Hi, Rebecca Shear here. Before we get to our story, exciting news.
Circle Round is going back on tour. with live recordings across the united states our first stop Sunday, October 5th in Parker, Colorado at the Pace Center.
And Circle Round Club members are invited to a special post-show meet and greet with me and composer Eric Shimalonis.
Get your tickets at wbur.org slash circle around and click on events.
We're announcing more tour stops soon, so stay tuned.
We look forward to circling around with you live.
WBUR Podcasts Boston Have you ever found yourself in a tough situation?
If so, were you tempted to take the easy way out?
As we'll hear in today's story, when we take shortcuts in life, very often they lead far from where we think they will.
Thank you. I'm Rebecca Sheer, and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time.
Today, our story is called The Little Blue Pebble.
You'll find versions of this tale from a great number of countries across the world, including Mexico and Argentina.
India and the Philippines, Kenya and Russia, Serbia and Yugoslavia, plus France and Denmark, Germany and...
Some really great people came together to bring you our adaptation of this folktale. including Broadway performers, lifestyle bloggers, educators, and new dads.
Brett Shuford and Stephen Hanna, the dynamic duo behind Broadway Husbands.
So, circle around, everyone, for the little blue pebble.
Axel and Otto were farmers who lived way out in the countryside.
On a plot of land beside their small cottage, they grew potatoes, carrots, and corn.
Their chocolate-colored workhorse, Brown Eyes, helped them plow and plant and cart their crops to the market.
Axel and Otto worked their tails off, sunrise to sunset.
But as summer turned to fall, they began to worry about the long, bleak winter ahead.
Otto, the snow will be falling any day now.
Money's tight, and with our drafty cottage and threadbare clothing, I don't know how we'll make it through the season.
I know what you mean, Axel. And that's why I've been thinking.
We ought to sell brown eyes. sell brown eyes, but she is our one and only horse, and she helps with so much work on the farm.
I know, I know. And I love her every bit as much as you do.
But what other choice do we have, Axel? We need money fast, and selling brown eyes is the only way.
Axel was quiet for a moment. Then he let out a sigh.
Okay, I suppose you're right. but I can't bear to do it myself, so...
You take her to the market tomorrow and be sure to fetch a good price.
500 silver pieces at least. That much money is bound to get us through the winter and then some.
So the following day, Otto settled up brown eyes and started the long ride to the market.
After about an hour, he was stopped by a tall bright-eyed woman by the side of the road.
She was wearing a long green cloak. Excuse me, sir.
Excuse me. Otto brought Brown Eyes to a halt.
Is everything all right, ma'am? Oh, yes.
I was just wondering, that's a mighty fine workhorse you have there.
So sturdy and strong. Is she for sale, by chance?
Otto jumped down from the saddle and smiled.
Actually... This horse is for sale. Her name is Brown Eyes.
And I was just taking her to the market.
Well... How about I save you the trip and you sell brown eyes to me?
How much are you asking for her? Otto remembered his promise to Axel.
500 silver pieces, ma'am. She's a good, strong horse and worth every penny.
Five hundred silver pieces. The woman's eyes glittered.
What if, in exchange for brown eyes, I give you something even more valuable than 500 silver pieces.
You mean, like 600 silver pieces? Oh, no, no, no.
I'm talking about something so valuable, so precious.
It's priceless. I'm talking about... this.
The woman thrust a hand into her pocket and brought out a Pebble!
Otto noticed the smooth, round stone was the size of a plump green grape. and the color of a clear blue sky.
You want me to sell you my prize workhorse?
For a blue prize? Pebble? Not just any blue pebble.
A magic. Blue Pebble rubbed this little stone three times. and it will give you powers beyond your wildest dreams.
Otto gaped at the woman. Powers beyond my wildest dreams?
Look, I'm sorry ma'am, but I don't believe in magic spells and all that hocus pocus mumbo jumbo.
Oh you don't, huh? Then watch this. The woman closed her eyes and rubbed the pebble three times.
All of a sudden, there was a puff of smoke, and standing in the woman's place was an elephant.
What in the world? That did not just happen.
There was another puff of smoke, and the elephant was replaced by a tiger.
What? Then a monkey. Huh? Then a donkey?
This is bananas! Then a rainbow-colored parrot.
Okay, what on earth is going on here? Where did all these animals come from and where are they going? after yet another puff of smoke.
The woman appeared again, her bright eyes shining like the sun.
Impressive, isn't it? What one little pebble can do.
Otto was dumbfounded. That little blue pebble did all that?
It turned you into the elephant, then the tiger, then the... did.
Rub the pebble three times and you can transform into any creature you choose, any creature at all.
So, what do you say? Do we have a deal?
The wheels in Otto's mind began to turn.
Axel had asked him to bring back at least 500 silver coins.
But surely the little blue pebble was worth more than that, way more.
If he used the pebble in just the right way, he could turn his and Axel's bad fortune around.
Perhaps he could even make them a fortune.
All right, ma'am, we have a deal. I'll sell you my workhorse for the little blue pebble.
Wonderful. But listen. The woman's face turned very serious.
Always be sure to use the Pebble's powers wisely.
Use them unwisely and trust me. You will pay the price.
Otto cocked his head. What exactly do you mean, unwisely?
A mysterious smile crossed the woman's lips.
Let's hope you never find out. And with that, she pressed the pebble into Otto's hand and hopped into Brown Eyes' saddle.
Goodbye, sir. Be well and be wise. Then she and the horse galloped away.
Otto watched the woman disappear over the crest of a hill.
Then he turned around and headed toward home.
He had no workhorse and no silver pieces.
But he did have one little blue pebble and one million ideas for getting rich quick.
What might Otto do now that he has the little blue pebble?
What would you do if you were Otto? We'll find out what happens after a quick break.
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Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Shear.
Today our story is called The Little Blue Pebble.
Before the break, poor farmers named Otto and Axel decided to sell their one and only workhorse Brown eyes.
Axel asked Otto to sell brown eyes at the market for no less than 500 silver pieces.
But instead, Otto traded the horse to a mysterious woman on the road for a little blue penny. pebble that changed you into whatever creature you wished.
Otto fidgeted with the pebble as he began the long trek home.
Oh man, it'll take me hours to get home on foot.
What I wouldn't give to have a pair of wings right now.
Wait a minute. I can have a pair of wings.
I've got the little blue pebble. Otto rubbed the pebble three times and pictured an eagle.
Next thing he knew, there was a puff of smoke and...
He was an eagle. Otto flapped his great wide wings and took to the sky, soaring and swooping through. through the air.
Once Otto spotted his cottage below, he glided down to the yard. and landed right in front of Axel, who was hanging laundry on the line.
What is this eagle doing here? In all my years, I've never seen an eagle land anywhere near my-
Hello, honey. I'm home. At the sudden sight of Otto appearing where the eagle had been, Axel nearly fainted into his laundry basket.
Otto? Yup, it's me. How'd you like my trick?
Your trick? You mean, I wasn't hallucinating just now?
That really happened? Sure did. But how?
Wow. So Otto told Axel the story of the mysterious woman in the green cloak and the trade he'd made for brown eyes.
Okay, so let me get this straight.
We now have this magic blue pebble. Uh-huh.
But we don't have our one and only workhorse Brown eyes.
We don't need brown eyes, Axel. Not anymore.
I spent the entire walk home. or flight home thinking and planning.
And I figured out a way to use this pebble so that we can make it through the long, bleak winter.
Tomorrow, I will turn myself into a nice big pig.
You'll take me to the market and you'll sell me for the highest price you can get.
I'll take everything from there. Axel could see the mischievous gleam in Otto's eyes. but he could also see their drafty cottage, not to mention the holes in his ratty old sweater.
Okay. Fine. I guess it's worth a try. So the next morning, Otto did as he said he would.
He rubbed the little blue pebble three times, and turns himself into a big, plump pig.
Axel grabbed a leash and looped it over the pig's neck.
I know I say the house looks like a pigsty every time you forget to clean, but I never thought it would come to this.
Anyway, here goes nothing. Once Axel reached the market, the pig turned many a head. and Axel received many an offer.
I'll give you 100 silver pieces. I'll give you $200.
But the highest offer... I'll give you 500.
Came from a tall man wearing a top hat and shiny shoes.
All right, sir. Five hundred it is. Axel felt strange selling the pig to a rich stranger. but he trusted that Otto had a plan.
And indeed, he did. Once the tall man led the pig out of the market and down a dirt road, The portly creature suddenly turned around, started to run, and knocked the man clear off his feet.
Then the pig raced away, running as fast as its legs could carry it.
Come back, pig! Come back! But the pig did not come back.
Instead, once it was out of the man's view, there was a puff of smoke.
And it changed into a wolf. The wolf raced down the road, leaving big paw prints in the dirt.
The moment the road curved into a forest... there was another puff of smoke.
And the wolf turned back. Phew! That was fun!
Into Otto. Now just sit here and wait. After a while, Otto saw the tall man with the top hat and shiny shoes come dashing into the forest.
You there, beneath the tree, did you happen to see a pig running this way?
A real nice plump one. Otto gave the man a nod.
I'm afraid I did see a pig, sir. But he was carried off by a wolf.
See the tracks there? Otto pointed to the paw prints in the road.
Oh dear, that pig was going to be my prize animal at the next country fair.
"'I paid five hundred silver pieces for it.'
To be fair, Otto felt a tiny bit bad for the man But he also felt excited.
After all, his plan was working out. He scrunched up his forehead and shot the man what he hoped was a sympathetic look.
I'm sorry about your loss, sir. It sounds like an amazing pig.
I hope you can find another one just like it.
Thank you. I do too. And with that, the tall man slumped his shoulders and trudged away.
Once he was gone, Otto turned into an eagle again. and flew back home to Axel, who was tossing the 500 silver pieces he'd made into a jar.
Honey, I'm home. You have to stop. doing that!
It gets me every time! Sorry. But what did I tell you?
Now that we're 500 silver pieces richer? we won't have to worry about the long, bleak winter ahead.
Axel put down the jar and nodded. You're right.
We are 500 silver pieces richer, but what about the man who bought the pig?
I'm assuming you ran off and disappeared without a trace.
Basically. And now we've got 500 silver pieces and that man has nothing.
I know. But just yesterday, we had nothing.
We were working our tails off and for what? a life of empty cupboards and threadbare clothing.
You saw that, man. He was wearing a top hat and shiny shoes.
He'll be fine. And now thanks to me, so will we.
And wouldn't you know it, they were fine.
All winter long, Otto and Axel lived in comfort.
Their bellies were full, their clothing was warm, and after a while, they never even talked about the little blue pebble.
It just sat on a bookshelf in the corner.
But when spring rolled around... and it was time to go out and plant the potatoes, carrots and corn, Otto had an idea.
Axel, growing vegetables is so much work.
What if this spring we don't bother to do any planting?
We've been living so well these past few months.
Why not keep the party going? Axel wagged his finger at Otto.
I've seen that gleam in your eye before, Otto.
You wanna use the little blue pebble again.
I don't see why not. Look how well it's taking care of us.
We are worlds away from the life of hardship we used to know.
Come on, Axel. Please. Eventually, Otto wore Axel down and he gave in.
And over the weeks that followed, Otto turned himself into animal after animal. all of which Axel sold at the market.
I'll give you a hundred silver pieces for it.
I'll give you 200 silver pieces. I'll give you 300 silver pieces. and all of whom promptly ran away.
Come back! Come back! Through it all, Axel couldn't help but feel guilty about what he and Otto were doing.
Sure, it was nice living so high on the hog, but at what cost?
Eventually, he decided he had had enough.
Otto? We can't do this anymore. We can't keep cheating all these innocent people out of their money.
I don't think of it so much as cheating them out of their money, as cleverly separating them from their money.
But I hear you. And I promise we'll stop. after just one more sale to build up our nest egg Please?
All right. Fine. One more sale. then that's it.
No more pebble. So the next day, Otto changed himself into a fine, black bull.
Axel led the bull to the market where he was approached by a tall bright-eyed man wearing a green suit.
What a fine strapping bull. Tell me, is he for sale?
Why, yes. Excellent! I'll give you 600 silver pieces for him.
Alright, 600 it is. The man in the green suit led the bull out of the market and down the road.
And then just like that, the bull took off running. bellowing and snorting and kicking up dust with its hooves.
But the man in the green suit did not call out, begging the bull to come back.
Instead, there was a puff of smoke, and the man changed into a lion.
For the man, you see, was actually the mysterious woman who'd first given Otto the little blue pebble.
And the woman was actually a sorceress, a mystical enchantress capable of all sorts of magic.
The lion opened its mighty mouth and charged after the bull. just as the great beast was about to grab the bull's tail and its sharp, pointy teeth.
The bull changed into a hawk, which soared upwards until its wings brushed the clouds.
But the lion, meanwhile, changed into a falcon, the fastest bird on Earth.
It whizzed through the air in hot pursuit of the hawk.
Just when the falcon was about to snatch the smaller bird with its talons, the hawk dove down toward the ground. and changed into a hunting dog, which sprang away on its slender, muscular legs.
But just then, the falcon swooped down and changed in to a coyote, which raced after the hunting dog at a full sprint.
The coyote got closer and closer until...
Wait! Stop! The hunting dog turned back into Otto.
I know who you are and I'm sorry about what I did, truly.
You can have your money back. Just please don't eat me.
The coyote tilted its head one way, then the other.
And then... Suddenly standing before Otto was the sorceress.
All right, Otto, I will spare your life, but I don't need my money back.
What I need is my pebble. Otto's mouth dropped open.
The pebble? But I bought it from you fair and square.
Fair and square? A fiery spark danced in the woman's eyes.
What do you know about fair and square, Otto?
You use the little blue pebble to be deceitful.
Dishonest. Dishonorable. I once told you, you must use the pebble's powers wisely.
But instead... You've used it to take advantage of others for your own personal gain.
Now I'm taking it back so you can never use it again.
The sorceress raised her arm into the air.
There was a flash of light. And in an instant, what should Otto spy clutched in the woman's hand but the little blue pebble?
Goodbye, Otto. Be well. And from now on...
Be wise. Then there was another flash of light, and the sorceress was gone.
Well, I'll be. As Otto walked back home, He thought about what the sorceress had said.
Then he began cooking up yet another plan.
Over the next week, he tracked down every single customer he had cheated or... separated from their money, and gave all their money back.
After that, he and Axel went back to farming, growing potatoes, carrots and corn.
The pair never got rich, but they were comfortable and comforted.
Knowing their success came from hard, honest work and not a little blue pebble.
. . . Now it's your turn. When was the last time you relied on yourself to solve a problem?
Maybe you got frustrated putting the finishing touches on a puzzle, but you gathered your patience and worked it through to the end.
Perhaps you got into an argument with a friend, but you found a way to talk it out and resolve the issue.
Find a grown-up and tell them about how you solved your problem.
Then ask them to describe a time they relied on themselves to tackle a challenge.
Hopefully, you can teach each other some invaluable problem solving skills.
This week's story, The Little Blue Pebble, was adapted by me, Rebecca Scheer.
It was edited by Circle Round's supervising producer, Nora Sachs.
Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shimalonis.
Our artist is Sabina Han. Want to color while you listen?
Sabina has created a black and white picture for every Circle Round story, and you can color them in.
Grownups, you can download more than 180 Circle Round coloring pages on our website.
WBUR.org slash circle round. Special thanks to this week's actors.
Nick Sholley, Jeffrey Song, Dawn Ursula, Michael Zoldis, Stephen Hanna, and Brett Shuford.
Stephen Hanna and Brett Shuford are the Broadway performers and new dads behind Broadway Husbands.
Grown-ups, you can check out Brett and Stephen's blog and find the Broadway Husbands podcast at broadwayhusbands.com.
This week's featured instrument was the mandolin.
To learn more about this stringed instrument from the Lute family and see a photo of Eric Shimalonis playing it, visit our website again.
That's WBUR.org slash Circle Round. Love what you hear on Circle Round?
Grownups please help spread the Circle Round word by writing us a five-star review on your favorite podcasting app and by telling your friends about the show it means a lot Oh, and in case you haven't heard, Circle Round has gone from podcast to the page.
Our first two picture books, A Taste of Honey and The Tale of the Unwelcome Guest, are out now.
And our third, The Great Ball Game, is available for pre-order.
Visit wbur.org slash circleround to get your copies.
Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station.
I'm Rebecca Shear. Thanks for circling around with us.
One of the best things about creating Circle Round is hearing from listeners like you.
Circle Round fans have been telling us about their favorite Circle Round stories, and we're excited to share some of their voices with you. you.
My name is Daphne and I live in Gainesville, Florida and I make the story of the different couple of horse.
And I like the part where the kid walks out for the different color horse.
And I love you, Rebecca. See you. Hi, my name is Karis.
I'm from Los Angeles, California. And my favorite take-around story is the early bird and my favorite part. is when hummingbird stops to drink the hibiscus.
I'm Violet and I live in West Hartford, Connecticut.
My favorite episode is The Princess and the Egg. because I like the part when the Innkeeper says this times this divided by this Hello, my name is Ari and I live in Vermont.
My favorite story is Misery Loves Company.
And my favorite part is when Navarro comes back and sees our life changes.
My name is Sadie and I live in Utah and my favorite circle around is the Laughing Canoe, because I like the part when he eats a basket of the fish.
Hi, my name's Delilah and I live in Gainesville, Florida.
And my favorite Circle Moms story is Coyote's Wild Ride because he learns that being a leader is hard work.
I love you, Rebecca Sheer. Did someone mention an episode you missed?
No problem. You can find every single Circle Round story on our website.
That's WBUR.org slash CircleRound or wherever you and your grown-ups get your podcasts.
