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 circleround and click on events.
We're announcing more tour stops soon, so stay tuned.
We look forward to circling around with you live.
If you had the chance to meet the wisest person in the world and ask that person anything, anything at all, what would it be?
Well in today's story a generous young man gets to do that very thing.
He goes on a long journey to find the wisest person, but when he gets there, things don't go at all as he'd planned.
Thank you. I'm Rebecca Sheer, and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time.
Today, our story is called The Answer You Seek.
Versions of this tale have been told for many years.
Our version comes from the country of Thailand.
Some really great people came together to bring you this folktale, including two favorites from NPR.
Wade Goodwin, and Ari Shapiro. So circle around everyone. for the answer you seek.
There once was a boy who lived on a farm it wasn't a big farm but the boy and his family had just enough to live comfortably Behind the cozy farmhouse, there was a small field where they grew vegetables.
There was also a ramshackle red barn. where they kept an old horse and some chickens.
But the boy's favorite thing on the farm was in front of the farmhouse, a banana tree.
The tree was planted hundreds of years ago by the boy's great-great-great-great-grandparents.
The boy loved helping his parents with chores on the farm.
Every morning he'd head out back behind the house and check that the crops had water and the animals had food.
Then he'd go in front of the house and gaze at the beautiful banana tree.
He would pick two of the brightest, yellowest bananas he could find and bring them inside for his parents.
Mother, father, breakfast time. Oh, thank you, son.
You always bring us the most gorgeous bananas.
And after you spent all morning tending to the animals and crops, it's so generous of you.
Oh, you know I'm always happy to lend a hand.
Come on, let's eat. One morning, after checking on the crops and animals...
The boy walked to the front yard to pick bananas.
When he got there, he stopped with a jolt.
The bananas! They're gone! It was true. The banana tree was bare.
Someone or something had snuck over in the night and left nothing but branches and leaves Looking around the yard, the boys spotted a banana peel, then another, and another, and And another.
He followed the trail of banana peels all the way to a monkey.
You've stolen all our bananas. The monkey looked up at the boy. her mouth full of squishy, ripe banana.
Well, explain yourself. Why in the world would you take something from me and my family? couldn't you take from someone else?
Someone with a bigger house, a bigger farm?
I mean, This banana tree, it's one of the few things my family and I have.
The monkey swallowed her last bite of banana.
Then she began to speak. Young man. You talk about having things.
Well, listen here. I have seen your destiny, and it is this.
You can only have eight items in your possession.
"'Only eight!' No matter how much you beg or how much you gather, eight items is all you'll ever be able to have.
The boy tilted his head to one side. Wait, why is it my destiny to only own eight things?
I don't know! Maybe you should try and ask the wisest person in the world.
And with that, the monkey scampered off.
As the boy stared at the trail of banana peels she'd left behind, He thought for a moment.
I have to find out what my destiny means.
I have to find the wisest person in the world.
So the boy kissed his mother and father goodbye and set out on his journey.
He walked and walked all day long, asking everyone he met where he could find the wisest person in the world.
Eventually, it grew dark. I should rest for the night, then continue my journey tomorrow.
Here's a nice-looking house. Maybe they'll let me stay for the night.
The boy knocked on the door of a grand mansion.
Young man, what are you doing out so late?
It's so dark and it's getting so cold. The boy shivered and smiled.
Good evening, ma'am. This might sound crazy, but I've been traveling all day because I have a question for the wisest person in the world.
Do you think you could let me stay the night?
First thing in the morning, I'll be on my way.
As the woman listened to the boy speak, her eyes lit up.
The wisest person in the world, you say?
Could I give you a question to ask on my behalf?
You see... My husband and I, we have a daughter, and she simply will not.
Speak, she's never said a word to us or to anybody.
So if it isn't too much trouble... Could you please ask what we must do to...
Make our beloved daughter talk. The boy answered without hesitating.
Of course, I'll ask your question for you.
I'm always happy to lend a hand. Oh, thank you, thank you so much.
Now. Please come inside and make yourself comfortable in whatever room you like.
Our daughter is away at her grandmother's.
Otherwise, I would love to introduce you to her.
The boy thanked the woman for her hospitality and headed upstairs.
After a good night's sleep, he continued on his journey.
Before long, he came to a spiky mountain range.
Yikes! These mountains must be a zillion feet I'll never be able to cross over them.
Suddenly, there was a flash of light, then a puff of smoke.
Once the smoke cleared, the boy saw he was standing next to a wizard.
You're right, kid. Those mountains are a zillion feet tall.
So tell me... Why would a young'un like yourself want to cross over in the first place?
Well, you see, I'm on a journey. I have a question for the wisest person in the world.
Please, do you think you could use your magic to help me cross these mountains?
As soon as we get to the other side, I'll be on my way. as the wizard listened to the boy's story.
He stroked his long white beard. You're going to the wisest person in the world, eh? to ask a question.
I wonder, could you maybe ask a question for me?
You see, I've been trying to master this final spell in my magic book.
For a thousand years, talk about frustrating.
It's been so long and I've been practicing so hard.
I've barely had a glimpse of my wife or kids.
Could you please ask the wisest person in the world?
What I have to do to finally master this one last spell?
Just as before, the boy answered without hesitation.
Of course. I'll ask your question for you.
I'm always happy to lend a hand. Thank you, my boy.
Thank you so much. And now, let's go. The wizard waved his magic wand. and he and the boy floated high in the air before soaring over the snow-capped mountaintops When they reached the other side, the boy continued on his way.
Soon he found himself on the bank of a wide river.
Oh man, there's no way I can make it across this river.
What am I going to do? I have to sit down and think.
He plopped down on what looked like a giant rock.
Hey! Easy there, buddy. I'm a turtle, not an easy chair.
The boy leapt up and saw that indeed. The so-called rock was actually a giant turtle.
So tell me. What's got you so hot to trot across this river here?
There's no way a kid like you can swim that far.
I know, but I have to get across. I've been traveling for days because I have a question for the wisest person in the world.
You're a good swimmer. Do you think you could take me to the other side?
As soon as we get to the shore, I'll be on my way.
As the boy explained his situation... The turtle nodded his green and brown head.
Well, this is really something. You're headed off to the wisest person in the world, and it just so happens that I...
Listen, you may not believe it, But I have been trying to become a dragon for 500 years!
I've been trying so hard. I've barely left this spot.
Do you think you could ask the wisest person in the world what I have to do to become A dragon?
Again, just as before. The boy answered without hesitation.
Of course, I'll ask your question for you.
I'm always happy to lend a hand. Wow! Thanks, kid.
Thanks a lot. Now, let's get you to the other side of this river.
The boy hopped on the turtle's back and they glided across the crystal clear water.
Once they reached the other shore, the boy walked until he reached a deep, dark forest.
He wove his way through the bushes, shrubs, and trees until he came to a clearing.
In the middle of the clearing was a bright orange bonfire.
Sitting cross-legged next to the crackling flames was an old woman, her gray hair streaming down her back.
She greeted the boy with a toothy grin. I've been expecting you, my child.
You're here to ask me a question, aren't you?
Now that the boy has tracked down the wisest person in the world, what do you think will happen?
Will he get the answer he seeks? We'll find out after a quick break.
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Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Shearer.
Today our story is called The Answer You Seek.
When we left off, a humble boy had just found the wisest person in the world.
He had traveled from far, far away to ask the old woman a question about his destiny.
During his journey, he'd met three strangers who also had questions about their own lives.
Ever the helpful soul. The boy agreed to ask their questions, too.
Well, my boy, what is the answer you seek?
The boy was so amazed at being in the presence of the wisest person in the world, that for a moment he couldn't speak.
Well, it isn't so much an answer as... Answers.
I mean, I came here to ask you a question.
One question. But now it's more like... The boy counted on his fingers.
Four. Four questions. The old woman raised an eyebrow.
Well, perhaps no one told you. I can only answer three questions and three questions only.
So, which three questions would you like to ask?
The boy thought about the turtles. who'd been trying for 500 years to become a dragon.
He thought about the wizard, who'd been trying for a thousand years to master his one last spell.
And he thought about the girl in the grand mansion, the one who'd been living her entire life unable to speak.
Then he thought about himself. The monkey told me it's my destiny to only have eight things.
Now that I think of it, my family and I don't have much more than that.
And you know what? We have everything we need.
Compared with everyone else's problems, mine suddenly seem so small.
Well, my son, have you decided which three questions you're going to ask?
I have. So the boy asked the old woman everyone else's questions, the turtle, the wizard. the family, with the daughter.
When he was done, the old woman reached for her cane and slowly rose to her feet.
She shuffled over to the boy and laid a soft, wrinkled hand on his shoulder.
All right. Let's start with the turtle.
The turtle is unwilling to leave his shell.
As long as he's unwilling to leave the comfort of that shell, he will never become a dragon. and the wizard.
The wizard always carries around that wand of his and never puts it down.
Once he looks beyond that wand, then he will find the magic he truly seeks.
And the girl, the one who cannot speak, What about her?
The old woman smiled, her eyes twinkling in the light of the bonfire.
The girl? Well that one's easy. She'll be able to speak once she is introduced to her truest friend ever.
The boy took in everything the old woman said.
Then he offered his deepest thanks before running back through the woods to the river.
Once he got there, he found the giant turtle who was resting on the shore.
Hey, turtle! I talked to the wisest person in the world.
All you have to do is come out of your shell and you will become a dragon.
Quickly. The turtle climbed out of his shell.
Inside the shell were priceless pearls from the deepest parts of the ocean.
Thank you, kid! Listen, why don't you take these pearls?
If I don't need my shell... I definitely don't need these.
As he handed the pearls to the boy. The turtle suddenly sprouted a long forked tail and a glittering pair of wings.
Well, what do you know? I'm a dragon. I'm a dragon.
And he flew away. The boy dropped the pearls in his knapsack and hurried back to the spiky mountain range.
When he got there, he saw the wizard waving his wand, trying again and again to perfect the final spell in his book.
Hey, wizard, I talked to the wisest person in the world.
All you have to do is put down your wand and you'll find the magic. you seek.
The wizard took a long look at his wand.
Then he held the wand out to the boy. Well, I suppose I won't be needing this thing anymore.
Here, you take it. As a token of my thanks.
As soon as the wand was in the boy's hands, there was an explosion of colors like the most spectacular fireworks.
Then a woman and three children came running down the mountainside.
They threw their arms around the wizard and covered him in kisses.
My family. I've been practicing for so long, I've barely seen you.
This is the very best magic of all. As the wizard and his family rejoiced, the boy raced back to the grand mansion. where the daughter who wouldn't speak lived with her family.
The woman and her husband were delighted to see him.
Listen, I've talked to the wisest person in the world.
And? What must we do to get our daughter to speak?
It's simple. You must introduce her to her truest friend ever.
Just then. The boy heard gentle footsteps coming down the stairs.
He turned around and there, in the doorway, he saw a young girl, her face lit up in a smile.
Mother? Father? Is that the boy you were talking about?
The one who was here last week? The girls' parents couldn't believe their ears, but they knew the truth.
This helpful, generous boy the one who had crossed mountains and rivers to get answers to questions asked by complete strangers.
Could there be any truer friend than he?
. . . Now it's your turn. What's a thoughtful deed that you can do this week?
Maybe you can set the table at dinner. or help a friend with his homework.
Think about a favor that you can do for another person and tell a grownup in your life all about it Then have them tell you a favor they can do for someone.
You'll both be on your way toward brightening someone else's day.
Thank you. We don't want you to miss any of the exciting stories we have coming up, so if you haven't already, subscribe to Circle Round on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts and if you like what you hear please write us a review it helps other people find the show Today's story, The Answer You Seek, was adapted by Jessica Alpert and me, Rebecca Shearer.
Original music and sound design is by Eric Shimalonis.
Circle Round's artist is Sabina Hahn. Casting by Amy Lippins, CSA.
Our intern is Chris Yulian. Special thanks to our actors this week, Marianne Nichols, Norm Tebow, Maisie Scarpa, Hannah Kenney.
Jefferson Russell, Jenny Bacon, Laura Gardner, and NPR's Wade Goodwin and Ari Shapiro.
Wayne Goodwin is a National Desk correspondent covering Texas and the surrounding states.
And you can hear Ari Shapiro every weekday afternoon as the co-host of All Things Considered.
We'd love to hear what you think of Circle Round.
Connect with us on Facebook. We're at facebook.com slash circleroundpodcast.
And send us a tweet. Our handle is at comcirclearound.
Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station.
I'm Rebecca Shear. Thanks for circling around with us.
