Daytime Story ✨ Potato & Beans Catch A Runaway Train 🐱🚂 From Koala Shine!

[00:00:00] Hey everyone, I have a treat for you today. This is from our sister show Koala Shine read by my friend Kelly, so make sure to listen to this in the daytime. It's an extra story about Potato and Beans who recently went on an adventure so wild it's too crazy to listen to at bedtime. It involves a heist where a mysterious yodeling figure has emptied Potato and Beans' till, stealing all their hard-earned coins.

[00:00:27] It's up to the Diner Cats to track down the thief, but he's a cunning outlaw, so it takes wilds, braves and expert lasso skills. For more stories from all your favourites, from Coco to Hector and Sunny to brand new characters like Kenji and Marinus Stormwrecker, search Koala Shine right now and hit follow.

[00:00:51] Okay? Have you done it? Brilliant. Well, take it away, Kelly. Away you go. Before we begin, a quick message for the grown-ups. If you'd like to support our podcast, enjoy ad-free listening, unlock four bonus stories per month and much, much more, you can join Coco Club. Subscribe in just two taps via the link in the show notes. But now here's a quick word from our sponsors.

[00:01:20] Hey parents, I'm Carissa, the host of Sleepwave, a sleep meditation podcast from the creators of Koala Moon. We understand how much you appreciate the bedtime stories on Koala Moon for your little ones. But as a mother myself, I know that parents need their relaxation time too. With soothing meditations and nostalgic stories, each episode of Sleepwave is crafted to help busy minds slow down, so you can wake up feeling well-rested tomorrow.

[00:01:49] Each night, I'll guide you to sleep with beautiful visualizations and calming journeys, which listeners describe as perfect for drifting off to. Not sure where to start with meditation? Try one of my favorite episodes, A Mental Vacation, where I'll lead you through using your imagination to experience the deep relaxation of a holiday without ever leaving your bedroom. You can discover Sleepwave on all major podcast platforms.

[00:02:19] Simply search Sleepwave, Sleep Meditations, and hit follow so you can easily find the show later tonight. Sweet dreams. Koala Shine! Howdy doody, Koala Kids! Welcome back to Koala Shine!

[00:02:43] I'm your old pal Kelly, and I'll be reading you a daytime story today, and giving you some amazing facts and ideas that'll make you say, Ooh, I never knew that! Like, did you know that the western states of the USA have a wild past? Yup, that was the Wild West back in the day, where rootin' tootin' cowboys and gold-hunting prospectors roam the lands.

[00:03:06] Nowadays, it's a little less wild, at least for Potato and Beans, the two roller-skating cats who have a diner in the desert of Texas. That is until a yodeling ghost turns up and starts to cause chaos. Can the cats catch him and save the day? Well, let's take a look and see. All aboard the wagon, and away we go! Potato slid the icy cold milkshake over the counter and into the paw of Tallulah sparkles.

[00:03:36] The glamorous possum stopped wafting herself with a menu and took a big, long sip. She sighed. Much better. Oh, it's hot enough to scold a lizard out there today. She pushed her heart-shaped sunglasses up onto her poofy hairdo and rifled through her purse to find a shiny silver coin that she then passed to Potato gratefully. Boy howdy, she sure is a beamin'.

[00:04:03] Potato said, pushing the button that caused the till drawer to open with a ping. It's egg frown weather out there today. Potato dropped the coin inside, ready to hear the usual clinking sound that sang back whenever she dropped change into the till. But all that was there was a little empty thud. Potato looked down, eyebrows pursed in befuddlement. Sure enough, the till was empty. Completely and utterly empty.

[00:04:31] She wouldn't be surprised to see a tumbleweed rolling around in there too. Only last night, when she closed the diner, she totted up their earnings for the day. And there were so many coins glistening and glittering that she'd actually lost count. But somehow overnight, the till had been emptied. Beans! Potato yelled. Oh, weepin'! Beans came barreling from the saloon doors that led through to the kitchen.

[00:05:01] Skating so fast, the doors were still swinging when she came to a screeching halt beside Potato. What in tarnation? Beans said. But I thought the doors were locked, and the windows too, and the till for that matter. Oh, how could this have happened? Oh, I'll tell you how. A deep voice rumbled from the corner booth, where Dallas Cassidy, the cowboy, sat sipping on a coffee and chewing on a piece of wheat.

[00:05:30] The person that stole your coins ain't hampered by no human locks. Why, he's not bound to the laws of gravity, nor physics. Have you cats ever heard of Dusty Hank the Howlin' Prospector? Tallulah gasped dramatically and swooned into her seat. Oh, bless our souls! She cried, crossing herself with one paw and fanning herself with the other. She was a dramatic type, being a Hollywood actress and all.

[00:06:00] Potato and Beans looked at each other, scratching their whiskers. Uh, no, Beans said. Never, never in my life. Dallas Cassidy chewed his straw pensively and gazed out of the window across the canyon before continuing. Well, many years ago, these parts were even more deserted than they are now. The only folks roaming these parts were adventurers, what we called prospectors,

[00:06:27] who left their small towns and came out here to the wilderness, hunting for gold. But every prospector knew that when a heat wave came, that was their chance to visit home. Because that's when Dusty Hank would come out, yodeling across the valley and pinching any gold he could find. He's a hairy little creature, about knee high, and he loves gold so much.

[00:06:53] He's always covered in a layer of orange dust, since you spend so much time digging for gold. But it's on the days when the sun is the hottest that he's coaxed above ground. And while he is here, he pinches anything he can lay his little hands on. You bet your bottom dollar he'll take your gold, and your silver too. Is he a ghost? A monster? An animal? Nobody knows for sure.

[00:07:20] All we know is that he's got a magical touch, and he uses it for one thing only. Stealing. Potato and Beans looked at each other. Well, that's not very cool of him. Potato said, paws on hips. Just because he loves gold doesn't mean he can help himself. Beans shook her head. Has no one ever tried to teach this little gold guzzler a lesson? Many have tried.

[00:07:49] Dallas replied. But rumor has it he's impossible to catch. Beans had already unlaced her skates and was halfway to the diner door. Come on, Potato! She called over her shoulder. Potato called over to Mrs. Pig from her station in the kitchen and asked her to look after the customers. And off she trotted, following her friend on her mission. Oh, and one last thing. Dallas called out to them.

[00:08:16] Rumor has it that the best way to find Dusty Hank is to listen out for his yodeling. Good luck. Beans nodded her head sharply at Dallas and led Potato out into the sun, which hit them with a wall of heat. Phew-wee! Oh, it feels like I'm walking through split pea soup! Potato mewed. But she didn't falter as she followed Beans over to the tandem bicycle. These two had lived in the desert for so long that the heat didn't bother them one bit.

[00:08:46] The cats donned their helmets, hopped on their bike and took off through the valley. The roads were very quiet. And Beans supposed it was because everyone was hanging out in swimming pools or waterholes. Or, like Ozzy, their dishwashing octopus, bathing in ice baths in their kitchen sinks. They pedaled and pedaled along the road until it started to rise along the canyons. Twirling around red rocky mountains, past prickly pears, and up higher into the deep blue sky.

[00:09:16] All of a sudden, Beans grabbed the brakes, and Potato nearly flew off the bike, stabilizing herself by throwing her paws to Beans' belly. Oh, Potato! Beans said, Sorry, she chuckles. Are you okay? I thought I heard something. Potato giggled and straightened her helmet. All good, Beansie, she replied. The two hushed themselves quiet and pricked their cat ears as high as they could,

[00:09:46] listening for any noise. Sure enough, some kind of wailing reached their ears, along with a rickety-clickety-clack. That wasn't usual around here. It kind of sounded like... a train. But not a normal train. One of those old-timey ones they used to go deep in the ground and carry rocks back to the surface. Like a big square box on wheels that careened over hills and around corners,

[00:10:16] like a roller coaster, ferrying rocks and fossils and... gold. Accompanying the clicks and clacks were some echoing far-off calls and a raucous, cackling sound. The calls seemed to come closer, and the cats could soon make out the words. Dusty Hank is out to play, so hide your silver and gold. My runaway train will not be caught,

[00:10:45] no matter what you're told. You're late. I've got piles of shiny treasure. I'm the biggest prospector in the land and rich beyond all measure. Covered in dust, but with shiny coins in my pocket. As nimble as a thief,

[00:11:15] as smart as a fox, and as fast as a silvery rocket. Potato looked at Beans, eyes wide and sparkling. Beans looked at Potato, brow set in determination. Who does his hollerin' Hank think he is? Beans said crossly. Thinks he can't be caught? He's never met Potato and Beans, has he?

[00:11:45] Potato shook her head, and the cats set off in the direction of the sound, over the peak and round the bend, to where a round valley was enclosed by steep, rocky mountains. Beans saw a glint of metal shine in the sun, and what seemed to be a silver cart flashed in and out of view. There! She shouted, steering off the track and into the canyon. Potato held on for dear life, and pedaled as hard and as fast as she could, as Beans navigated over boulders,

[00:12:15] past the sharp spines of cacti, and over rocky ravines. As their tandem bicycle took flight over a small canyon, Potato squeezed her eyes tight shut, and only opened them when she heard Beans' whoop of joy, and felt both wheels firmly back on the ground. The bike whipped around a ginormous boulder, and there it was in front of them, Dusty Hank's magical runaway train. The cart swung around corners and over bumps at such a speed,

[00:12:44] the little creature sat within would take to the air, laughing and clapping his hands, before landing back in the cart, on top of what looked like a glittering mound of coins and jewels and golden nuggets. Tracks appeared and disappeared in front of the cart as if by magic. Potato and Beans pedaled and pedaled, faster than any feline had ever pedaled before, but they weren't gaining on him, not at all. Dusty Hank, seeing the cats on his tail, just laughed,

[00:13:13] and began throwing little handfuls of dust at them, which made Potato sneeze. Catch him, Beans! Potato shouted into Beans' ear, and Beans turned her head, nodding at the basket tied below Potato's seat. Don't worry, I came prepared! Beans said, flicking her tail in the direction of the basket. Potato reached down and undid the buckle on the basket,

[00:13:42] pulling out a long, long length of rope all rolled up into a bundle. A lasso! Beans wanted Potato to lasso Dusty Hank. Beans couldn't do it, she was the one steering. It was all up to Potato. The little round cat gulped. Usually Beans was in charge, she just followed along. She thought of herself more as a sidekick, really. She couldn't be the one to catch Dusty Hank. Surely she'd miss.

[00:14:11] Potato tried to push the lasso into Beans' hands, reaching for the handlebars instead, but Beans pushed back. You got to do it, Potato! She said, It's the only way! Potato! She called. I believe in you! Potato let Beans' words run around her mind, until the only thing left in her brain was that phrase. I believe in you. There'd only be one chance.

[00:14:40] If Potato missed and the lasso got tangled around a cacti, or a rock, or the bicycle wheel, they'd be done for. Dusty Hank would escape. Potato took a deep breath, and threw the lasso in a steady circle. Once. Twice. And released it, to sail towards Dusty Hank. As she let go, the rope sailed through the air. Hank dipped into a ditch he didn't see, and Potato's breath got caught in her throat. But then,

[00:15:10] up came the cart, and the lasso settled around Hank's hairy little shoulders. Potato pulled tight, brakes squeaked, and the bicycle skidded, and dust rose in orange clouds into the air. When the dust finally settled, the wild had stopped moving around them. And there, on the ground ahead of them, was a cart, filled with silver, gold, and a furry little creature, tied neatly up in a rope.

[00:15:39] The little furry prospector, couldn't move a muscle. He glared at the cat, and pouted. Oh hey, what'd y'all do that for? He yelled. Dusty Hank's been tied up like a cow! The cats dusted themselves off, and approached the cart. Beans crossed her arms over her chest, and peered at the small furry creature. Now that he was all tied up, he looked much smaller, and kind of, well, cute. He was all orange, dusty fur.

[00:16:09] He had a hairless little face, and sparkling green eyes, and a huge furry beard, that seemed to cover the whole rest of his body. Well, we tied you up like a bull, because you're acting like a bully. Beans said. You stole the contents of our cash register last night. We're potato and beans, and you snuck into our diner, and took all the coins we had. Oh, I ain't no bully. He said.

[00:17:05] He said. I'm a prospector. Hank, You've got so much already. What do you want more for? Hank scratched his chin. Well, I guess I never thought about why. Because it shines, I guess. And that's what I like. I love things that shine gold, like the sun above. Hank pouted again. Oh, but I don't mean to hurt no one. He said. I just like my stuff shiny.

[00:17:36] Take it back. I can find more. It's not like I got anything else better to do. All I do is dig, dig, and dig. You folks with your fancy diner wouldn't understand. Potato and Beans looked at each other, and shared a secret message, like all best friends do. Beans raised an eyebrow, which meant, is this guy for real? Then Potato cocked her head, which meant, I think so. Then Beans softened her face, and so did Potato.

[00:18:05] You could do some other things, you know. Like make some friends. You could come to the diner. Hank scowled. Oh, poppycock, I can't make friends. They'll just get mad when I steal their shiny stuff. But there are other ways to enjoy shiny things. Beans said, and you know, there are more important things in life than gold and jewels. What about the golden shine of the sun, or the way a friend's face lights up when you tell them a joke?

[00:18:35] Or what about the gold of Mrs. Pig's pancakes, or the shine of her scrambled eggs? Well, I guess those eggs sound okay, he grumbled. Here's the deal then, Beans said. You give us back our coins, and stop stealing, and we'll give you as many golden scrambled eggs as you like. Hank raised an eyebrow. You do that? He said. And I can come in and see faces light up, and smiles shine,

[00:19:04] and all that stuff you said? Potato grinned. Yep, that's right, she said. Well, I guess it's a deal then. Now, get me out of this lasso. Potato and Beans giggled, and released Dusty Hank, who climbed out of his ghost train, and balanced on the back of the cat's tandem bicycle, as they navigated over the hills, and back towards the diner. Hue-wee! Well, I'm glad that's all sorted. Now,

[00:19:33] if you were a ghost, what would you haunt? Well, me, I'd probably haunt a chocolate factory, and eat all of the chocolate buttons at night. Mwahaha! Alright, let's end with a joke, shall we? What do ghost cowboys wear on their feet? Boots! And here's one from a very special koala kid. Take it away, Emi! What did the cookie say when he forgot to do his homework? Ah, biscuits!

[00:20:04] That was so good. Thanks so much for sending that in, Emi. Alright, that's it for today, koala kids. Until next time, keep on shining!