July Cub Scout Roundtable Issue

Volume 6, Issue 11

Sea To Shining Sea (Webelos Aquanaut & Geologist)

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

Auto-Matic Laughs
York Adams Council

Tonight I'm going to read you a story about a couple that went shopping for a new car. But the story is a little dry, so I'd like you to help me through this. When I read certain words, I'd like you to provide some background "action" to them. Here are the important words and their actions.

• If you have BLUE eyes, whenever you hear the word BLUE, pat the top of your head.
• If you have brown eyes, whenever you hear the word Brown, pat the top of your head.
• If you are left-handed, whenever you hear the word Right, clap your hands.
• If you are right-handed, whenever you hear the word Left, clap your hands.
• If you're under 20, stomp your feet whenever you hear the word Old.
• If you're over 20, stomp your feet whenever you hear the word New.
• If you are a male, stand up whenever you hear the word Female.
• If you are a female, stand up whenever you hear the word Male.

Here's that dry story I told you about…

One day, a Man and a Woman went to the store looking to buy a New car. Their Old one, which was a muddy Brown color, was not running well. It Left too much to be desired in the way of speed and safety, and they wanted another one Right away. They wanted a bright Blue one. As they walked into the dealership, the Woman noticed a Blue sports car on the showroom floor. "Darling," she said, look at that lovely New car Right over there. Wouldn't it be perfect for us."

"You may be Right. It's a lot better looking than our Old, Brown buggy. Unfortunately, there's one problem—I've Left all my money at home," the Man said.

"You Left it at home?" asked the Woman.

"Yes, it's Right in the pocket of my New Brown suit," replied the Man.

"Your New Brown suit? Why I took that suit to the cleaners just this morning and I didn't notice any money in any of the pockets," said the Woman.

"But I'm certain I Left my money in the inside Right pocket of my New Brown suit," said the Man as he scratched his head in wonder.

"Now wait a minute! Are you saying I'm not Right? Man, oh Man, oh Man! You have your nerve!" Shrieked the Woman.

"Let's not argue. We're here to buy a car and that Blue car in the corner is a Right nice model. And just think, if we buy the New Blue car, we'll never have to worry about our Old Brown one again!" said the MAN.

They wandered over to look at the New Blue car. After looking at the price of the New car and figuring out what they'd get as trade-in on their Old Brown one, the Man and the Woman decided that buying the New Blue one would be the Right thing to do.

But before they Left the dealer, they started questioning their decision. Would they be better off with their Old Brown one, if the New Blue one didn't run Right? How long before they thought of the New car as an Old one? Or what about a New Brown one? And would they feel Blue about trading in their Brown one? Brown or Blue; Old or New. What was Right and which car did they want to be Left with?

The Man and the Woman were so confused they decided to sell their car and buy bicycles. And that's just what they did. And they KNEW it was Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left!

The Indian Hunter
York Adams Council

Divide the group into eight sections and assign a character to each. As each character is mentioned in the story, the assigned group stands up, yells out their lines, then sits down.

Chief:"Me empty"

Brave:"Ki-Yi"

Pony: "Clip-clop, clip-clop"

Bow And Arrow:"Swissssh"

Fire:"Crackle, crackle"

Tom-Tom: "Boom, boom"

North Wind: "Wooo, wooo"

Deer: "Skitter, scatter"

Many moons ago, in the land of the Plains Indians—the tribes of the Pawnee, Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Kiowa—there was a village that was in trouble. For many days no rain had fallen and the crops were drying up. The buffalo and the Deer had gone north to seek better water holes. The village's very existence depended on getting fresh meat.

The Chief called a council with all the members of the village. They all gathered around the Fire as the Tom-Tom sounded the call. When all were present, the Chief looked around the circle. It was complete, even to his own son, a Brave of just nineteen harvests. They discussed their problem until the Fire dwindled to just smoky red ashes. Finally, the Brave stood up and said that the only way was for a true-blooded member to go far off where the Deer were grazing and return with food for the village. He, himself, would go.

Early the next morning the Brave mounted his Pony. As the Tom-Tom sounded, the Brave waved to his father, the Chief, and rode on his Pony into the North Wind.

Onward the trail led with the Brave and the Pony getting weak. The North Wind howled with glee. Finally he came upon a small water hole. There, drinking, were two fine Deer. The Brave tethered his Pony, aimed his Bow And Arrow, and let fly two direct hits.

The Brave started back to the village with the two Deer strapped to the Pony's back. Southward they trod and the going was slower and slower. Despite his great hunger, the Brave ate very little, for he knew his people were depending on him. Finally, he came to a scout from the village. The Indian sounded his Tom-Tom, signaling the Chief and the people that the Brave and his Pony had returned.

That night, there was great celebration as the tribe gathered around the Fire, each eating a welcome portion of the Deer. The Brave told his story to the Chief and his people. This story of his Pony and his Bow And Arrow is relived today in Indian dance legend, to the sound of the Tom-Tom.

Materials found in Baloo's Bugle may be used by Scouters for Scouting activities provided that USSSP, Baloo's Bugle and the original contributors are cited as the source of the material.

Materials found at the U. S. Scouting Service Project, Inc. Website ©1997-2002 may be reproduced and used locally by Scouting volunteers for training purposes consistent with the programs of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) or other Scouting and Guiding Organizations. No material found here may be used or reproduced for electronic redistribution or for commercial or other non-Scouting purposes without the express permission of the U. S. Scouting Service Project, Inc. (USSSP) or other copyright holders. USSSP is not affiliated with BSA and does not speak on behalf of BSA. Opinions expressed on these web pages are those of the web authors.