# The Wishing Well

An episode of [Animal Tales: The Kids' Story Podcast](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1644596989), 23 Sep 2025, 17 min.

Audio: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/67744321/at428_thewishingwell_mixdown.mp3

A tiger builds himself a well in his garden. It's just an ordinary well, although he's the only one that appears to think this. Written especially for this podcast by Alice. If you enjoyed this story, please do leave us a review. And, if you'd like to suggest an animal for a future Animal Tales story, you can do so by emailing podcast@animaltales.uk. We would love to hear from you. Animal Tales Books! Collections of Animal Tales children’s stories are available to buy exclusively at Amazon. Simply search for Animal Tales Short Stories or follow this link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CLJQZ9C9?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_sirpi Become a PREMIUM Subscriber You can now enjoy Animal Tales by becoming a Premium Subscriber. This gets you: • All episodes in our catalogue advert free • Bonus Premium-only episodes (one per week) which will never be used on the main podcast • We guarantee to use one of your animal suggestions in a story You can sign up through Apple Podcasts or through Supercast and there are both monthly and yearly plans available. Discover a brand new story every Monday, Wednesday and Friday – just for you! You can find more Animal Tales at www.animaltales.uk A Note About The Adverts In order to allow us to make these stories we offer a premium subscription and run adverts. The adverts are not chosen by us, but played automatically depending on the platform you listen through (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc) and the country you live in. The adverts may even be different if you listen to the story twice. We have had a handful of instances where an advert has played that is not suitable for a family audience, despite the podcast clearly being labelled for children. If you’re concerned about an advert you hear, please contact the platform you are listening to directly. Spotify, in particular, has proven problematic in the past, for both inappropriate adverts and the volume at which the adverts play. If you find this happening, please let Spotify know via their Facebook customer care page. As creators, we want your child’s experience to be a pleasurable one. Running adverts is necessary to allow us to operate, but please do consider the premium subscription service as an alternative – it’s advert free.

## Transcript

[0:12] Speaker 1: Yo, Hello everyone, and welcome to the Animal Tales podcast,
[0:18] Speaker 1: where you suggest the animal for us to write a
[0:20] Speaker 1: story about. My name's Josephine and I've got a brand
[0:24] Speaker 1: new animal story here just for you. There are over
[0:28] Speaker 1: four hundred animal tales now and all are available on
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[0:41] Speaker 1: forget to look for the Animal Tales books on Amazon.
[0:45] Speaker 1: Kelvin is for Melbourne in Australia and he would like
[0:49] Speaker 1: a story with a tiger, a lion, a cheetah and
[0:53] Speaker 1: a snow leopard. You can learn more about these creatures
[0:56] Speaker 1: in the Animal facts after the story. Settle back, relax,
[1:02] Speaker 1: and I'll begin the wishing well. Calvin smiled and stood
[1:10] Speaker 1: back to admire his handiwork. Kelvin was a tiger and
[1:15] Speaker 1: he'd spent the whole weekend building a new well at
[1:18] Speaker 1: the bottom of his long back garden. He had built
[1:22] Speaker 1: it so he could have fresh water for all his
[1:25] Speaker 1: flowers and vegetables. First, he dug a deep hole down
[1:30] Speaker 1: to the water, lining it with bricks. At the surface,
[1:34] Speaker 1: He'd raised the bricks up into a small circular wall
[1:38] Speaker 1: then added wooden supports for a tiled roof. Finally, across
[1:43] Speaker 1: the drop, he'd made a winch with a long length
[1:46] Speaker 1: of rope attached to a bucket. Calvin couldn't be prouder
[1:51] Speaker 1: of himself, and now was the moment of truth. The
[1:56] Speaker 1: tiger wound the winch, lowering the bucket to the water below.
[2:01] Speaker 1: He heard the splash as it struck the water, so
[2:05] Speaker 1: gave it a moment to feel before winding it back
[2:08] Speaker 1: up again. Much to his relief, the bucket was full
[2:12] Speaker 1: of clear, shimmering water. Calvin grinned he'd done it. He'd
[2:19] Speaker 1: built a working well all by himself. Was there anything
[2:24] Speaker 1: he couldn't do? Whistling a happy tune, the tiger poured
[2:29] Speaker 1: the contents of the bucket into his watering can and
[2:33] Speaker 1: began sprinkling his vegetables. His success had got him wondering
[2:38] Speaker 1: what sort of project he could tackle next. When from
[2:41] Speaker 1: behind him he heard an echoing splash. Calvin was surprised
[2:46] Speaker 1: to see that some one was beside his knew well
[2:50] Speaker 1: it was a cheetah. His next door neighbor, the spotted Cat,
[2:55] Speaker 1: was looking down into the well whilst muttering to herself,
[3:00] Speaker 1: Um excuse me, Calvin called out, Can I help you? Oh, high,
[3:08] Speaker 1: replied the cheater, I was just using the wishing well.
[3:13] Speaker 1: Oh it's not a wishing well, Calvin corrected her. It's
[3:18] Speaker 1: just well, a normal well. I've just built it. I'm
[3:23] Speaker 1: afraid you're mistaken, chuckled the cheeter. All wells are wishing wells.
[3:30] Speaker 1: If you throw a penny in, that is, it's like
[3:33] Speaker 1: well magic or something. Calvin was doubtful. He felt that
[3:39] Speaker 1: if he'd made a magic wishing well, then he'd have
[3:42] Speaker 1: been the first to know about it. But the cheetah
[3:46] Speaker 1: seemed excited by what he'd built, so he let it be.
[3:51] Speaker 1: So what did you wish for? He asked. I wished
[3:56] Speaker 1: that my neighbor on the other side would stop being
[3:59] Speaker 1: so loudly at night. The cheeter sighed, I can't seem
[4:03] Speaker 1: to get a proper night's sleep because of them, so
[4:06] Speaker 1: now I'm tired all the time. That does sound frustrating.
[4:12] Speaker 1: The tiger agreed, let's hope that your wish comes true.
[4:17] Speaker 1: The cheetera thanked him for that, then left via the
[4:20] Speaker 1: back gate. Kelvin watched her go, then turn to the well.
[4:26] Speaker 1: Leaning over its low wall, he peered down into the depths.
[4:31] Speaker 1: It may have been his imagination, but he thought he
[4:34] Speaker 1: could see the tiny glint of a penny at the bottom.
[4:38] Speaker 1: Even so, he was sure his well wasn't a wishing well,
[4:42] Speaker 1: and yet despite this, he couldn't help but think that
[4:46] Speaker 1: it would be nice if the cheater's wish came true.
[4:50] Speaker 1: That night, Kelvin decided to go to the cinema to
[4:53] Speaker 1: watch a movie. It was dark when he returned, and
[4:57] Speaker 1: he was almost home when he heard a loud thumping
[5:00] Speaker 1: echoing along the street. It soon became obvious that it
[5:04] Speaker 1: was caused by some very loud music. He walked past
[5:09] Speaker 1: his own house and the cheeters to stand before the
[5:13] Speaker 1: next house in the row. He could see what the
[5:16] Speaker 1: cheetah was so upset about. Whoever was playing that music
[5:21] Speaker 1: was sharing it with the whole neighborhood. Checking his watch,
[5:26] Speaker 1: Calvin noticed that it was way past ten o'clock, far
[5:29] Speaker 1: too late to be so loud, and so the tiger
[5:33] Speaker 1: marched right up the driveway and knocked hard upon the door.
[5:38] Speaker 1: He had to bang very loudly to be heard over
[5:41] Speaker 1: the music, and it was some moments later that a
[5:44] Speaker 1: zebra answered the door. He looked quite startled to find
[5:48] Speaker 1: a cross looking tiger stood on his doorstep. Hum can
[5:53] Speaker 1: I help you? Zebra asked you most certainly. Can other
[6:01] Speaker 1: animals live in this street too? You know your music
[6:05] Speaker 1: is keeping them awake. It would be very kind and
[6:09] Speaker 1: neighborly to play it more quietly, especially after ten o'clock.
[6:15] Speaker 1: The zebra looked embarrassed. I'm sorry, he mumbled. I didn't
[6:21] Speaker 1: think I mean, I don't sorry. I'll turn it down
[6:24] Speaker 1: right away. Thank you, Calvin replied sternly, I'm sure all
[6:32] Speaker 1: your neighbors will appreciate it. The door closed, but Calvin
[6:38] Speaker 1: didn't move until a moment later the music shut off.
[6:43] Speaker 1: Satisfied the nuisance was over, Calvin went home, glad to
[6:48] Speaker 1: have been able to help the cheetah. The following morning,
[6:53] Speaker 1: Calvin was out in his garden bright and early. He
[6:57] Speaker 1: needed to get lots of weeding done to day. He
[7:00] Speaker 1: was head down amongst the flowers when he heard his
[7:03] Speaker 1: back gate creak. He looked up just in time to
[7:07] Speaker 1: see a snow leopard flip a coin into his well er. Hello,
[7:13] Speaker 1: called Kelvin, Can I help you? No need? The snow
[7:18] Speaker 1: leopard replied, I've found what I'm looking for. This really
[7:23] Speaker 1: is a wonderful wishing well. I couldn't wait to give
[7:26] Speaker 1: it a try. It would seem that the cheetah had
[7:30] Speaker 1: been talking, thought Kelvin. It's not a wishing well, Calvin insisted,
[7:37] Speaker 1: but because he didn't want to appear rude, he asked,
[7:40] Speaker 1: may I ask what you wished for? I wish that
[7:44] Speaker 1: the bakery would stop running out of strawberry tarts before
[7:48] Speaker 1: nine thirty. The snow leopard replied, with a lick of
[7:51] Speaker 1: his lips. I like to look in the window on
[7:54] Speaker 1: my way to work, but they always seem to have
[7:57] Speaker 1: sold out already. If you like strawberry tarts that much,
[8:03] Speaker 1: then I suppose that is a pretty good wish. Calvin admitted,
[8:07] Speaker 1: I've had one of those strawberry tarts before. It's no
[8:11] Speaker 1: wonder they go so fast. Well, hopefully not any more.
[8:16] Speaker 1: The snow leopard said, cheerfully, see you around. He disappeared
[8:22] Speaker 1: back through the gate, leaving Kelvin looking thoughtful. This was
[8:26] Speaker 1: the second time some one had thought his well was magic,
[8:30] Speaker 1: and he was still quite sure that it wasn't. Later
[8:34] Speaker 1: that day, Calvin realized he was out of milk, so
[8:38] Speaker 1: headed out to buy some. This meant he had to
[8:42] Speaker 1: walk past the bakery, and as he did so, he
[8:45] Speaker 1: caught sight of the owner, a chimpanzee, and went in
[8:49] Speaker 1: to say hello, good afternoon, Kelvin. The chimp said, hope
[8:54] Speaker 1: you're not after anything special. I've only got a couple
[8:58] Speaker 1: of lemon cakes left. Then, I guess I'll take both
[9:02] Speaker 1: of them, Calvin replied happily. In fairness, he'd have rather
[9:07] Speaker 1: had one of those strawberry tarts that the snow leopard
[9:10] Speaker 1: had mentioned. You've just reminded me about something, said Kelvin,
[9:15] Speaker 1: as the chimp put the cakes into a paper bag.
[9:19] Speaker 1: I was talking to some one who said that they
[9:21] Speaker 1: really love your strawberry tarts, but there's never any left
[9:25] Speaker 1: when they passed by in the morning. Could you, by
[9:28] Speaker 1: any chance make a bigger batch, the chimp sighed. I'd
[9:34] Speaker 1: love to, he said, but I never have enough strawberries.
[9:39] Speaker 1: If I had more, i'd make enough tarts to feed
[9:43] Speaker 1: the whole town. I grow strawberries, said Kelvin eagerly. I've
[9:49] Speaker 1: got lots growing in my garden. I could supply you
[9:52] Speaker 1: with some every day. That would be perfect. The chimp grinned.
[9:59] Speaker 1: In that case, you can have these lemon cakes. For free.
[10:03] Speaker 1: Then I'll go and fetch some strawberries now, said Kelvin,
[10:08] Speaker 1: with thoughts of buying milk forgotten. Calvin dashed home with
[10:12] Speaker 1: his lemon cakes to begin strawberry picking. The next day,
[10:18] Speaker 1: Kelvin was in his garden again, enjoying the morning sun.
[10:23] Speaker 1: This time when he heard some one come in through
[10:26] Speaker 1: the gate. He was all but expecting it. This time
[10:30] Speaker 1: it was a lion. Hullo. Kelvin called out, are you
[10:35] Speaker 1: here to use the well? The wishing well? She said,
[10:40] Speaker 1: I sure am, I've been hearing good things. She lifted
[10:45] Speaker 1: a coin and flicked it into the depths of the well.
[10:49] Speaker 1: This time he didn't correct the visitor for calling it
[10:52] Speaker 1: a wishing well. He was feeling quite proud of the
[10:55] Speaker 1: effect it was having. May I ask what you wished
[10:59] Speaker 1: for for? He asked, Oh, nothing much. The lion replied,
[11:06] Speaker 1: I just wish that my new restaurant, The Sizzling Cheese,
[11:10] Speaker 1: will be a huge success. I've put a lot of money,
[11:14] Speaker 1: time and effort into it. You see, it opens to night.
[11:18] Speaker 1: If I'm honest, I've been terrified that nobody will come.
[11:23] Speaker 1: I'm sure it would be fine. Calvin replied, of course
[11:28] Speaker 1: it will the lion said, I've used the wishing well.
[11:32] Speaker 1: Now I've heard it's done. Wonders. She waved good bye,
[11:37] Speaker 1: leaving behind a concerned Kelvin. If people think the wishing
[11:42] Speaker 1: well had granted the cheater's wish, and now that it
[11:45] Speaker 1: had granted the snow leopard's wish, it was no wonder
[11:48] Speaker 1: that the lion thought the well would grant her wish.
[11:52] Speaker 1: But it's just an ordinary well, said Kelvin to himself,
[11:57] Speaker 1: not a magic wishing well. The tiger scratched his head
[12:02] Speaker 1: as he peered down at the gathering coins. Unless he
[12:06] Speaker 1: could think of something, that lion would end up feeling
[12:10] Speaker 1: very disappointed. So instead of working in his garden, Calvin
[12:16] Speaker 1: spent the day running around town. He did his best
[12:20] Speaker 1: to talk to as many animals as possible, telling them
[12:24] Speaker 1: about the amazing, brand new restaurant, The Sizzling Cheese. He
[12:29] Speaker 1: discovered from an otter that the local fishing club had
[12:32] Speaker 1: been struggling for somewhere to meet up that evening, so
[12:36] Speaker 1: was able to persuade them to give the new restaurant
[12:38] Speaker 1: a try. Then he bumped into a bashful pair of
[12:42] Speaker 1: buffalo and suggested that they might like to go to
[12:46] Speaker 1: the restaurant on a date. He even persuaded a few
[12:50] Speaker 1: families that to day was International eat some Cheese Day,
[12:54] Speaker 1: so therefore they should head down to the Sizzling Cheese
[12:58] Speaker 1: to celebrate. By the time the restaurant's doors opened that evening,
[13:04] Speaker 1: there was a line around the block of excited animals,
[13:08] Speaker 1: all hoping to get a table. Kelvin watched all this
[13:12] Speaker 1: from a bench opposite. It had been a tiring day,
[13:16] Speaker 1: but it looked like his efforts had been worth it.
[13:20] Speaker 1: The lion saw him sat opposite and dashed over to
[13:24] Speaker 1: see him see. She said excitedly, your wishing well does work.
[13:30] Speaker 1: I'm so pleased. Now do excuse me, I've got customers
[13:35] Speaker 1: to serve. Kelvin grinned. The lion didn't know it had
[13:40] Speaker 1: been him, not the wishing well, that had made the
[13:43] Speaker 1: wish come true. Hi, Kelvin called out the cheetah as
[13:48] Speaker 1: she passed near by. I got such a good night's
[13:52] Speaker 1: sleep last night thanks to your wishing well. I'm off
[13:55] Speaker 1: to the restaurant. Would you like to join me? That
[14:00] Speaker 1: very kind, said Kelvin, but I'm thinking of heading home.
[14:05] Speaker 1: The cheeter accepted this and joined the back of the
[14:09] Speaker 1: queue as Calvin stood up from the bench. Oh hello, Kelvin,
[14:14] Speaker 1: fancy seeing you here, said the snow leopard through a
[14:18] Speaker 1: mouthful of strawberry tart. I've been eating these all day
[14:22] Speaker 1: thanks to your wishing well, he confessed. Are you going
[14:26] Speaker 1: to the new restaurant? No, not me, yawned the tiger.
[14:32] Speaker 1: It's been a very busy few days. I think I'm
[14:36] Speaker 1: just going to head home to bed. Fair enough, said
[14:40] Speaker 1: the snow leopard as he licked his paws clean of crumbs.
[14:46] Speaker 1: Feeling proud of himself, the tiger headed home. Although he
[14:50] Speaker 1: knew his well wasn't magic, he didn't mind if the cheater,
[14:55] Speaker 1: snow leopard, and lion thought it was. That was until
[15:00] Speaker 1: Kelvin turned into his street and found a long line
[15:04] Speaker 1: of animals snaking into his garden. He followed the queue
[15:09] Speaker 1: to its end, where, sure enough, the animals were taking
[15:13] Speaker 1: turns to make a wish at his well. What are
[15:17] Speaker 1: you going to wish for, asked a hippo. Kelvin sighed,
[15:24] Speaker 1: I'm going to wish for a little help, he said.
[15:30] Speaker 1: Animal fat tigers, lions, snow leopards, and cheetahs are all
[15:36] Speaker 1: part of the cat family. They're often known as the
[15:40] Speaker 1: big cats, along with leopards and jaguars, although cheaters along
[15:45] Speaker 1: with mountain lions really belong in the group known as
[15:48] Speaker 1: small cats. Lions have the mightiest roar of all the
[15:53] Speaker 1: cats because their larynx is longer than other cats. In humans,
[15:59] Speaker 1: we often the larynx the voice box. Sadly, cheaters and
[16:04] Speaker 1: snow leopards cannot roar. Thank you for your suggestions, Calvin.
[16:10] Speaker 1: We hope that you all enjoyed the story. Wherever you're
[16:12] Speaker 1: listening in the world, there are new stories every Monday
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[16:32] Speaker 1: Make sure you join us next time for another great
[16:34] Speaker 1: animal tale. Goodbye,

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