WVUR Podcasts, Boston.
Have you ever played hide and seek?
If so, then you've probably come up with all sorts of fun places to conceal yourself from the seeker.
In today's tale, an honest peddler believes he's found the perfect place to hide a precious possession until a double -dealing trickster seeks it out.
I'm Rebecca Scheer, and welcome to Circle Round, where story time happens all the time.
Today, our story is called The Hiding Place.
We found versions of this tale from Egyptian and Jewish lore.
Some really great people came together to bring you our adaptation of this story, including Erin Bartz, Eric Christopher Peterson, and Kara Ricketts.
Three stars from the Tony Award -winning Broadway show Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, running at the Lyric Theater in New York City.
So circle around, everyone, for The Hiding Place.
Solomon the Peddler rode his rickety wagon from city to city and town to town, hawking his hodgepodge of wares.
Step right up and get your cups and candles, your textiles and tools, all at low, low prices, all for a limited time.
Every now and then, business was as brisk as a buzzing bee, and coins came flying into Solomon's cash box.
Thank you for your purchase, sir.
I appreciate your business, ma 'am.
Thanks for being a valued customer, madam.
But most of the time, business was as slow as a tired turtle.
And by the end of the day, Solomon's cash box held little more than air.
Still, the Peddler kept at it.
He worked all day, every day, refusing to take time off.
And little by little, his savings grew, until at last, his cash box was filled to the brim with silver pieces.
I've never had this much money before, so I'm going to do something I've never done before.
Take a vacation. Solomon rolled through the countryside with a smile on his face.
Before long, he saw a bustling city in the distance, one he had never been to before.
Wow. That city looks like a great place to take some time off.
Thing is, I've got an awful lot of cash with me.
How can I make sure my silver pieces are safe during my stay?
At the edge of the city, Solomon came upon a big, broad field.
And that's when he had an idea.
I'll hide my silver pieces in this field.
I'll set aside some coins for spending money, then I'll bury the rest and come back for it later.
But first, let's see how much I've got.
One, two, three, four, five.
One by one, Solomon counted his silver pieces until, at last, 599, 600.
I've got 600 silver pieces in this cash box.
Wow. Solomon set aside 100 silver pieces for spending money.
So if he had 600 silver pieces total, how many did he have left in his cash box?
That's right, 500. So with his 500 silver pieces clinking in his cash box, Solomon hurried across the field.
At the far end of the field was a grove of tall, leafy trees.
Solomon glanced over both shoulders, decided no one else was about, then quickly dug a hole near the trees.
He laid the cash box inside and covered it with dirt.
All righty then, my 500 silver pieces are safe, and I am on a holiday.
Solomon had a lovely time in the city.
He feasted on fine food and charming cafes.
He shopped for new clothing at elegant stores, and each night he enjoyed a different play or opera at the theater.
Once he had used up all of his spending money, he decided his vacation was over.
Well, that was delightful.
Now I'll go back to the grove, unbury the rest of my money, and I'll be on my way.
Solomon checked out of his hotel and returned to his hiding place.
But to his dismay, when he plunged his shovel into the soil, oh no, he did not see a cash box full of 500 silver pieces.
Instead, all I'm seeing is dirt, which means that someone must have stolen my cash box.
But how and who? I could have sworn I was alone when I buried it in the.
Solomon stopped short, for suddenly he caught sight of something on the ground.
Footprints. There's a trail of strange footprints leading from my hiding place into the trees.
This could be a clue.
Solomon dropped his shovel and followed the footprints through the grove.
On the other side was a house.
An enormous sprawling abode with stately pillars, gleaming brick walls, and more windows and chimneys than Solomon could count.
Whoa, who knew such a massive house was on the other side of this grove?
I wonder who it belongs to.
Just then, a window on the ground floor burst open, and a man's voice came drifting through.
Much better. It was getting so stuffy in here I could hardly focus on counting my money.
Now, where was I? Ah, yes, 491.
Solomon tiptoed to the open window.
Peering inside, he saw a big wood paneled study.
Seated behind a large desk, dressed in a tuxedo jacket and tie, was a man counting silver pieces.
500. Out of Solomon's cash box.
There are 500 silver pieces in this cash box.
It's a lucky thing one of my servants spotted that stranger hiding it on the other side of the grove the other day.
Talk about buried treasure.
Solomon's breath caught in his throat.
This well -to -do fellow had stolen his money.
But the peddler wasn't about to march into the gigantic house and demand back.
What if the man in the tuxedo claimed it was his?
What if he had Solomon arrested for trespassing?
With a spinning head and hammering heart, Solomon sprinted back through the grove.
Oh, man, I'm in a real jam.
All my money is either spent or stolen.
No use griping, though.
Better to do something, like get myself a job in the city, at least until I find a way to get my money back.
So Solomon dusted himself off and went back into the city.
When he spotted a help wanted sign in a grocery window, he breezed in and waved at a woman loading a shelf with pickle jars.
Greetings, ma 'am. Are you the owner of this establishment?
The woman flashed Solomon a smile.
I am the owner of this establishment.
How may I help you?
Actually, I think the question is, how may I help you?
I noticed the sign in the window, and I wish to offer my services.
My name is Solomon, and I have plenty of experience with sales.
I'm a peddler by trade.
It's a pleasure to meet you, Solomon.
My name is Dahlia. But tell me, if you're a peddler by trade, then why aren't you out peddling?
Solomon's shoulders slumped.
It's a long story and a sad one.
You don't want to hear it.
Oh, but I do. Here, grab some pickles.
You can help me stalk while you tell me everything.
So Solomon picked up a jar and began recounting his tale.
When he got to the part about the wealthy man in the big house, Dahlia cut him off.
Hang on a second. Are you talking about the enormous brick house at the edge of the city?
The one with the stately pillars and more windows and chimneys than you can count?
That's the one. Do you know the fellow who owns it?
Do I know the fellow who owns it?
Everybody knows the fellow who owns it.
He's the mayor. Solomon was so shocked, he nearly shattered a pickle jar.
Are you saying the mayor of this city stole my money?
That's exactly what I'm saying, but I'm not nearly as surprised as you are.
Our mayor is legendary for two things, his arrogance and his greed.
Two years ago, he had the nerve to double taxes on the working people of this city.
One year ago, he had the gall to triple them, just so he could line his fancy pockets.
That isn't fair. The word fair isn't exactly in our mayor's vocabulary as your story demonstrates.
But listen, Dahlia leaned in close.
I've been seeking a way to cut our big headed mayor down to size.
And now that you're here, I think I found an idea.
Have you ever heard the expression fighting fire with fire?
Sure I have. Well, hold on to your hat, my peddling friend, because you and I are going to do more than fight fire with fire.
We're going to fight greed with greed.
What do you think Dahlia is plotting?
How would you help Solomon if you were the grocer?
We'll find out what happens after a quick break.
Welcome back to Circle Round.
I'm Rebecca Scheer.
Today, our story is called The Hiding Place.
Before the break, Solomon the peddler took a well deserved holiday in an unfamiliar city.
But first, he buried a cash box containing 500 silver pieces in a field near a grove of trees.
But when he went back to retrieve his money, he discovered the cash box had been stolen by the greedy mayor.
When a grocer named Dahlia heard Solomon's story, she was determined to help the peddler out and teach the mayor a lesson.
Okay Solomon, I have a plan for how to get your money back.
Meet me at the mayor's house at sundown and follow my lead.
A few hours later, Dahlia and Solomon were standing in the shadow of the mayor's massive abode.
Dahlia held out a plump, satin pouch.
What do you think? Does it sound like money?
It sure does. What's actually in that pouch?
Metal buttons. We sell them at the grocery for cheap.
But as far as the mayor is concerned, they're coins, okay?
Lots and lots of coins.
Just keep that in mind and play along.
Dahlia led Solomon up the marble steps to the carved wooden door when she wrapped the iron knocker.
A butler answered, asking the grocer to state her business.
Well, to be honest, it isn't my business that brought me here.
It's his. She motioned towards Solomon.
I've told him how wise and knowledgeable our brilliant mayor is.
So he'd like to get his advice about this big pouch of money.
Dahlia gave the pouch a jingle.
And just as the butler was turning around, who should come dashing to the door, drawn to the sound of money like a dog to a whistle, but the mayor.
Did I just hear a big pouch of money?
Dahlia batted her eyes.
Why, yes you did, Mr.
Mayor. That's a sharp pair of ears you have.
They are sharp, aren't they?
They're but two of my many outstanding attributes.
But enough about me.
Let's talk about you.
Or more accurately, your money.
That's an awful lot of cash to be carrying around.
And that's why we're here, Mr.
Mayor. I am the local grocer.
And I happened to meet this fellow in my store today.
He's a stranger to this city and doesn't know a soul.
Isn't that right, stranger?
Dahlia nudged Solomon in the elbow.
Um, yes, that's right.
I do not know a soul, not a one.
As it happens, this stranger came to our city with a whole bunch of money.
He brought a cash box filled with 500 silver pieces.
And this satin pouch filled with 300 silver pieces.
500 silver pieces and 300 silver pieces?
The mayor's eyes widened as he did the math.
Goodness gracious. You brought 800 silver pieces to this city?
But if you have the 300 silver pieces here in this satin pouch, then what happened to the other 500, the ones in the cash box?
Well, that's the thing.
The stranger decided he would keep them safe by hiding the cash box in a hole in the ground.
In a hole in the ground, you say?
A look of guilt flashed across the mayor's face.
He let out a nervous laugh.
Hiding your money in a hole in the ground is an ingenious idea.
No one would ever think to look there, not even a brilliant fellow like myself.
Right? But as you can see, he didn't hide this pouch.
He's been carrying it around with him all this time, and having to look after it and keep it safe in a strange city is stressing him out.
Again, Dahlia gave Solomon a nudge.
That's right. It is stressing me out.
I'm losing sleep over it, hair even.
So this stranger has come to you, Mr.
Mayor, to receive your wisdom.
What he wants to know is, should he keep the money in the pouch and continue carrying it around, or should he go back to his hiding place and bury it with the rest of his money?
This time, a look of greed crossed the mayor's face.
He turned to Solomon with a syrupy, sweet grin.
Well, stranger, I must say, I am flattered that you came to me for advice.
You did the right thing, and so, good man, in my infinite, endless, and inexhaustible wisdom, here is what I think you should do.
I think you should bury this money in your hiding place.
You do? I do. Go back to your hiding place and bury this money with the cash box.
But don't do it right away.
Instead, how about you stay at my house for dinner and enjoy a nice, leisurely meal?
Both Solomon and Dahlia knew exactly what the mayor was thinking.
He was assuming that his theft of the cash box hadn't yet been discovered.
And if he acted quickly and returned the box to its hiding place, he could come back later and find even more money buried there.
The grocer and peddler exchanged a look, then turned to the mayor with smiles.
Mr. Mayor, it is so generous of you to invite us to dinner.
And we are honored to accept.
We look forward to joining you at the table.
Actually, the mayor's pupils twitched.
I shan't be sitting down with you right away.
I have some business to attend to first.
Very pressing business, if you'll excuse me.
Then he turned on the heels of his shiny shoes and scurried away.
Dahlia and Solomon, meanwhile, were ushered into a cavernous dining room.
And just as they took their seats at the mile long table, can you guess who they spotted through one of the windows?
Racing across the yard with a cash box and a shovel in his arms?
That's right, the mayor.
Sometime later, he came striding into the dining room.
Only now his arms were empty, his breath was short, and his shiny shoes were caked with dirt.
Greetings, friends.
I trust you're enjoying your meal?
We are, but I should be going.
I've got some clean -up to do at the grocery.
And I'm eager to check my hiding place.
If my cash box is safe, I'll hide the rest of my money there, too.
That is what you said I should do, right, Mr.
Mayor? Yes, of course.
And something tells me your cash box will be safe.
Very, very safe. Thank you for visiting, you two.
It's been most enriching.
And thank you, Mr. Mayor.
It's been rather enriching for us as well.
Moments later, Dahlia and Solomon were rushing out the door and sprinting through the grove of trees.
When they reached Solomon's hiding place, they grabbed sticks, branches, and stones and began to dig.
And can you guess what they found buried in the ground?
That's right, Solomon's newly returned cash box with all 500 silver pieces inside.
Dahlia gazed at Solomon.
Solomon gazed at Dahlia.
Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
I think I am. Solomon picked up the cash box.
Dahlia picked up the satin pouch, and together, they swapped the contents.
So now the pouch was filled with 500 silver pieces, and the box was filled with cheap metal buttons.
Dahlia and Solomon lowered the box into the hole and buried it as deep as possible before scampering away.
A short time later, under the light of a shimmering moon, who should come creeping through the grove but the mayor?
He cackled with greedy delight as he plunged his shovel into the ground.
He cackled even more as he unearthed the cash box.
But when he pried off the lid and looked inside, his cackling ceased.
Because instead of finding a precious pile of silver pieces, all he found was a cheap heap of metal buttons.
The mayor buried his face in his dirt -smeared hands.
For all at once, it became clear.
Thanks to his grasping ways, he was beaten by his own greed and left with trinkets instead of treasure.
Now it's your turn.
If you wanted to hide something precious, what's the most super top secret hiding place you can think of?
Is it the bottom of the ocean?
The top of a mountain?
Inside a crater on the moon?
Find some paper and draw a picture of your hiding place.
Share your artwork with someone you have fun with, and then if you like, share it with us.
Grownups, you can snap a photo of your CircleRound fan and their picture and email it to circleround at wbur .org.
With your permission, we may feature it in the Lion's Roar, the monthly newsletter for members of the CircleRound Club.
You can learn more about this super fun opportunity for super fans like you at wbur .org slash CircleRound.
This week's episode, The Hiding Place, was adapted by me, Rebecca Scheer.
It was edited by Dean Russell.
Our original music and sound design is by Eric Schimelonis.
Our artist is Sabina Hahn.
Sabina has created a black and white coloring page for all of our CircleRound stories, and you can print them out and color them in.
Grownups, visit our website, wbur .org slash CircleRound, and click on Coloring Pages.
Special thanks to this week's actors, Kara Ricketts, Eric Christopher Peterson, and Aaron Bartz.
You can see this talented trio portray Hermione Granger, Scorpius Malfoy, and Draco Malfoy in the Tony Award -winning Broadway show, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, now running at the Lyric Theater in New York City.
Our featured instrument this week was the canoe.
You can learn more about this Arabic lap harp with a whopping 78 strings on our website.
Again, that's wbur .org slash CircleRound.
Grownups, if you enjoy CircleRound, please leave us a five -star review on your favorite podcast app.
You'll help make the CircleRound circle even bigger by helping other listeners find the show.
CircleRound is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station.
I'm Rebecca Sheer. Thanks for circling around with us.
Now that you've made it to the end of this CircleRound episode, we want to know, what's your favorite CircleRound story?
Thousands of fans just like you have been telling us about the CircleRound stories they like best.
Take a listen. Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours too.
Hi, my name is Edith.
I live in London, United Kingdom.
My favorite episode of CircleRound is Donkey Business because I like the part where the neighbor learns that it's not nice to not share.
My name is Charlotte, and I'm from Stevenson Ranch, California.
My favorite story is the uncommon commoner.
And I like the part where the old man says, cock -a -doodle -doo.
Hi, my name is Maya.
I live in Chager Heights, Ohio, and my favorite CircleRound story is The Biscuit of Basket.
I like the part when the tiger gives the girl a basket.
My name is Finley. I live in Clearwater.
My favorite story is the talking bird.
I like when the animals say, we're going to send you away.
What? Hi, my name is Evelyn.
I'm from Massachusetts.
My favorite CircleRound story is the crystal story box.
My favorite part is when the spider brings back all the animals.
My name is Lily. I'm from Kenosha, Wisconsin.
My favorite CircleRound story is the crystal story box.
I like the part where the Nazi tries to get the crystal box of stories, but he has to do a trade with Sky Gas.
My name is Emmy, and I live in Boulder, Colorado, and my favorite CircleRound story is The Sweetest Sounds.
I like the part where the lady in red thinks the violin has powers.
I love you, Rebecca Shear.
Did someone mention a story you've missed?
Not to worry. Grownups, you can find all of our CircleRound stories, plus links to the CircleRound club, picture books, coloring pages, and oh so much more on our website, wbur .org slash CircleRound.
