Hi, Rebecca Shear here, inviting you to Circle Round with us live.
Circle Round is hitting the road this fall with live episode recordings in Parker Colorado Boston, Massachusetts and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Get your tickets at WBUR.org slash Circle Round.
We're announcing more tour stops soon.
Join the Circle Round Club and you'll be first in line for tickets.
Club members are also invited to a special meet and greet with me and Eric Shimalonis after each show.
Visit WBUR.org slash Circle Round now.
WBUR Podcasts.
Boston.
Has anyone ever played a trick on you?
Playing tricks can be harmless, even funny, but they can also be harmful because feelings get hurt and that's not funny at all.
In today's tale, a sneaky spider pulls a fast one on his friends.
Little does he know, but the tables are about to be turned.
Whistling I'm Rebecca Shear and welcome to Circle Round, where story time happens all the time.
Today our story is called The Round Mossy Stone.
Versions of this story come from West Africa and feature a character you've met in many Circle Round episodes Anansi.
So circle around, everyone, for the round mossy stone.
It was a sizzling summer morning, and Anansi the spider was walking through the forest.
It's a real scorcher today.
Even in the shade, it's as hot as blazes.
I need a cold drink.
There's got to be a creek or a stream around here somewhere.
Wiping the sweat from his eight eyes.
He quickened his stride through the undergrowth until he chanced upon a shallow stream with water so clear.
You could count the pebbles on the sandy bottom.
Setting his eight legs in motion, he scurried over and took a big drink.
This water is so cool.
So refreshing.
I no longer feel the least bit hot.
But I sure feel hungry.
The truth is Anansi always felt hungry.
For a small critter, he had an enormous appetite.
Boy.
What I wouldn't give for some delicious ripe fruit, like a mound of mangoes or a bunch of bananas.
Of course, that means I'd have to pick fruit, which means I'd have to do work.
And goodness knows I don't want to do that.
It was true.
As much as Anansi loved eating, he despised working.
But he was a clever spider with a mischievous mind.
And as he paced alongside the stream, he began spinning ideas like a web.
Let's think about this.
The animals in the forest are always picking their own fruit, right?
Collecting a nice big stash to eat as they please.
So what if I trick one of them into picking fruit for me?
Or I could convince them that their fruit has gone bad and I'll volunteer to dispose of it for them.
Or... Anansi fell silent, for ahead of him, in the shade of a tree, was a stone.
The stone was big and round and covered with green moss.
So vibrant, so vivid, it practically glowed.
The green moss reached all the way around the stone, save for one bare spot in front which seemed to be engraved with words.
Hmm.
It's not every day that you see an engraved stone in the forest.
It's not every day that you see an engraved anything in the forest.
Let's see what it says.
He scuttled over and began to read.
Behold, a marvel like you've never seen, this big round stone wrapped in moss of green.
Well, no sooner had he uttered those words than he fell to the ground in a faint and was out cold and cold.
Anansi slept for an entire hour.
When he woke up, he tried to piece together what happened.
Oh, let's see.
The last thing I remember is coming across this mossy stone, then reading the words engraved on it.
You know...
Behold a marvel like you've never seen.
This big round stone wrapped in moss of green.
And just like that.
He was out like a light.
Again.
When he came to an hour later, he also came to a realization.
That's it!
The words under stone must be a spell.
A magic spell.
If you read them out loud, which I definitely will not do, ever again, then you fall fast asleep.
Wait a minute.
A crafty grin spread across the spider's face.
If I play my cards right, then this stone could be my ticket to a free meal!
Why, it's a trickster's jackpot!
Or, more appropriately, a trickster's buffet!
I can't wait to dig in!
The unscrupulous arachnid took off through the forest until he found his first unwitting victim.
Elephant was piling up mangoes with his long gray trunk.
One look at the luscious fruit and Anansi's mouth watered.
Good day, elephant.
What beautiful mangoes you have.
Oh, thank you, Anansi.
I picked them all myself.
That sounds like hard work.
You must be exhausted.
And thirsty.
What with this brutal heat and all.
Anansi held his breath. hoping Elephant would say what he hoped he would say.
And guess what?
He did.
You know, Anansi, I am rather parched.
I would love to quench my thirst with a nice, cool drink.
Well, you're in luck elephant, because I just found the clearest stream you ever did see, with the coolest water you ever did drink.
Shall I take you there?
Elephant paused.
He knew all about Anansi and his tricks, but the idea of sipping clear, cool water on a sweltering hot day was irresistible.
All right, Anansi, lead the way.
The moment Anansi and Elephant reached the stream, Anansi stuck out a leg and let out a gasp.
Elephant, check out that round mossy stone.
Does it have words engraved on it?
Elephant turned to where Anansi was pointing.
Actually, yes, I believe it does.
How odd.
I wonder what it says.
Anansi shrugged.
Why don't you read it, elephant?
Anansi tingled with anticipation as elephant trundled over to the stone and began to read.
Behold a marvel like you've never seen.
This big round stone wrapped in moss of green.
Well, the second those words left Elephant's mouth, you can guess what happened, right?
The mammoth creature tumbled to the ground.
No! and conked right out.
Anansi could hardly contain his glee.
My plan worked.
Now that elephant is snoozing away, I'll go back and make off with his mangoes.
And wouldn't you know it, he did.
Anansi gobbled down at least a dozen mangoes, then brought the rest back to his house so he could snack on them later.
Meanwhile, back at the stream, an hour went by and Elephant woke up.
What just happened?
Was I so thirsty that I passed out from dehydration?
What do you think, Anansi?
Anansi?
He stumbled to his wobbly feet and glanced around.
Anansi?
Where are you?
Oh, well.
He must have left while I was sleeping.
But now that I'm up, I'll have some of this cool, clear water, then go home.
But when Elephant got back to his house, he made a most distressing discovery.
His mangoes were missing!
And it didn't take long to figure out why.
Anansi must have stolen my mangoes while I was sleeping!
I never should have trusted that sneaky spider.
Never!
Well, in the meantime, that sneaky spider was playing the exact same trick on the other animals in the forest.
One by one, he showed them the round mossy stone.
They read the magic spell out loud.
And after they were down for the count, he scooped up all their fruit.
First, he tricked Lion out of her pineapples.
Behold the marvel like you've never seen.
This big round stone wrapped in moss of green.
Then he tricked Monkey out of his bananas.
Behold a marvel like you've never seen.
This big round stone wrapped in moss of green.
He tricked Antelope out of her avocados.
Behold, a marvel like you've never seen.
This big round stone wrapped in moss of green.
He tricked Buffalo out of his papayas.
He tricked Leopard out of her melons.
And he tricked Chimpanzee out of his guavas.
But there was one animal Anansi hadn't yet fooled, and that was bush deer.
Bush deer had the cloven hooves of a deer, the pointed snout of a mouse and the rounded body of a bunny.
Bush deer was small, no bigger than a chihuahua, so she could easily escape notice as she scurried around the forest.
And as Anansi pulled his prank on animal after animal, Bushdeer saw everything.
It isn't fair for Anansi to trick everyone out of their hard-earned fruit.
I'm going to give that sneaky spider a taste of his own medicine.
And something tells me it'll be very hard to swallow.
What do you think Bush Deer is planning?
What would you do if you were Bush Deer?
We'll find out what happens after a quick break.
What are Circle Round listeners saying about the Circle Round Club?
The newest membership opportunity for super fans like you.
Here's a taste.
I love being in the Circle Round Club because the snuggle times are perfect for when you want to listen to Circle Round but you don't have that much time.
Grown-ups, get your Circle Round superfan signed up today at wbur.org slash circleroundclub.
Welcome back to Circle Round.
I'm Rebecca Shear.
Today, our story is called The Round Mossy Stone.
Before the break Anansi, the sneaky spider, discovered a round mossy stone engraved with a magic spell.
Read the words out loud, and you dropped right off to sleep.
One by one, Anansi tricked the other animals into reading the spell.
And one by one, he bustled back to their houses and stole their fruit.
What he didn't know is that all this time, someone had been watching.
Fleet-footed, swift-minded bush deer.
Now that Anansi has hoodwinked every other animal in this forest, it's only a matter of time before he tries pulling a fast one on me.
But I'll be ready.
Bushdeer raced over to a stand of plum trees and set to work gathering the juicy red fruit.
She brought the plums home, then settled down to wait.
And sure enough, who should come ambling over but Anansi.
Just as Bushdeer had hoped, his eight eyes lit up when he saw her freshly picked fruit.
Good day, bush deer.
What succulent plums you have there.
Thank you, Anansi.
I collected them myself.
Then you must be downright drained.
Not to mention thirsty.
Bushdeer smiled to herself.
So far, things were going according to Anansi's plan.
Little did he know, but they would soon go according to hers.
Actually, Anansi, I've never been so thirsty in my life.
What I wouldn't give for a cool, clear drink of water.
Then it's your lucky day, bush deer.
Deep in the forest I discovered the clearest stream you ever did see, with the coolest water you ever did drink.
Shall I take you there?
Yes, please.
Let's go.
The moment Anansi and Bushdeer reached the stream, the spider pulled his usual stunt, pointing at the stone and letting out a gasp.
Look, Bushdeer.
Isn't that a curious sight?
Anansi paused, waiting for the usual response.
Instead, all he heard was slurping as Bushdeer plundered her, pointed snout into the stream and lapped up the cool, clear water.
So Anansi tried again.
I said, isn't that a curious sight?
But again, no response.
For goodness sake, Bushdeer, would you get your snout out of the stream and listen to me?
Bushdeer took one more slurp, then glanced up.
Ow!
I'm sorry, Anansi.
Did you say something?
Yes, Bushdeer, I did say something.
I said, isn't that a curious sight?
Anansi turned toward the mossy stone.
Bushdeer followed his gaze.
Oh, wow.
That is a curious sight.
I've never seen such a tall tree.
A tree?
Anansi stamped one of his eight feet.
I'm not talking about a tree, bush deer.
I'm talking about that.
Again, he gestured toward the stone tree.
Oh, the thorny bush?
No.
The creeping vine?
No.
I'm talking about the stone bush deer.
The round, mossy, one engraved with words.
Oh, that.
Sure.
I guess it's kind of curious.
It's very curious.
I wonder what it says.
Can you read it, Bushdeer?
Bushdeer gave an eager nod, then pranced over to the stone and began to read.
Behold a marvel like you've never seen.
This big round stone warped...
No, that's not right.
Wronged?
No.
Anansi clenched his jaw.
Wrapped.
Wrapped.
It says wrapped, Bushdeer.
Oh, thanks.
Behold a marvel like you've never seen.
This big round stone racked in... Wrapped!
Wrapped!
Ah, of course.
This big round stone wrapped in moss of greed?
No.
Grain?
No.
Groan?
Anansi let out a groan of his own.
It's green, Bushdeer.
Wrapped in moss of green.
Oh, that makes sense.
One more time.
Behold a marvel like you've never seen.
This big round stone wrapped in moss of...
I'm sorry, what did you say the last word was?
Green!
The last word is green!
Are you sure?
Anansi's eight eyes blazed with frustration.
His brow grew so furrowed, you could have planted an orchard of fruit trees in it.
Well, crying out loud, Bushdeer.
Clearly it says behold and marvel, like you've never seen this big round stone wrapped in moss of green.
Anansi felt a rush of panic, but only for a moment.
Because you know what happened next, right?
His eight legs gave out, his eight eyes snapped shut, and he flopped to the ground.
Senseless to the world.
When he woke up an hour later, he was all alone.
Bushdeer was nowhere in sight.
And when he went home, guess what else was nowhere in sight?
His stolen stash of fruit.
Gone were the dozens and dozens of pilfered mangoes pineapples bananas avocados papayas, melons and guavas.
And do you know why?
Anansi sure did.
Well, I was asleep.
Bushdeer must have called the animals together and invited them to come to my house and take back their fruit.
Clearly, they enthusiastically accepted the invitation.
Anansi let out another groan.
Oh. and hung his head in shame.
Because not so long ago he had been warped with greed, but now he was wracked with guilt.
Just as Bushdeer had hoped, the tables were finally turned, the score was finally settled and the prankster was finally the pranked.
The End Now it's your turn.
Pick an object, any object, then think about a spell it might cast if you use it in a certain way.
Perhaps there's a magic banana peel where slipping on it makes you chatter like a monkey.
Or a bicycle that makes you croon like an opera singer every time you push the pedals.
Now find some paper and draw a picture of your object and the spell it casts.
Once you're done, share your picture with someone you have fun with.
And if you'd like, share it with us.
Email it to circleround at wbur.org and we may feature you in the Circle Round newsletter.
This week's episode, The Round Mossy Stone, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear.
It was edited by Dean Russell.
Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shimilonis.
Eric's featured instrument this week was the kora.
You can learn more about this stringed instrument from West Africa and see a photo of Eric playing one on our website.
Wburorg slash circleround.
Circle Round's artist is Sabina Hahn.
Sabina has created a black and white coloring page for all of your favorite Circle Round stories 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 Evan Casey, Adeline Phelps, Jessica Rau, Mike Truesdale, Dawn Ursula and Bashir Sylvain, who co-stars in the sci-fi action flick Jurassic World Rebirth.
And if you're listening to this story the week it comes out, please join me in wishing a very happy birthday to Bashir, who celebrates his big day on September 16th.
Hope you get to have your cake and eat it too, Bashir, without Anansi sneaking over and stealing it.
If you're a Circle Round superfan and are looking for more ways to circle round with us.
Transcription by CastingWords and an invitation to meet me and Eric Shimilonis after each show.
You can also add on other goodies, like our snuggly lion stuffy and a personalized birthday message from me.
Sign up for the Circle Round Club today and show your love for public media at wbur.org.
Grownups, if you enjoy Circle Round, please spread the word.
And if you have a sec, please leave us a five-star rating or review on your favorite podcast app.
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.
I'm Rebecca Shear.
Thanks for circling around 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 Perry and I live in Adelaide, South Australia, and my favourite Circle Round story is Friends in High Places, and my favourite part is when Rhino says I can think of one thing run.
My name is Nova and I'm from Cleveland Ohio, and my favorite circle round story is The Peach of Life.
I like the part when that old man says, good day!
Hi, my name is Lou.
I'm from Cleveland, Ohio.
My favorite stick around is One Good Turn, and my favorite part is when Snake is chasing Rabbit.
I'm Madeline, and I'm from Ridgefield, Connecticut.
I like this story in The Willow Tree.
Hi, my name is Sydney.
I'm from New Jersey and my favorite circle round story is the Basilisk Stare, because I like the part when the older sister uses her father's shield to turn the basilisk to stone.
My name is Whitney.
I'm from New Jersey.
My favorite episode is the peace of life.
Hi, my name is winnie and i live in cedar hills, utah.
My favorite circle man is crocus pocus.
My favorite part is when the old lady turns into a young lady.
Did someone mention a story you've missed?
Not to worry.
Grownups.
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.
