Throwback: The Hugging Contest
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Welcome to Stories Podcast. I'm your host, Amanda Weldon. Today's story is a throwback episode. Tune in to hear one of our classic stories from the archive that you might have missed the first time around.

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This episode of Stories Podcast is sponsored by Squarespace. Squarespace is the all-in-one website platform for entrepreneurs to stand out and succeed online. Whether you're just launching a new venture or managing a successful business, Squarespace makes it possible to create a beautiful website and engage with your audience. And Squarespace makes it so easy to sell anything from products to content to time, all in one place, all on your terms,

with Squarespace Payments. Onboarding is fast and simple. Get started in just a few clicks and start receiving payments right away. It's even easy to invoice clients and create proposals, estimates, and contracts. Simplify your workflow and manage your business on one platform. Also, Squarespace has integrated SEO tools. Every Squarespace website is optimized to be indexed with meta descriptions, an auto-generated site map, and more.

so you show up more often to more people in global search engine results. Head to squarespace.com for a free trial. And when you're ready to launch, squarespace.com slash dragon to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. That's squarespace.com slash dragon for 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. The Toyota Tundra and Tacoma are designed to outlast and outlive.

Combining raw power with precision engineering, all backed by Toyota's legendary reputation for reliability. Climb inside a Tundra and experience the uncompromising strength. With its available i-FORCE MAX engine, the Tundra delivers exceptional power, torque, and towing capacity. Plus, the spacious and high-tech cabin keeps you connected on the run. Or check out a Tacoma – agile, dependable, and unstoppable –

The Tacoma is designed for those who go beyond the trails. Stay ahead of the pack with available off-road features like crawl control, or break out your tunes with the available portable JBL speaker. Toyota trucks are built to last, year after year, mile after mile. So outlast every adventure and outlive the moment. Buy a Tundra or Tacoma today. Visit BuyAToyota.com, Toyota's official website for deals,

Or stop by your local Toyota dealer to find out more. Toyota. Let's go places. Thanks! Enjoy the episode! The Hugging Contest Once upon a time, in a friendly old forest, there was a wild commotion.

Animals ran back and forth from tree to stream to cave to hollow, babbling excitedly about the big plans for the day. The birds chirped about it, the wolves howled about it, the mice squeaked about it, and even the bugs buzzed about it. It was all anyone could talk about, and as the start time neared, the gathering crowd grew louder and louder.

It got so loud that it woke up Scales, a very long and very sleepy snake. "'What's everyone making all this fuss about?' he asked, lifting his sleek green head and tasting the air with quick flicks of his tongue. He was in the middle of his afternoon sun nap, which he always took in a bright little clearing near the center of the forest, right on top of the rock he slept under."

Usually it was quiet. More than quiet, it was downright serene. Not today, though. Didn't you hear? said a very small rabbit with very large feet. It's finally time! Finally time for what? Scales asked, confused. The rabbit rolled her eyes and twitched her cottony tail. The contest! It's finally time for the contest!

What contest? Scales was more confused than ever. The rabbit shook her head. What, do you live under a rock? Actually, yes, Scales said. I live under this rock we're sitting on now. Oh, well, that makes sense then, said the rabbit, embarrassed. It's the hugging contest. We're all coming together to see who can give the best, coziest, tightest hug.

Scales lifted up on his long body and peered around. He saw animals of all kinds, from foxes and hawks to squirrels and sloths and many more. They were all laughing and having a good time and many a hug was already taking place. Looks like fun! How do I enter? The rabbit looked Scales up and down and then laughed right in his face.

How can you hug? You've got no arms. You're just a snake. You've got no charms. You're hooking fangs. Set off alarms. You'll never win. You best believe. I've got two arms like cotton balls. Softer than a spring rain falls. More cozy than when mother calls. It's clear to see. It's best you leave. It's best you leave.

The song stung scales, not literally like a bee would sting. The song hurt his feelings. Was it his fault he had no arms? Or legs, for that matter? Was it his fault he was basically one long neck? No, no it wasn't, and he wouldn't be talked out of the contest so easily.

He slithered off his rock and into the crowd. Hugs were happening on all sides, and already people were comparing notes about who hugged the best. Scales saw a large, colorful bird hugging anyone who happened by. He didn't have arms either. Well, not really. He had wings, but did those count? No, Scales decided. No, they didn't. He slithered up to the bird and then raised himself out of the grass.

"'Care to hug?' he asked. The bird looked him up. Then the bird looked him down. Then the bird burst out in squawking laughter. "'Rack, how can you hug? You've got no arms. The way you slither hardly charms your beady eyes and awful arms. You'll never win, you best believe.'

I've got wings of puffy feather, and they're dry in any weather. I give hugs as smooth as leather, it's clear to see. It's best you leave. It's best you leave! Scales had thought the song stung the first time. Well, it was even worse the second. Why would no one hug him? Did it really matter that he had no arms? Was he really that poorly made?

Scales didn't believe it. He wasn't made wrong, he was just a little different, and he just had to look a little harder. He slithered back into the crowd. It was starting to thin a little now as the real competitors met in the middle. As he watched, a giant bear hugged a lamb so well that the lamb himself declared the bear the winner. Scales thought about challenging the bear next, but she already had a line in front of her.

What I need, thought Scales, is someone tough. Someone who will be up for a challenge. He scanned the crowd. There, a slinky bobcat was laying on a low limb nearby. She was spotted and tawny, her fur sparkling in the sun and her whiskers drooping magnificently. She was perfect.

"'Hello there, my fine feline friend,' Scales said, looking up to her on the branch. "'Would you care to hug?' "'Of course I would,' said the bobcat. "'I'm always up for a hugging contest.' She hopped down from the branch and landed gracefully on silent pause. When she saw it was Scales who had challenged her, she started laughing, those droopy whiskers shaking.

How can you hug? You've got no arms, a hissing voice just never charms. Your flicking tongue sets awful arms, you'll never win. You best believe. I've got these arms of silky fur, they come in comfort like a purr. My hugs are huge, they all concur, it's clear to see. It's best you leave. It's best you leave.

Now for a quick ad break. We'll be back with the rest of the story after this. If you'd like Stories Podcast and other favorite kid podcasts ad-free, subscribe to Wondery Plus Kids on Apple Podcasts. This episode of Stories Podcast is sponsored by Squarespace. Squarespace is the all-in-one website platform for entrepreneurs to stand out and succeed online.

Whether you're just launching a new venture or managing a successful business, Squarespace makes it possible to create a beautiful website and engage with your audience. And Squarespace makes it so easy to sell anything from products to content to time, all in one place, all on your terms with Squarespace Payments. Onboarding is fast and simple. Get started in just a few clicks and start receiving payments right away.

It's even easy to invoice clients and create proposals, estimates, and contracts. Simplify your workflow and manage your business on one platform. Also, Squarespace has integrated SEO tools. Every Squarespace website is optimized to be indexed with meta descriptions, an auto-generated site map, and more, so you show up more often to more people in global search engine results.

Head to squarespace.com for a free trial. And when you're ready to launch, squarespace.com slash dragon to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. That's squarespace.com slash dragon for 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

The Toyota Tundra and Tacoma are designed to outlast and outlive, combining raw power with precision engineering, all backed by Toyota's legendary reputation for reliability. Climb inside a Tundra and experience the uncompromising strength. With its available i-FORCE MAX engine, the Tundra delivers exceptional power, torque, and towing capacity. Plus, the spacious and high-tech cabin keeps you connected on the run.

or check out a Tacoma. Agile, dependable, and unstoppable, the Tacoma's designed for those who go beyond the trails. Stay ahead of the pack with available off-road features like crawl control, or break out your tunes with the available portable JBL speaker. Toyota trucks are built to last.

year after year, mile after mile. So outlast every adventure and outlive the moment. Buy a Tundra or Tacoma today. Visit buyatoyota.com, Toyota's official website for deals, or stop by your local Toyota dealer to find out more. Toyota, let's go places. Thanks, and now back to the story. Embarrassed, scales just slithered away.

Was he really not even worth it just because he had no arms? No, he couldn't believe that. He knew he could hug. He knew it deep down in his heart, and he knew it fiercely. He just had to keep looking. He wound back into the clearing just in time to see the great bear win her contest against the wolf.

Another win for me, the bear called after shaking paws with the wolf. There's a reason they call it a bear hug, folks. I'm just the best hugger going. The animals had made a crown of golden flowers for the winner. It sat shining on a sun-drenched stump. Smiling, the bear scooped it up and set it on her head.

I'm declaring myself queen of the contest, unless anyone else wants to try. There was silence in the clearing. Nobody? I want to try. Oh? Who said that? I did, Scales said, uncoiling and lifting himself into the air. I don't think I can match your softness or your fur, but I bet I can hug tighter. The bear laughed and all the other animals joined in.

How can you hug? You've got no arms, and snakes aren't known for their charms. Your scaly skin sets off alarms, you'll never win. You best believe I've got both these. Huggers burly, covered with fur soft and curly. You've heard of the bear hug, surely it's clear to see. It's best you leave. It's best you leave!

This time, Scales wasn't sad. This time, he was angry. That's it! I've had it! He yelled. You all keep telling me I can't do something just because I'm not like you. Well, guess what? I'm glad I'm not like you because you're all a bunch of bullies picking on a guy just because he's different. He turned to slither away, but the bear called out. Wait! Scales turned around.

Don't get all upset, the bear said. If it means that much to you, I'll give you a chance. Scales looked at her skeptically and the bear spread her massive shaggy arms. Let's see what you've got.

Finally! Scales slithered forward and wrapped himself around the bear's legs. The bear hugged in with her arms, but the snake kept climbing, winding upward like lightning-quick ivy. He climbed higher, his long body encircling the bear in great rings from chest to toe. The bear tried to lift her arms, but they were pinned to her side. Scales began to hug as tight as he could.

squeezing the bear tighter and tighter until he realized the bear was having trouble drawing a breath. Whoops, too tight, Scales thought, unwinding himself quickly and letting the bear draw a deep breath. Sorry about that, Scales said. I knew I could hug well, but I forgot that it's dangerous to hug too hard. The bear rolled back to her feet and laughed again. This time it wasn't a mean laugh, though. It was a good, real laugh.

You've got no arms but you can hug In fact, I'm feeling very snug It's what I get for acting smug You're the winner Best believe It's not your fault You hug too tight The way we acted wasn't right So best believe We feel contrite Sorry we tried To make you leave Sorry we tried to make you leave

Sorry we didn't let you compete, agreed the rabbit. We were quite wrong, said the bird. It turns out you don't need arms to hug, the bobcat nodded in agreement. Just because you're different doesn't mean you can't keep up with us. You just do things in your own way. And there's nothing wrong with that, agreed the bear, lifting scales high into the air.

Ladies, gentlemen, everybody in between, the first annual hugging contest champion of the forest. The crowd burst into applause and scales felt it wash over him, warming his body better than the sunny rock ever had.

The royal crown, the bear called. She took the crown from her own head and put it on scales. Of course, the snake didn't have ears any more than he had arms, so the crown slipped down over his head and just kept on going. Uh, the royal belt, the bear called. And they all laughed and cheered and together paraded off into the forest. The end.

Today's story, The Hugging Contest, was an original story written for you by Daniel Hines and performed for you by me, Amanda Weldon, with songs by us both. If you would like to support Stories Podcast, you can leave us a five-star review on iTunes. Check out all of our merch available at storiespodcast.com slash shop, commission a special video on Cameo, follow us on Instagram at storiespodcast, or simply tell your friends about us.

In case you missed it, Dan and I have a new show. On Stories RPG, we play games just like Starsworn with all your Max Goodname friends and Giga City Guardians featuring the brilliant Firefly. Click the link in the episode description or go to patreon.com slash stories RPG to get ad-free episodes, play along games, and coloring books. We've already got a bunch of episodes over there, so check them out now. Thanks for listening.

The Toyota Tundra and Tacoma are designed to outlast and outlive, combining raw power with precision engineering, all backed by Toyota's legendary reputation for reliability. Climb inside a Tundra and experience the uncompromising strength. With its available i-FORCE MAX engine, the Tundra delivers exceptional power, torque, and towing capacity. Plus, the spacious and high-tech cabin keeps you connected on the run.

or check out a Tacoma. Agile, dependable, and unstoppable, the Tacoma's designed for those who go beyond the trails. Stay ahead of the pack with available off-road features like crawl control, or break out your tunes with the available portable JBL speaker. Toyota trucks are built to last, year after year, mile after mile.

So outlast every adventure and outlive the moment. Buy a Tundra or Tacoma today. Visit buyatoyota.com, Toyota's official website for deals, or stop by your local Toyota dealer to find out more. Toyota. Let's go places.