18x06 - Badger's Parting Gift

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Captioning made possible by
u.s. Department of education

Hi.

I think I finally
have enough firewood
to last me the weekend.

You know,
I love coming up here,

I guess because
it reminds me so much

Of my grandparents' farm
in missouri,

So whenever
I spend time here,

I can't help but think
about my ah-mommie and poppy.

That's what we called
my grandmother and grandfather

In my family--
ah-mommie and poppy.

You see, my big sister letitia
had a very difficult time

Pronouncing "grandmother"
and "grandfather,"

So it always came out
"ah-mommie" and "poppy."

It just stuck.

We had so many great times
on that farm.

We picked berries
in the summer.

We used to feed
the chickens,

And when my grandmother d*ed,
it just wasn't the same anymore,

But all of those
great times we had
are still with me,

And that's what happens
to a group of friends
in this book.

When one of them dies,
the rest feel lost and alone

Until each of them
discovers a gift

That their old friend
has left behind.

It's called
badger's parting gifts.

Badger was dependable,
reliable,

And always ready to help
when help was needed.

He was also very old,
and he knew almost everything.

Badger was so old that he knew
he must soon die.

Badger wasn't afraid of death.

Dying meant only that he would
leave his body behind,

And as his body didn't
work as well as it had
in days gone by,

Badger wasn't
too concerned about that.

His only worry was how
his friends would feel
when he was gone.

Hoping to prepare them,

Badger had told them
that someday soon

He would be going
down the long tunnel

And he hoped they wouldn't
be too sad when it happened.

One day, as badger was
watching mole and frog
race down the hillside,

He felt especially
old and tired.

He wished more than anything
that he could run with them,

But he knew his old legs
wouldn't let him.

He watched mole and frog
for a long time,

Enjoying the sight
of his friends
having a good time.

It was late
when he arrived home.

He wished the moon
good night

And closed the curtains
on the cold world outside.

He made his way slowly
down to the warm fire

That was waiting for him
deep underground.

He had his supper

And then sat down
at his desk to write a letter.

When he had finished,

He gently rocked himself
to and fro

And soon was fast asleep,

Having a strange
yet wonderful dream

Like none
he'd ever had before.

Much to badger's surprise,
he was running.

Ahead of him was
a very long tunnel.

His legs felt strong and sure
as he ran towards it.

He no longer needed
his walking stick,

So he left it lying
on the floor of the tunnel.

Badger moved swiftly,
running faster and faster
through the long passageway,

Until his paws no longer
touched the earth.

He felt himself turning
end over end,

Tumbling and falling,
but nothing hurt.

He felt free.

It was as if he had fallen
out of his body.

The following day,
badger's friends

Gathered anxiously
outside badger's door.

They were worried
because he hadn't come out

To say good morning
as he always did.

Fox broke the sad news
that badger was dead

And read badger's note to them.

It said simply
"gone down the long tunnel.

Bye bye, badger."

All the animals
had loved badger,

And everyone was very sad.

Mole, especially, felt lost,
alone, and desperately unhappy.

In bed that night,
mole could think only of badger.

Tears rolled down
his velvety nose,

Soaking the blankets
he clung to for comfort.

Outside, it began to snow.
Winter had begun.

The snow covered
the countryside,

But it didn't
conceal the sadness

That badger's friends felt.

Badger had always been there
when anyone needed him.

Badger had told them
not to be unhappy,

But it was hard not to be.

As spring drew near, the animals
often visited each other

And talked about the days
when badger was alive.

Mole was good
at using scissors,

And he told about the time
badger had taught him

How to cut out a chain of moles
from a piece of folded paper.

Paper moles had littered
the ground that day.

Mole remembered
the joy he had felt

When he had finally succeeded

In making a complete chain of
moles with all the paws joined.

Frog was an excellent skater.

He recalled how badger
had helped him

Take his first slippery
steps on the ice.

Badger had gently guided him
across the ice

Until he had gained
enough confidence

To glide out on his own.

Fox remembered how,
when he was a young cub,

He could never knot
his tie properly

Until badger showed him how.

Fox could now tie
every knot ever invented

And some he had made up himself,

And, of course, his own tie
was always perfectly knotted.

Each of the animals
had a special memory of badger,

Something he had taught them

That they could now
do extremely well.

He had given them each
something to treasure,

A parting gift that would
become all the more special

Each time it was
passed on to others.

As the last of the snow melted,
so did the animals' sadness.

Whenever badger's name
was mentioned,

Someone remembered another
story that made them all smile.

One warm spring day,

As mole was walking
on the hillside where
he had last seen badger,

He wanted to thank his friend
for his parting gift.

"Thank you, badger,"
he said softly,

Believing that badger
would hear him,

And, somehow, badger did.

When someone dies,
there's an empty space

That's left behind
in your life.

There's sadness because
you won't see that person again

And loneliness because
you miss them.

You might even feel angry.

There's no way to replace
a loved one who's gone,

But there are things
you can do to feel better.

You can have a good cry
if you're feeling sad or lonely,

Or you can find
someone to talk to

And share your feelings
with them,

Or, like badger's friends,

You can find ways to remember
the wonderful things about them.

Boy: "hello, evan.
I am your uncle eugene.

"I left you now
about 11 years ago.

"I have special advice for you.

"If you are lonely, read a book,

"And I'll read
over your shoulder.

"If you think you see me,

"Take a picture of the people
and things you love,

And I will feel your love,
and you will feel my love."

Evan, that's awesome.

What gave you the idea
to do a monologue

In the voice
of your uncle?

Well, since
he liked music...
Mm-hmm.

He liked to dance.

It's all
performance art.
Right.

So I thought this
would be a good way.

You know what?

Every time
you do this,

Your uncle is
very much alive.

Levar, voice-over: these kids
at staten island academy
are creating artwork

That helps keep alive
their memories

Of someone special who d*ed.

I was 19 when my grandmother
ah-mommie d*ed.

Her name was estelle, but
we always called her ah-mommie,

And when she first passed,
I was so upset and confused

And even angry that
she wasn't around anymore,

And I felt that
I really needed her.

Now all of the memories
that I have of her

Help me keep a very warm
and positive feeling about her.

All of us have lost
someone in our lives

That was very special
or important to us.

Am I right?

Students: yes.

Levar: achmed,
who was it in your life
that you are missing?

My great-grandfather.

He was a judge,

And he was
also a lawyer,

So I made the gavel.

Like, every time
I see it, it's, like,
this reminds me of him.

Of him.

So show me
your gavel.

Here's
my finished gavel.

Right.

Very cool.
Yeah.

It's a little bigger
than a real
judge's gavel.

Right?

So, edgar, who is
your remembrance
projt about?

It was about
my grandma

From my dad's side
of the family.

I have, like, this
one good memory.

Like, she's standing
inside the house,

Like, waiting for
me to come home,

Like, kind of
like that.

She was, like, um,
always, like, there,
kind of.

She was buried
in the mountains,

And these are
all the background
mountains.

And where is this?
Where are these
mountains?

It's in georgia.

In georgia.

Not the state georgia.
It's another country.

Ah, the country
georgia. Right.

And now tell me
about these bundles
around the edge.

What are they about?

They're kind of
like the old-style
broomsticks.

Aha.

Because my grandma,

She'd always used
to, like, clean up,

And then she'd play,

Because first clean,
then play.

First clean,
then play?

Right.

So you've made
these brooms,

And you're putting
them around the edges,
huh?

Around the frame.
Yeah.

I like this a lot.

It's a very
beautiful painting.

Very nicely done.

How are you feeling
now? Better?
Yeah.

Lighter?
Yeah.

Good.

[All laughing]

So, brittany,
your project here
is kind of unique,

Because this is
not about anyone

In your family
at all, is it?

No.

It's my best friend's
mother.

Your best friend's
mother,

And what's her story?

Her mother d*ed when
she was very, very
young, about 3,

And she
gets very sad

When she thinks
about her mother,

So I just wanted to
make a memory box
for her

So every time
she thinks
about her mother,

She can be happy.

Mmm. And what's
this over here?

Oh, I just
put a flower,

Because when you
think about mothers,

You usually think
about flowers

And, you know,
mother's day
and everything.

Why did you include
a mirror in this box?

So that she can just
look in the mirror

And think
of her mom.

Does she look
at all like her mom?

Yes.
Yes.
She does, huh?

Very nice.

Joanne, you and jordan
have used technology

And multimedia
in making your projects.

Haven't you?

Tell me what
you've done.

Well, we've taken
some pictures

And some old


And we've converted it
into a digital movie
on the computer.

Levar: that's amazing.

That's her
with my grandpa.

That's her
holding me.

Holding you.

You will have
this movie

For the rest
of your life,

And yoll be able
to show pictures

Of your grandmother
lillian to your
children.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Doug, so your project
is a...

It's a snow globe.

A snow globe.

That's the biggest
snow globe
I've ever seen,

And why are you
making a snow globe?

It's a remembrance
of...

My grandma.

Uh-huh.

She took me to
the nutcracker ballet,

So this ballerina
represents

The nutcracker ballet.

Ok.

And so I got to fill
this up with water,

And then we're gonna
put the ballerina
upside down inside

And flip it over.

All righty.

Now, you tell me
when we have
enough water.

That's it, because
we have to save

Some space
for the ballerina.

Right?
Yeah.
That's right.

Heavy?

Yes.
Ok.

Very cool, doug.
Very cool.

Look at that.

Great job.

[Children talking
over each other]

My grandmother wore
a lot of jewelry.
Mm-hmm.

So I recreated
the jewelry

That were in
the pictures I took.

This was your grandmother's
recipe for empanadillas.

Yeah, my
great-grandmother's.

Your
great-grandmother's
recipe.

And then that's the sweater
that she made for me.

That's the last one.

Yes.

With the bottle-cap
buttons.

Uh-huh.

So you're still
stitching on the back.

It's great the way
he's got a turtleneck,
you know?

Did you
plan that out?
No.

No? That's just one
of those happy accidents?

Yeah.

That he ended up
with a turtleneck?

Levar: so this
is a representation

Of a center that your aunt
actually founded.

Girl: yes, in greece.

And who are the people
in this photograph?

Um, this is them
when they got older.

This
is aunt stella, huh?

Mm-hmm.
Right.

Different girl: my dad
had slides on where
they lived in thailand,

And what I'm going to do,
I'm going to transfer them.

So you take a slide
and put it
in the machine,

It gives you out
a polaroid,

And then you
transfer that polaroid
to the paper?

Yes.

Those projects
were pretty amazing.

They came up with some very
creative ways to help them
express their feelings.

You know,

One of the things
that I remember most
about my grandmother

Was her cooking,

Especially her sweet potato pie.

My ah-mommie's recipe
for sweet potato pie
was absolutely unbelievable.

In fact, to this very day,
I can't eat a piece
of sweet potato pie

Without thinking of my ah-mommie
and smiling.

How about you?

Do you have a memory
of someone who you miss

That always makes you smile?

My grandmother used
to take care of babies,
and she was a nurse,

And when I remember
that, it makes me
feel really good.

I have this bear
that used to belong
to my grandfather,

And I really like it.

My grandma used to have
tea parties with me
when I was little,

And she would sit
in the little tikes
chairs,

Evenhen she had
two broken hips,
just to make me happy.

My grandfather d*ed
two years ago,

And whenever I think
of him, I feel happy

Because I used to spend
a lot of time with him,

And he was a nice,
caring person.

I remember
my grandfather

Because he was
a giants fan.

We would all
sit down and watch
the giants play

And scream at the tv.

My aunt wanda
was like a friend to me,

And she always
made me laugh.

My grandma, um, she
used to cook a lot,

So now every time
that I cook with my mom,
I remember her.

My grandfather taught me
how to swing the bat
for baseball,

And he taught me
how to throw the ball.

Whenever I ride my bike,

I think of my
grandfather because
he gave me the bike,

And he was
a good friend,

And I really miss him.

Those memories are priceless...

And so is this.

This is the sweet potato pie
recipe I told you about.

Wow.

This one is definitely
going in the book.

I'm putting together a book
of ah-mommie's recipes,

And when I finish,

I'll be able to make my house
smell the same way hers did
when I was a kid,

And it'll help bring back
all of those feelings I felt

Whenever I walked into her house
and smelled those smells.

I felt safe and warm
and cared for.

When someone you loved is gone,

You need to find those gifts
that they left behind

Just for you.

[Chorus singing]

Levar: alvin ailey was a gifted
dancer and choreographer

Who d*ed in 1989.

He created powerful
ballets that continue
to touch audiences today.

As a member of the alvin ailey
american dance theater,

Renee robinson
danced with alvin ailey

And cherishes the gifts
he gave to her.

Robinson: I am very happy
to be a dancer

With the alvin ailey
american dance theater.

I know that alvin is around.

His spirit is everywhere,
everywhere,

And when we go onstage,

His spirit goes right out
into the audience.

Man: ♪ rock-a my soul
in the bosom of abraham... ♪

Robinson: he's around because
even the dancers who come
into the company now

Who'd never worked
with alvin, of course,

They're pulled into the spirit
of the ballet.

He wasn't just interested
in you as a dancer.

He also was extremely interested
in you being a full person.

Chorus: ♪ oh, rock-a my soul ♪

Levar: alvin ailey taught renee
not only to dance,

But to believe in herself
as a dancer.

She is reminded of this
every time she performs.

Robinson:
just before I go onstage
for a ballet,

But I mean,
right
before I go on--

Like, they're
saying, "places,"

They're taking
the curtain out--

I usually say very
quietly to myself,

"Thank you
for my blessings."

Man: ladies and gentlemen,
this is the half-hour call.

One half-hour, please.

Program this evening
is revelations.

[Woman singing]

Levar: revelations
is one of alvin ailey's
most famous ballets.

It is a gift,

One of many that he has
left to his dancers...

And to us.

Robinson: in revelations
in the second part,

There is a woman
who is doing the baptizing,

And she's carrying an umbrella,

And I did not imagine I would be
one of the ones who would be
chosen to perform this part,

But when I did get the chance,
I can't tell you the joy I had,

The amazement
of, "oh, my goodness.

I'm gonna learn the umbrella."

Alvin ailey...i think he will be
tremendously remembered

For this incredible organization
that he started

More than 40 years ago.

Levar: alvin ailey believed
in reaching out to others

And passing on
the gift of dance.

Today, renee
continues that tradition.

I want your bodies
and your minds

To be in the room with us.

And one...
The water's down there.

Come on down
where the water is.

Now take it up
to the sky.

Take it way up.

And back it up. Ba.

And turn, passé...

Robinson, voice over:
when I teach

And I see this spark
in the student's face

That says, "wow. I can do this,"

It always is a joy for me.

Count it off.


And a-1, a-2...

Robinson: and I'm sure
that a lot of that influence

Of being happy if I could
give that gift to the student,

It was definitely
formed and shaped by alvin.

Everybody,
give her a hand.

[Applause]

Watching him let people know
that their individuality
is what is special,

The fact that they are different
from each other--

That will create the harmony.

That will
create the balance.

Watch, 6, 7, 8.
Boom.

He often said that dance
comes from the people

And that it
should be given back,

So I think alvin's
greatest gift to me

Was teaching me
about being generous.

I think that's the biggest gift

And such a valuable gift.

Woo!

Woooo!

Thank you
for having me, everyone.

Oh! Ha ha ha!

Thank you, thank you.

Chorus: ♪ wade in the water ♪

♪ Wade in the water, children ♪

♪ Wade in the water... ♪

Well, here it is--

Ah-mommie's recipe book.

I've included not only recipes,
but some pictures of her
and the family

And other stuff, too.

That way, whenever I'm missing
my grandmother,

I can take out this book
and go through it.

A book is a great way
to remember someone,

And here are 3
that have characters
you won't soon forget,

But you don't have
to take my word for it.

Hello. It's sad
when someone you love dies,

But remembering them
could help.

You'll see what I mean
in this book--

The grandad tree.

The children in this story
really loved their grandad.

One sad day, grandad dies.

The children miss him,

But their memories
help them feel better.

They remember when grandad
played the fiddle.

They think about all
their time with him
under the apple tree.

I'm natalie.

My grampa d*ed
many years ago,

But I still remember
the special way he'd kiss me
on the cheek.

If you'll like to remember
someone special,

Read this book--

The grandad tree.

Hi. I'm prion,
and I just read a book
about an all-around good cat

And the boy who loved him.

It's called the tenth good thing
about barney.

Barney is the cat in this story.

When barney dies,
the boy doesn't feel
at all like himself.

He doesn't want to watch tv
or even go out and play.

His family has a funeral
for barney.

The boy wonders
if cats go to heaven.

The story is sad,
but it has a happy ending.

When your pet dies,
it can be really sad,

And this book might help.

I recommend the tenth good thing
about barney.

Hi. I'm julia.

When someone dies,
it's so important
to remember them.

I just read a book
about a little girl

Who finds a special way
to remember her grandmother.

It's called
a gift for abuelita.

Rosita calls her grandmother
abuelita.

Rosita and her grandmother
are inseparable.

Sadly one day, abuelita dies.

In her culture, there's
a special remembering day.

People bring things that
remind them of their loved ones.

Rosita wants to bring
something special for abuelita.

When my great-aunt d*ed,
I was sad.

Now I remember her by hugging
a special stuffed animal
she gave me.

That's why this book
touched my heart.

It'll touch your heart, too.

Read a gift for abuelita.

It feels bad
when someone you love dies.

There's no getting around that,

But memories
are very powerful things.

They can help you
to feel better.

Stories, pictures, even recipes

Help to celebrate
that person's life

And keeps
the love you shared alive.

So you know
what I'm going to do?

I'm going to follow
one of my ah-mommie's recipes,

And I'm gonna fill this house
with the fabulous smells

Of my grandmother's
sweet potato pie.

I'll see you next time.

Levar: today's
reading rainbow books are...

Badger's parting gifts
by susan varley,

Published by andersen press,
limited, london,

Distributed in the united states
by harper collins.

The grandad tree
by trish cooke,

Illustrated by sharon wilson,

Published by candlewick press.

A gift for abuelita--
celebrating the day
of the dead

By nancy luenn,

Illustrated by robert chapman,

Published
by northland publishing.

The tenth good thing
about barney

By judith viorst,

Illustrated by erik blegvad,

Published by simon and schuster/
atheneum.