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. Think about a time someone showed you generosity.
Maybe a friend let you borrow a favorite toy or a family member gave you a gift. and it wasn't even your birthday.
We're about to meet a character who shows a whole lot of generosity, but he shows it to no one but himself.
I'm Rebecca Sheer, and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time.
Today our story is called Pulling Strings.
Versions of this story originally come from the Ashanti people of Ghana. and features a popular trickster we've met in past Circle Round stories, Anansi.
Some really great people came together to bring you our adaptation of this tale, including Bashir Salahuddin, a comedian, writer, and actor you grown-ups may recognize from South Side on HBO Max.
He's currently starring in the blockbuster film Top Gun Maverick.
So circle around, everyone. For pulling strings.
Thank you. There once was a time when Anansi the spider was as round as a balloon.
Unlike the spiders we see today, with their teeny tiny little waists, Anansi's body was plump. and full.
This is the story of how everything changed.
And not just for Anansi, but for all the spiders who came after him.
It began one day in the forest when Anansi woke up bright and early in the morning.
And hungry. Oh boy, oh boy, am I famished!
I sure could go for a nice big meal. Oh, but that means that I'd have to gather the ingredients and chop the ingredients and mix the ingredients and cook the ingredients.
And who wants to do all of that work? Certainly not me.
See, that's the thing about a Nazi. He loved to eat, but he did not love to work.
He didn't want to spend time and energy preparing food.
He'd much rather skip. scheme his way to his next meal, and as he rubbed his great big belly, That's precisely what he decided he would do.
Let's see. There must be a way. for me to enjoy a nice big meal without lifting a finger.
The question is, How? Anansi thought and thought.
But then... Mmmmmm. The answer came to him straight through his nose.
Oh. What is that delicious smell wafting through the forest?
It's so rich, so fragrant. I must find out where it's coming from.
Anansi took off on his eight spindly legs, dashing in the direction of the rich, fragrant smell.
I think I'm getting closer. And closer. And...
Anansi's eyes grew wide as he reached a village full of thatched huts.
In the middle of the village, a group of villagers were gathered around a big iron kettle. simmering with peanut stew.
When the villagers caught sight of Anansi, Their faces broke into wide grins.
Greetings, Brother Spider. Welcome to our village.
We were just cooking up some peanut stew.
Today is a big holiday, you know. And every single village is having a feast.
Would you care to join us? At the thought of devouring a splendid feast, Anansi's mouth watered, and at the thought of not having to do any work for it, his spirit soared.
Why, I'd love to join you folks. Thank you for your generosity.
Oh, we're always happy to share with new friends.
Hospitality is very important in Arkham.
Very important. Thing is the stew isn't ready yet.
So while we're waiting, we could really use an extra hand. to help us prepare for our feast.
Yes! You could start by setting the table.
Fetching drinking water from the well. There are all sorts of jobs to be done.
So, what do you say? Can we put you to work?
Anansi's spirit was no longer soaring. Instead, at the mention of all this work, it plummeted.
Uh... Put me to work, you say? Whoa! Anansi's mind began to race.
He did not like the sound of these chores.
But he loved the smell of that stew. there was a way he could fill his big empty belly without toiling away.
Then suddenly, he had an idea. Actually, you know what, folks?
I completely forgot that I have an important errand to run. in another village, all the way across the forest.
But... I wouldn't want to miss out on that peanut stew, so here.
Anansi used the special organs on his belly, the spinnerets, to spin a nice, strong thread.
He held the thread out to the villagers.
Take this thread. Hold on to it. And when the stew is ready, give the thread a firm tug.
Then I'll come running. The villagers agreed, and Anansi handed them the thread. and he scampered back to the forest with a spring in his step and a mischievous smile on his face.
This is perfect. Instead of helping those villagers with their silly chores, I'll find another village whose food is ready to eat.
After all, if every single village is throwing a feast, surely another one will have their food cooked by now.
I'll gobble it up, then when the peanut stew is done, I'll go Back to the first village.
If all goes according to plan, I'll be eating like a king.
Anansi walked and walked. He still hadn't eaten. so his stomach felt as empty as a scooped-out melon, the thought of not one, but two holiday feasts kept him going.
And then... I smell another delicious aroma.
I must be nearing another village. Anansi took off in the direction of the tantalizing fragrance.
I think I'm getting closer. And closer. Whoa!
Anansi's jaw dropped open as he reached another village.
Here, the villagers were gathered around an open fire, roasting sweet yams on a spit.
When the villagers caught sight of Anansi, big grins spread across their faces.
Good day, Brother Spider. Welcome to our village.
We were just roasting some sweet yams. Today is a major holiday, you know.
And each and every village is having a big communal feast.
Would you care to join us? Anansi's bulging body tingled with excitement.
Everything was going according to plan. You know, I'd be honored to join you folks.
I appreciate your generosity. Oh, we're always delighted to share with new friends.
Hospitality is very important in our community.
Very important. However, the yams aren't ready yet.
And there's so much still to do. We could really use your help.
Yes! You could start by putting out the plates. filling the pitchers with wine.
There are all sorts of jobs to be done. So, what do you say?
Can we put you to work? Anansi could hardly believe his ears.
Another village eager to put him to work?
No, thank you. But luckily, the clever, mischievous spider knew just... what he would do.
What do you think Anansi will do? Will he get to enjoy the fruits of everyone else's labors? without having to labor himself?
We'll find out after a quick break. Support for Circle Round comes from Indeed.
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I'm Rebecca Shear. Welcome back to Circle Round.
Today, our story is called Pulling Strings.
Before the break, each village around Anansi's forest was honoring a big holiday by holding a feast.
Anansi, the big bellied spider, loved eating.
But he hated working. So when the second village he visited, the one roasting up sweet yams, asked him to help prepare their feast, he was ready with a trick. up his sleeve.
Actually, you know what folks? I completely forgot that I have a very important errand to run. in another village all the way across the forest.
But I wouldn't want to miss those sweet yams.
So here. Anansi used his spinnerets to spin another nice, strong thread.
Take this thread. Hold on to it. And when the yams are ready, give the thread a firm tug and I'll come running.
The villagers held on to Anansi's thread, then wished him well as he scurried back to the forest.
Am I a genius or what? Now I'll find a third village that's preparing a feast.
I'll gobble it all down. Then I'll go back to the first two villages and eat even more.
I'll let everyone else do the work, then I'll enjoy the fruits of their labors.
Sure enough, as Anansi walked amongst the trees... Ah!
I smell another succulent scent. I must be nearing another village.
Anansi followed his nose toward the delicious smell.
I think I'm getting closer and closer and...
Anansi's face glowed as he reached a whole new village.
These villagers were gathered around a big clay pot, cooking up chicken and rice.
When they caught sight of Anansi, their lips curled in to grins.
How goes it, Brother Spider? Welcome to our village.
We were just cooking some chicken and rice.
Today is a special holiday, you know. And each and every village is having a feast.
Would you care to join us for hours? Anansi felt a rush of happiness in his heart. and a rumble of hunger in his belly.
Gosh! I'd be honored to join you folks.
Thanks for your generosity. We're always excited to share with new friends.
Hospitality is very important in our community.
Very important. However, the chicken and rice isn't ready yet.
So while we're waiting, how about helping us get ready for our feast?
Yes, you could pitch in by bringing the tables outside.
Setting up some tables. Chairs. There's all sorts of preparations to be done.
So, what do you say? Can we put you to work?"
Anansi clenched his teeth. Yet another village that wanted to put him to work?
Not if he could help it. Actually, you know what, folks...
I completely forgot that I have an errand to run. in another village, all the way across the forest. but I wouldn't want to miss out on that chicken and rice.
So here. Again Anansi spun some thread. Again he handed it to the villagers.
And again, he told them to give it a firm tug once the chicken and rice was ready.
Anansi spent the next hour tromping from village to village. village hiya brother spider salutations brother spider how do you do brother spider Just as he hoped, all of them were cooking up some sort of delicious food.
But wouldn't you know it? The grilled fish isn't ready yet.
The okra soup isn't ready yet. The banana fritters aren't ready yet.
So while we're waiting, how about helping us prepare for our feast?
There are all sorts of jobs to be done. Can we put you to work?
Naturally, Anansi was not about to let anyone put him to work.
So he handed out more thread, told the villagers to give it a tug when the food was ready, then he moved on.
Soon, he had dozens of threads tied around his waist and was getting weak from hunger.
Surely one of the villages has their food ready by now.
Any second, I'm sure one of them will give my thread a firm tug.
Any second. Any, oh, ow, ow, oh! All at once.
Anansi felt a yank on one of the threads.
Oh, the peanut stew must be ready in the first village I visited.
I'll just start heading that way. Suddenly, Anansi felt another thread get pulled.
Ho ho ho ho ho! The sweet yams must be ready.
I'll just go to the first village, gobble up some peanut stew, Then I'll head to the second village and...
Now Anansi felt another thread get jerked.
Oh! The chicken and rice must be ready. Ow!
The grilled fish! The okra soup! The banana fritters!
Anansi felt one tug after another. Each village's feast seemed to be ready at the exact at the same time.
But Anansi couldn't make a move toward any of them.
Because he was being yanked and pulled and jerked. in every direction, all at once.
The threads were wrapped and tangled around Anansi's round belly now, And with every tug, they squeezed his tummy tighter and tighter And tighter.
And then, as Anansi squirmed and squiggled, writhed and wriggled, He realized that his waist was getting smaller and smaller and smaller.
Until, finally... My waist is as narrow as a needle, with my top and bottom half bulging out on either side.
Oh! Indeed, Anansi had gotten so tangled in his own web of greed that he was no longer round and plump. and he never made it back to the villages to enjoy their feasts.
Ever since then, all spiders have a big head and a big bottom. with a teeny tiny waist in between.
And they have to put in a lot of effort to catch. their own meal in their own webs.
It's all because of Anansi, a mischievous trickster who tried gobbling all the food. without doing a lick of work.
. . . Now it's your turn. Find some paper, something to color with.
Then draw two pictures of Anansi. how he looked at the start of the story when he was as round as a balloon...
And at the end of the story, once he got his teeny tiny waist, After that we'd love for you to share your pictures with us.
Grownups you can tag us on Instagram. at Circle Round Podcast or email a photo of your kiddo and their art Our address is circleround at wbur.org.
This week's story, pulling strings, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear.
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. Sabina has drawn a black and white picture for every Circle Round story, and you can print them out and color them in.
Grown-ups, find all of our coloring pages on our website, wbor.org slash circleround.
Special thanks to this week's actors, Evan Casey, Theodore Chin, Thank you.
Watch for Bashir Salahuddin in the third season of Southside, set to premiere. premiere later this year on HBO Max, as well as the blockbuster action film Top Gun Maverick.
Our featured instrument this week was the double bass.
You can learn more about the largest and lowest pitched bowed string instrument and to see a photo of Eric Shimalonis playing it on our website.
Again, that's wbur.org slash circleround.
Never want to miss an episode of Circle Round?
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And did you hear? We've gone from podcast to the page with a new series of picture books.
Our first two books, A Taste of Honey and The Tale of the Unwelcome Guest, are out now.
Visit wbur.org slash circleround to get your copies now.
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.
Hello, Circle Round. My name is Emmaline.
And I'm from Wyoming. My favorite circle around is the lumps of clay because I like the part where the jeweler gets out of the kingdom.
Hello, my name is Athena, and I am from New York.
And my favorite episode of Circle Round is Fool's Threshing.
I like it because the birds get their songs.
My name's Io. and my favorite story is the giant causeway because it was so clever.
I'm Clementina. Hi, I'm Atea. We're sisters and we live in Washington, D.C.
Our favorite story is the Weiser Advisor because we like the part where the little jewelry girl makes the bronze ring.
Hello, my name is Hazel. I live in Virginia, and my favorite Circle Round story is the Queen of the Forest.
I like it when Cricket says, we are not a bug, we are an insect.
A bug is a type of insect. My name is Warren.
I live in Arizona. And my new favorite circle around is share, love, share, love, like.
My favorite part is where he just doesn't eat one food.
My name is Nora and I live in Massachusetts and my favorite circle around story is the bright yellow hat I like the part where she gets the bright yellow hat.
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 Circle Round, or wherever you and your grown-ups get your podcasts.
