold the thread together or ever greater tragedy will unfold. The fox becomes stuck under the water and his scarf is torn away as he struggles to get back to the surface. Jane has been pulled further downstream and under the water. She is out of everyones site and well down stream. Miraculously she is rescued by a family of badgers and brought back to their den to recover. She wakes up hours later and feels safe and warm, then she notices that she i wrapped in the foxes scarf which must have floated downstream and tangled into her before the badgers saved her. She begins to sob imaging what must have happened to the fox for him to lose his scarf. The tears flow down the scarf and onto the thread which is still somehow attached to the scarf and reaching all the way to Opa and Joy. Eventually the tears wet the entire thread, freeing Opa to slide down to safety. The fox, Joy and Opa then follow the thread back to the den where they discover Jane with the family. The have an emotional reunion and spend the night in the den with the Badgers before heading back out on the river the following day
Part Twenty Two: The Woman in the Moon
The seven gnomes reappeared to offer provisions for the rest of the journey down the river: peanutbutter cookies, pickles, and gingerbread cookies. Jane wondered why there were seven gnomes, because she knew gnomes were always born as twins. She wondered if the seventh gnome had been lost like she was before she realized she had a chosen family. It was time to go, and the journey along the river was peaceful and beautiful. Opa began to miss his wife, and in that moment he realized who Joy truly was. He hadn't recognized her because he had a condition called prosopagnosia, which is face blindness. As they traveled down the river, the colors from the fish were reflected in the flowers, trees, and sky... until the sun set. As the sun set, the full moon began to rise. The beauty of the moon inspired the fox to sing, and Jane recognized the moon as the woman who healed her in the misty meadow. She was wrapped in the silver blanket woven by the spider. The fox threw his golden scarf up to her, with one thread held fast by Joy. Joy loved the reflection of the moonlight on the river, and she knew the pie she would make with the special butter in the apples protected by Dracon behind the waterfall would be a very important and significant pie, but it was unclear why.
Part Twenty Three: The Apple Pie is Ready
Dracon with the big scales likes precious treats and beautiful sounds, which the seven gnomes and Opa and Jane were able to offer. They felt the warmth from the earth, possibly from gems, which kept everyone warm despite the cold night. Jane realized she was in her own backyard when she felt the golden thread of her scarf, and she heard familiar sounds that might have been her mother and father calling from the distance. She recognized the smell of the magical apple pie her mother made, and she wondered if perhaps the pie was ready.
Part Twenty Four: The Witch's Final Story
There are no endings.
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