0:00:04 > 0:00:06Here they come.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08My two intrepid explorers.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13Charlotte and Lokesh.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16I'm their great-aunt Lizzie, you see,
0:00:16 > 0:00:19and I wonder which one is coming to see me today?
0:00:19 > 0:00:21Ah, so it's Lokesh.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Hello, great-aunt Lizzie!
0:00:24 > 0:00:25Hello, Lokesh!
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Once upon a time, I travelled the world,
0:00:36 > 0:00:40discovering treasures from long ago and far away,
0:00:40 > 0:00:44and no end of stories to remind me.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48But my most precious possession of all
0:00:48 > 0:00:52is my extraordinary collection of teacups.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Here we are!
0:01:08 > 0:01:10No time to count the clouds.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13Let's have a nice cup of tea and a story.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15But first we need a teacup.
0:01:16 > 0:01:17But which one?
0:01:31 > 0:01:32That one.
0:01:32 > 0:01:33Ah!
0:01:34 > 0:01:36The spindle whorl.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38What's a spindle whorl?
0:01:38 > 0:01:42It's a clever tool for turning fleecy wool into thread.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Have you been baking, great-aunt Lizzie?
0:01:48 > 0:01:52Well, there might be a little something, Lokesh. We'll see.
0:01:52 > 0:01:57So, are you ready for me to spin a yarn about Lokesh and the adventure
0:01:57 > 0:01:58of the spindle whorl?
0:02:00 > 0:02:05It all began long, long ago in a place we now call Central America,
0:02:05 > 0:02:09where one of the greatest civilisations built cities and
0:02:09 > 0:02:12pyramids that rose up into the sky.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14They were the Maya.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35After journeying deep through the heart of the jungle,
0:02:35 > 0:02:39Lokesh found himself at the edge of a city.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48As he meandered through the streets,
0:02:48 > 0:02:51he began to hear the sound of a disagreement.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53You can't go with your hair like that!
0:02:53 > 0:02:56Mum, everyone has their hair like this.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59You don't have to do what everyone else is doing, do you?
0:02:59 > 0:03:02If you saw someone jump out of a tree, would you do it?
0:03:02 > 0:03:04- Mum, it's just hair. - My sweet baby.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07Mum, I'm not a baby any more.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09Akbal, it's your special day,
0:03:09 > 0:03:11your independence ceremony.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13I want you to look perfect.
0:03:13 > 0:03:14Now, let me see.
0:03:17 > 0:03:18My sweet baby.
0:03:18 > 0:03:19Mum!
0:03:19 > 0:03:23What? You'll always be my sweet baby. I can't help it.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27Now, please, take your hand away so I can see your poncho properly.
0:03:27 > 0:03:28The other one, too.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34What's with the flower?
0:03:34 > 0:03:36Just...
0:03:36 > 0:03:37I like flowers.
0:03:37 > 0:03:38Hmm.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40It looks weird.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44And don't tell me everyone is wearing a flower, too.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48Akbal, why didn't you tell me you had a hole in your poncho?
0:03:48 > 0:03:50Because I'm not a baby any more.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Take it off and I'll fix it.
0:03:52 > 0:03:53I don't have time, Mum.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56You can't show up to the most important day of your life
0:03:56 > 0:03:58with a hole in your poncho.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01Mum, I don't have time! I've got lots to do!
0:04:01 > 0:04:03- Leave it and I'll fix it for you. - I've got to go.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06- I'll see you before the ceremony. - Akbal!
0:04:08 > 0:04:09You see that?
0:04:13 > 0:04:17I cannot let Akbal go to his independence ceremony with a hole
0:04:17 > 0:04:20in his poncho. I have to fix it before tonight.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24- How would you mend a hole like that? - Oh, it shouldn't be too difficult.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27I just need to dye some wool with the right colour
0:04:27 > 0:04:29and get my spindle...
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Oh, no!
0:04:31 > 0:04:34What good is a spindle without a spindle whorl?
0:04:34 > 0:04:37I forgot I lent it to my neighbour
0:04:37 > 0:04:40and I don't have time to fetch it back from her and dye the wool!
0:04:40 > 0:04:42I can help if you like.
0:04:42 > 0:04:43That would be great.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47Iktan's hut is just around the corner. Tell her I sent you.
0:04:47 > 0:04:48I'll be as quick as I can.
0:04:48 > 0:04:49Thank you.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04As he approached Iktan's hut,
0:05:04 > 0:05:05a surprise awaited him.
0:05:06 > 0:05:07Excuse me?
0:05:09 > 0:05:13This is who they sent to carry all the food for the ceremony?
0:05:13 > 0:05:16- Go back and tell them we need ten like you!- What?
0:05:16 > 0:05:19No, I'm here for the spindle whorl.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Oh, that you can definitely carry by yourself.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Wait a minute, what spindle whorl?
0:05:24 > 0:05:26The one Yatzel lent you.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29She really needs it so she can fix a hole in Akbal's poncho
0:05:29 > 0:05:31before the ceremony tonight.
0:05:31 > 0:05:36Oh, no. I'm really sorry, I dropped it and broke it days ago.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41I wanted to replace it, but I haven't seen a wool trader in town.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43Would anybody else have one?
0:05:43 > 0:05:46There's a trader who lives in the mountains, Moolac.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48He'll have a cartful.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50I'm so sorry, I really want to help sort it out,
0:05:50 > 0:05:54but, right now, I have to cook all the food for the ceremony.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56It wasn't even lunchtime
0:05:56 > 0:06:00and what had seemed like a simple patch-up to help Yatzel
0:06:00 > 0:06:02mend the poncho had all come to nothing.
0:06:05 > 0:06:06Mmm!
0:06:06 > 0:06:07These smell lovely.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12- Would you like one, Lokesh? - Home-made scones?
0:06:12 > 0:06:13I'd eat them any day!
0:06:13 > 0:06:15Even if it was your birthday?
0:06:15 > 0:06:19No, it has to be birthday cake on a birthday.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22We all like to have special food for a special day, don't we?
0:06:22 > 0:06:26That's why Iktan was preparing food for the ceremony.
0:06:26 > 0:06:27Everyone will be there.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31So that's why Yatzel was making such a fuss about the hole
0:06:31 > 0:06:33- in Akbal's poncho, too.- Exactly.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37And to think she had no idea her spindle whorl was broken!
0:06:37 > 0:06:41- But there was no way she could mend the hole without it.- You're right.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44So, Lokesh couldn't give up trying to get a new spindle whorl
0:06:44 > 0:06:46for Yatzel, now, could he?
0:06:54 > 0:06:58So off went Lokesh in his hat, bag and boots.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Past the ruined temple...
0:07:06 > 0:07:07..and up the rocky trail...
0:07:12 > 0:07:16..until, when he was almost out of breath...
0:07:17 > 0:07:19..the path ran out!
0:07:24 > 0:07:26Lokesh took a deep breath.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37DRIPPING
0:07:52 > 0:07:54BATS SQUEAK, WINGS FLUTTER
0:08:12 > 0:08:16Lokesh reached a high plateau,
0:08:16 > 0:08:19where a city hid among the mountain tops.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24But there was no time to admire the view.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27Lokesh had to get that spindle whorl.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37Excuse me, do you have a spindle whorl, by any chance?
0:08:37 > 0:08:38Well, yes.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42I usually have a cartload, but I'm down to my last one today.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45- That's great, I'll take it! - Fantastic, but not today.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47- Come back tomorrow.- Tomorrow?- Yes.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50I'm using it today, as you can see.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53Lokesh couldn't wait a whole day.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57I must have it today.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59It's Akbal's independence ceremony.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03He's got a hole in his poncho and his mum has to mend it.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Look, it's my son's birthday tomorrow
0:09:05 > 0:09:08and I really wanted to surprise him with a new poncho.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11I don't know how much wool I need, so I prefer to keep
0:09:11 > 0:09:13the spindle whorl close by.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18- Excuse me?- Yes?
0:09:18 > 0:09:22Could you ask him to come over so you can take his measurements?
0:09:22 > 0:09:25Well, I could, but then that would spoil the surprise.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30- I know...!- Listen, I really need to finish the poncho by tomorrow
0:09:30 > 0:09:32and I've only just started!
0:09:34 > 0:09:36How big is he?
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Could you take my measurements instead?
0:09:39 > 0:09:40- Your measurements? - Yes!
0:09:42 > 0:09:45You two could be about the same size, that's true.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48And if I do that for you,
0:09:48 > 0:09:51you promise me you'll go and let me finish what I'm doing?
0:09:54 > 0:09:55It's a deal.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01And so the wool trader measured Lokesh for the poncho.
0:10:09 > 0:10:15And when he was absolutely certain he had all the wool he needed,
0:10:15 > 0:10:19Lokesh held the rough little stone circle in the palm of his hand.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24There was a hole right through the middle, like a tiny doughnut.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28Thank you.
0:10:28 > 0:10:29Happy spinning.
0:10:29 > 0:10:30Bye!
0:10:30 > 0:10:31Bye-bye.
0:10:34 > 0:10:35Back came Lokesh.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42Down the rocky trail...
0:10:45 > 0:10:47..and past the ruined temple.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58He arrived back at Yatzel's hut just in time.
0:10:58 > 0:10:59I've got it!
0:10:59 > 0:11:00You're back!
0:11:00 > 0:11:02Iktan told me how she broke the old one.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Thank you so much.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09Now I have the wool in the right colour, I just need to spin a little
0:11:09 > 0:11:12thread and we'll mend this hole in no time.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Mum, what are you doing? We need to go!
0:11:19 > 0:11:22I just want to quickly mend your poncho.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24Leave it, Mum! It's fine!
0:11:24 > 0:11:28It's not fine and it will take me two minutes, so please stand still.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39There you go.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41Now that looks better, don't you think?
0:11:41 > 0:11:44You see? Sometimes you need to listen to your mother,
0:11:44 > 0:11:48- even when you're independent. - Thanks, Mum. It looks great.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51You are a man now, Akbal.
0:11:51 > 0:11:56But remember, you are never too old to ask for your mother's help.
0:11:56 > 0:11:57Or your friends'.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00Now, let's all go to the ceremony.
0:12:00 > 0:12:01May I?
0:12:07 > 0:12:11So that was that. The whole kit and caboodle.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13The story of Lokesh and the spindle whorl.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18Fixing the hole was so important to Yatzel.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22That story made me think about my mother. I miss her.
0:12:22 > 0:12:23Was she like Yatzel?
0:12:23 > 0:12:27Yes. However old I got, she'd still do my hair and tell me to wash
0:12:27 > 0:12:31my hands before dinner, and tuck my shirt in and not forget my umbrella
0:12:31 > 0:12:35- because it was going to rain. - That sounds like my mum, too!
0:12:35 > 0:12:38Well, parents will always be parents, I suppose.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41But it's good to know someone's looking out for you.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45I think that's how Akbal really felt when his mother mended his poncho.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48Exactly. Goodness me, is that the time?
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Come on, your Auntie Claire'll be here soon.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Now, how did that get there?
0:13:00 > 0:13:02Home time, now, Lokesh.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12- Thanks, great-aunt Lizzie! - Cheery-bye, Lokesh!
0:13:12 > 0:13:13- ALL:- Bye!