Hi, Rebecca Shear here, inviting you to Circle Round with us live.
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Have you ever gotten lost?
Maybe you and your family were on a road trip and you took a wrong turn.
Or you were hiking and you mistook one trail for another.
We're about to meet three characters who get lost in the forest.
And what they end up finding isn't an exit.
It's an eye-opener.
I'm Rebecca Shear, and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time.
Today, our story is called The Right Apple.
It's inspired by Jewish tales from Turkey, also known as the Republic of Turkey, a transcontinental country located across southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia.
Some really great people came together to bring you our version of this folktale, including Oscar nominee June Squibb, star of the new Scarlett Johansson film, Eleanor the Great, hitting theaters on September 26th.
So circle around, everyone, for the right apple.
Apple.
On a chilly autumn night in a misty moonlit forest, three lost travelers happened to cross paths.
Ennis came from up north.
I've been winding my way through this forest for hours.
It's like a labyrinth in here.
Eric came from down south.
Tell me about it.
I've wandered past that same laurel tree at least half a dozen times.
And Esme came from the west.
We must find somewhere to take shelter.
It's too brisk to sleep outdoors.
And who knows what wild, hungry creatures roam these woods, especially at night.
The travelers surveyed the darkening scene around them.
Then Esme let out a gasp.
Do you see that?
Through that dense thicket of pines and oaks?
Ennis and Eric craned their necks to see where she was pointing.
Well, I'll be.
It looks like a cottage.
With light glowing in the windows and smoke streaming through the chimney.
Perhaps they'll take us in.
So Ennis, Eric, and Esme raced toward the cottage and knocked at the door.
May I help you?
An old woman answered, with curly hair as white as snow and twinkling eyes as blue as the sky.
Clutched in her weathered hand was a gnarled walking stick.
Greetings, madam.
The three of us lost our way and are seeking a place to sleep.
Perhaps a warm meal as well?
Might we spend the night with you?
We'll happily pay for our room and board.
The woman's face crinkled into a grin.
Oh, there's no need to pay me a cent.
All three of you may spend the night, free of charge.
Now come in.
I was just about to enjoy a late supper.
You're more than welcome to join me.
When the travelers followed the woman into the cottage, they were struck by how sparse it was.
The main room contained nothing more than a rickety table and chairs, a set of dusty shelves and a small hearth with a crackling fire.
Through a doorway was a small bedroom with just a lamp and mattress.
Please have a seat at the table.
Are you ready for a feast?
The travelers exchanged a look.
The rickety table was bare.
The dusty shelves were empty.
No pots or pans were simmering on the hearth.
Um, much as we'd love a feast, madam, we don't see any food.
Should the three of us go out and gather some?
I spotted a bunch of wild garlic growing in the woods and a whole thatch of nettles.
We could boil up a stew.
That's a kind offer, friends, but it won't be necessary.
The woman raised her walking stick high in the air.
She gave it a swish.
And just like that, atop the bare table was a linen tablecloth, porcelain plates, silver cutlery and a pair of gleaming candlesticks.
The travelers were agog.
Did that just... Did you just... Did we just... The woman didn't answer.
Instead, she swished the stick again.
And a mouth-watering meal appeared.
Steaming, fragrant soup.
Rich, thick stew.
Grilled meats.
Roasted vegetables.
There was even a flask of wine and four crystal goblets.
Holy moly!
Holy smokes!
Holy mackerel!
Oh, you want some mackerel, too?
Grilled or baked?
Or perhaps you prefer pan-fried?
Esma stopped the woman before she could swish her stick again.
No, madam, please.
You've given us plenty already, and we are truly grateful.
"'Aren't we, Ennis and Eric?'
Ennis and Eric didn't answer.
They just stared bug-eyed and slack-jawed at the feast on the table.
"'I said, aren't we grateful, Ennis and Eric?'
Ennis and Eric!
The two travelers snapped to attention.
Um, yeah.
We're very grateful.
But mostly, we're curious.
What's the deal with your walking stick, madam?
The woman smiled.
I'll explain after the meal.
Now please, enjoy.
The travelers ate and drank to their heart's content.
And when they were done, the woman swished her stick and everything that had magically appeared on the table disappeared.
The woman laid the stick down, then fixed her guests with her twinkling sky-blue eyes.
Friends, you ask about my stick?
Oh, I received it as a gift many moons ago.
I've had it for as long as I can remember.
And now that I'm getting up there in years, I would like to pass it on to one of you.
The traveler's mouths dropped open.
You would give away your stick to one of us?
That's too much, madam.
Please, I would like one of you to have it, provided you can do as I ask.
You see, behind my cottage lies a sparkling stream.
On the far side of that stream is an apple tree.
Bring me the right apple from that tree, and you may have my walking stick.
The travelers treated a glance.
With all due respect, madam...
How will we know which apple is the right apple?
Can you be more specific?
What is it you have in mind?
A mysterious grin crossed the woman's lips.
Instead of answering, she shuffled to the bedroom and came back with three blankets.
Here, now take these blankets.
It's late and you should get some sleep.
Now tomorrow you could try your hand at bringing me the right apple.
But for now, good night and good luck.
What do you think will happen when our travelers look for the right apple?
And what is the right apple anyway?
We'll find out after a quick break.
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I'm Rebecca Shear.
Welcome back to Circle Round.
Today, our story is called The Right Apple.
The Right Apple Before the break.
A mysterious woman showed three lost travelers a magic walking stick.
Swish the stick over a table, and it would produce a grand feast.
The woman told Ennis, Eric and Esme she would give one of them her stick, provided they could bring her the right apple from the tree across the stream.
The following morning, after a delicious breakfast magically produced by the walking stick Ennis, Eric and Esma wrote their names on slips of paper.
They dropped them into a hat, then the old woman reached in and drew the slips out one by one.
Ennis, it looks like you will go first.
Then Eric, then Esma.
Sweet!
I'll get that apple right now, and the stick will be mine!
Ennis sprinted out the door and across the stream.
The apple tree on the other side was tall and sturdy, with hundreds of shiny red apples on its branches.
My goodness!
These apples are so beautiful and bountiful!
How am I supposed to know which is the right one?
His gaze drifted from the bottom of the tree to the top.
Ha!
That apple up there, at the very tippity-top, it's higher than all the rest.
Since it's the hardest apple to get, I'll bet it's the right apple, too.
Ennis hoisted himself into the branches and began to climb.
After plucking the apple from the uppermost limb, he clambered back to the ground.
But just as he was about to cross the stream... Pardon me?
May I please have some of your apple?
Turning his head.
What should Ennis find perched on his shoulder?
But a delicate little butterfly with wings as blue as the sky.
I'm sorry, were you just talking to me?
I was.
I asked if I could please have some of your apple.
Ennis shook his head.
No way you could have some of my apple.
I need this apple for myself.
Go get an apple of your own.
After waving the butterfly away, Annis hurried over the stream and back to the cottage.
Here it is!
The right apple!
The woman took the apple from Ennis and held it up to her twinkling blue eyes.
No, Ennis, this is not the right apple.
But it was at the tippity top of the tree.
I climbed all the way up to get it.
That was a lot of hard work.
I'm sure it was.
But it's not the right apple.
So it's time for Eric to give it a try.
Anise sagged in defeat.
Eric puffed up with pride.
This is gonna be a breeze, a cakewalk, as easy as apple pie.
See you soon, folks.
He bolted out the door and across the stream.
One glance at the apple tree and he was every bit as perplexed as Ennis was.
Golly, with so many apples to choose from, how am I supposed to know which is the right one?
Wait!
He edged closer and scrunched up his eyes.
That apple there, it's the ripest and plumpest of the bunch.
So shiny and red.
Since it's the best looking apple, I'll bet it's the right apple too.
He yanked the apple from its branch and turned back to the stream.
But before he could hop across.
Pardon me.
May I please have some of your apple?
Eric looked up and there, fluttering above him, was the little blue butterfly.
Excuse me.
Was that your voice I just heard?
It was.
I asked if I could please have some of your apple.
Eric shot the butterfly a withering glance.
You absolutely cannot have some of my apple.
This apple is mine.
I need it.
Go find your own.
Then he shooed the insect away, stuffed the apple in his pocket, and raced back to the cottage.
Hiya, folks.
I found the right apple. pull the apple from his pocket, the old woman frowned.
No, Eric, you have not found the right apple.
Are you sure?
You haven't even seen it.
It was the plumpest, ripest, reddest, shiniest apple on that entire tree.
Well, that may be so, but it's not the right apple, which means it's time for our third contestant.
She shifted her gaze to Esme.
Bring back the right apple, Esma, and the walking stick is yours.
I'll do my best.
Esma gave the woman's hand a squeeze.
Then she hastened out the door and bustled across the stream to the tree.
Goodness, there are so many apples growing on this tree that I don't know which one to pick.
She stood still for a moment.
Then, suddenly, her face lit up.
Wait a minute.
Maybe I don't have to pick one.
The ground is littered with fruit that has ripened already.
Instead of yanking off an apple that might still be growing, I'll choose one of the ones that have fallen.
They still look as fine as can be.
She knelt down and scooped an apple off the ground.
This one will do nicely.
I'll take it back to the cottage and see what the woman says.
Esme turned around with a grin.
But before she could jump across the stream... Pardon me.
May I please have some of your apple?
Esme paused and looked down.
Standing beside the stream was, you guessed it, the blue butterfly.
Hello, little one.
I didn't know butterflies could talk.
But then, I also didn't know that magical walking sticks could produce a feast.
Anyway, what was it you asked?
I asked if I could please have some of your apple.
I'm so very hungry.
Asma knelt down and examined the insect.
Its wings were drooping.
Its antennae hung limply over its face.
Goodness me.
You look hungry.
Of course you can have some of my apple.
Here.
She laid the apple down.
And the moment she did, do you know what happened?
The butterfly vanished.
In its place stood the old woman.
Hello, Esma.
Esma was stunned.
It's you.
It is me.
And you have found the right apple.
I have?
Yes.
Don't you see, Esme?
The right apple wasn't the hardest one to reach or the prettiest one to look at.
The right apple was the one that you're willing to share.
So here.
The woman blinked her sky blue eyes and held out the walking stick.
This stick is yours, my dear.
All I ask is that you use it in the same spirit with which you earned it.
Share its bounty with others.
She placed the stick in Esme's hands, then disappeared.
That was the last time Esme saw her new friend.
But she did as she was told.
And whenever she used her magic walking stick, she invited anyone who was poor, hungry or struggling to share in her bounty.
Because Esma understood what we all should understand.
When we can do something to share with others and make their lives just a little bit better, that is the most magical thing of all.
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If you haven't yet signed up for this free monthly bulletin featuring special announcements, behind the scenes articles and yes, photos of your art and creations, visit wburorg slash circle round.
This week's episode, The Right Apple, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear.
It was edited by Dean Russell.
Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shimalonis.
Eric's featured instrument this week was the kanun.
You can learn more about this stringed instrument, popular in the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Asia, on our website, wburorg.
Circle Round's artist is Sabina Hahn.
Sabina has created a black and white coloring page for every single Circle Round story and you can print them out and color them in.
Grown-ups, you can download all of our coloring pages at wbur.org slash circleround.
Special thanks to this week's actors Joe Hernandez, Kiran Kumar, Erica Rhodes, Dawn Ursula and June Squibb.
With an acting career spanning six-plus decades.
Oscar nominee June Squibb has starred in such movies as Nebraska, Thelma and the new Scarlett Johansson film Eleanor the Great.
You kids will recognize June's one-of-a-kind voice from animated features like Ralph Breaks the Internet, Toy Story 4 Soul and Inside Out 2.
Broadway fans watch for June on the Great White Way later this year when she plays the title role in the new play Marjorie Prime.
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Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR.
I'm Rebecca Shear.
Thanks for circling round with us.
Now that you've made it to the end of this Circle Round episode, we want to know what's your favorite Circle Round story.
Thousands of fans just like you have been telling us about the Circle Round stories they like best.
Take a listen.
Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours, too.
My name is Briggs, and I live in British Columbia.
My favorite circle round is all of them.
I love you, Rebecca Sear.
Hi, my name is Tara, and I live in USA.
And my favorite story is the three clever brothers, and I like all the parts.
My name is Sawyer, and my favorite circle round story is the giant clams.
My favorite fart is when Fox tricks the clams.
Hi, my name is Maya.
I live in Scarborough, Maine.
And my favorite Circle Round story is The Speckled Hen.
And my favorite part is when the rich guy tells Hannah and her dad that they can keep the wool, the sheep, the cow, the milk and the eggs.
Hello, my name is Shoshana.
I live in Scarborough, Maine.
My favorite Circle Round story is the rice cakes in the Omi and my favorite part is when they escape in the giant bowl with the rice cakes.
My name is Sophia.
I live in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and my favorite Circle Month story is Misery Loves Company.
I like when Alexandra tricks Misery to go into the cave, and then she has a good fortune.
My name's Simone and I live in Oakland California, and my favorite Circle Round is the Lion's Whistle.
I like the part when brother and sister ask for the Lion's Whistle.
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You can find all of our Circle Round stories, plus links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages and oh so much more on our website wburorg slash circleround.
