Have you ever heard the saying, one good turn deserves another?
What it means is if someone helps you out, then you should find a way to help them out.
But in today's story, we'll hear what happens when one good turn turns bad.
I'm Rebecca Shear, and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time.
Today our story is called One Good Turn.
We found versions of this tale from so many places, including – and brace yourself, because this is quite a list – India, Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Yemen in Asia, Albania, Denmark, England, Finland, Greece, Italy, Norway, Romania and the Czech Republic in Europe, plus Russia, South Africa, West Africa and the American south.
Some really great people came together to bring you our version of this folktale, including Lulu Miller, Ana Gonzalez and Alan Gafinski, respectively the host, producer and song bud of Terrestrials, the Radiolab for Kids podcast from WNYC Studios.
So circle round everyone, for one good turn.
It was springtime, and Rabbit was hopping through the countryside, basking in the warm sun and grazing in the lush grass.
Mm, mm, mm. What a beautiful morning!
And is it just me, or is the clover especially delectable today?
Not to mention the dandelion greens.
Mm. Rabbit had just stuffed her fuzzy cheeks with yet another mouthful.
Mm! When she suddenly heard a voice.
Help me! Somebody help me!
Rabbits, you may know, have excellent hearing.
They can swivel their long ears in every direction to pick up sound like a radar dish.
And that's exactly what Rabbit did.
Let's see. The voice seems to be coming from over there, near the cluster of bushes.
I must investigate.
She enjoyed one last gulp of grass, then took off like a shot.
When she came to the bushes, she saw something that made her legs wobble and her knees go weak.
Poking out from under the bushes was a big rock, and poking out from under the rock was the tip of a scaly black tail.
Is somebody there? I'm trapped!
Rabbit's fur prickled, for she knew that scaly black tail could only belong to one creature.
Snake! Rabbit's head told her to run.
After all, among Snake's favorite foods were caterpillars, slugs, mice, rats, and you guessed it, rabbits.
But Rabbits' heart told her something different.
It was telling her to have a heart and help a fellow animal in need.
Eventually, her heart won out.
Snake? It's me, Rabbit!
I promise, I will get you out if you promise not to eat me.
Do we have a deal? Absolutely, we have a deal.
Now get me out. The Rock was too heavy to lift, so Rabbit threw her furry body against it and pushed.
She pushed, and she pushed, until at last, The Rock slid aside and there was Snake.
his sinewy body in a coil, his golden eyes shining bright.
Hello, rabbits! Would you believe I've been stuck under that rock all week?
I'm sorry to hear that, Snake.
Thank goodness I heard you crying out.
Indeed. Thank goodness.
Because after being stuck all week, I haven't eaten all week, and I am famished.
I'm sure you are. how about I help you find a nice juicy caterpillar or a soft, slimy slug?
That's softly kind of you, Rabbit, but why waste time searching for creepy crawlies in the ground when I already have a mouth -watering meal, right here?
Snake flicked his tongue, Rabbit's blood turned cold.
Wait a minute, that mouth -watering meal?
You're referring to isn't me.
Is it after all you made a promise if I got you out from under the rock You wouldn't eat me Did I promise that?
I'm so faint with hunger.
I I can't remember a thing Well, you did and the least you can do is follow through after all.
I am the one who saved your life And you're the one who's going to end it if you let me die of Starvation?
How can you be so ungrateful?
How can you be so uncharitable?
Uncharitable? Last I checked, you're the one who wants to reward kindness with evil by eating the one who saved you.
Haven't you heard the expression one good turn deserves another?
I have! But I've also heard the expression it's a dog -eat -dog world.
Every creature for themselves, Though in this case, I suppose it's not so much a dog -eat -dog world as a snake -eat -rabbit world." Snake let out a menacing hisssssssssss and opened his mouth wide.
But before he could strike, I've got to get out of here.
Rabbit wheeled around and started to run.
She dashed across a meadow.
Oh, dear! She scurried up a hill.
Oh boy! But as she bolted into a deep, leafy forest, do you know what happened?
Her paw got snagged in a vine, dangling from a tree!
Oh no! She scrambled to untangle herself.
Come on! Come on! But she was still struggling when Snake caught up.
Haha! Now I've got you!
Please, Snake, have mercy.
Nah, I'd rather have a meal.
Snake uncoiled his tail and pulled back his head.
And just as he was about to close in...
Oh, you know what that music means!
We'll find out what happens next, after a quick break.
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Welcome back to circle round.
I'm Rebecca Shear. Today our story is called one good turn.
before the break, rabbit promised to get snake out from under a rock, if he promised not to eat her, but the moment he was free, he went back on his word and tried making rabbit his meal.
Rabbit scrambled to get away, but in the deep leafy forest, her paw got tangled in a tree vine, and just as snake was about to close in, who should come leaping down from the branches above?
What is going on here?
But Fox… I was trying to take a nap just now, okay?
Owl left behind this super snuggly nest, and it is cozy beyond belief, but how am I supposed to get any shut -eye when you two are carrying on like this?
Rabbit stared into Fox's angry eyes, and felt a wave of relief.
Because as it happens, Fox was the wisest cleverest animal around.
And that gave Rabbit an idea.
Hiya Fox, apologies for the commotion.
But see, Snake and I are having a quarrel, and it's a matter of life and death.
Ugh, so dramatic. A matter of life and death, ooh.
Seriously, though, we're having a major debate.
And perhaps you can help us settle it, Fox.
After all, you're so very wise and clever.
Fox's angry face relaxed into a grin.
I appreciate the praise, Rabbit.
I am wise and clever.
So sure, I'd be happy to help you settle your dispute.
What's the deal? Well, I told Snake I'd save his life if he promised not to eat me.
He agreed. But the moment I came to his rescue, guess what?
He tried to eat me!
That's because self -preservation is the first law of life!
You gotta look out for yourself, no matter what.
But what about others and showing them gratitude?
Surely I deserve some thanks after I got you out from under that rock?
Wait a minute! Fox tilted her bright orange head.
Are you saying Snake was trapped under a rock?
I was. And Rabbit, you extricated him from that rock.
Fancy word for it, but I did.
And where might this rock be?
It's quite a ways from here.
Down a hill and across a meadow.
I see. Listen, you two, before I can settle this dispute, I need to lay eyes on this rock.
Take me there, won't you?
Rabbit was eager for justice.
Snake was eager for a meal.
So after Fox untangled rabbit's paw, she followed rabbit and snake down the hill and across the meadow.
When they reached the cluster of bushes and Fox spied the rock, her eyes went wide.
My, my, my, that's a very large rock.
You moved it all by yourself, rabbit?
I did. I saw snake was in trouble and felt it was my duty to save him, especially after he promised not to eat me.
Fox leaned down toward the rock.
She sniffed it, she tapped it.
Tapity tap tap. She even gave it a lick.
Then she fixed rabbit and snake with a stare.
I must confess, you two, this is a tricky case, even for a wise, clever creature like me.
You know what might help?
If we could reenact the scene, can you Can you show me exactly what it looked like when all of this began?
Snake and Rabbit did as they were told.
Snake slithered under the bush, and Rabbit heaved the rock over his coiled body.
Thank you! But I'm seeing an awful lot of your tail, Snake.
Was it really poking out that much?
She's right! You need to slide it over more!
So Rabbit pushed the rock again.
Terrific. But I'm still seeing a lot of tail.
Snake, does that feel right to you?
It feels... Terrible, actually.
This rock is heavy...
But you're correct.
I don't think this much of my tail was sticking out.
So Rabbit pushed the rock again, until all that stuck out was the very tip of Snake's scaly black tail.
How about now snake, how does that feel?
Like I can't move a muscle.
Like I can't breathe any air.
Like the life is being bashed out of me.
So you're exactly where you were before?
And you're feeling trapped?
Yes… Smushed? Yes… Squashed?
Yes… In that case, my work here is done, and next time, I hope you'll think twice before going back on your word, Snake, because one good turn does deserve another, and Rabbit deserves a far better turn than the one she got.
And with that, Fox flicked her bushy tail and bounded away, leaving Rabbit free to do as she wished and leaving Snake stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Now, it's your turn.
Think about a time you did something kind for someone, and then they did something kind in return.
Now, find a piece of paper and divide it into two sections.
On one side, draw a picture of your good turn.
On the other side, draw a picture of the other person's.
Then, show your picture to someone you have fun with.
And if you'd like, share it with us.
Ask your grown -up to take a photo of you and your drawing, then email it to circleround At WBUR .org.
With your permission, we may feature you in The Lion's Roar, the monthly newsletter of The Circle -Round Club.
More on this super fun club for superfans like you in just a moment, but first...
This week's episode, One Good Turn, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear.
It was edited by Dean Russell.
Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shimolones.
Eric's featured instrument this week was the banjo.
You can learn more about this stringed instrument and see a photo of Eric playing one on our website, wbur .org slash circle round.
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.
Grownups, visit our website, at WBUR .org slash Circle Round, and click on coloring pages.
Special thanks to this week's actors, Lulu Miller, Ana Gonzales and Alan Gefinski from Terrestrials, the Radiolab for Kids podcast from WNYC Studios.
Terrestrials is a show for people of all ages that explores the strangeness that exists right here on earth.
Listen for a whole new season starting April 17th.
If you love Circle Round and want to circle round with us in even more ways while also supporting public radio.
I invite you to join the Circle Round Club.
You'll get a super fun welcome package, ad -free episodes, bonus bedtime stories, music education videos from Eric Shimulonis, newsletters and updates from me, plus early access to our live events.
Sign up today and support the public radio podcast you love at wbur .org slash circle round.
Grownups, if you have a moment, please leave us a five star rating or review on whatever podcast app you're using right now.
It helps other listeners find the show so we can make the Circle Round circle even bigger.
Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station.
I'm Rebecca Scheer.
Thanks for circling round with us.
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Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours too.
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My favorite circle round stories are the 12 months and the bigger and the biggest daughter.
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I live in Silver Spring, Maryland.
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