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.
Produced by the iLab at WBUR Boston. Think about the last time you opened your ears and listened.
Oftentimes, the best thing we can do for the people we cherish is listen to them.
We can hear them out as they tell us how their day was, how they're feeling, what they're thinking.
In today's tale, we'll find out what a wonderful gift a good listener can be.
Bye. I'm Rebecca Sheer, and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time.
Today, our story is called The Friend Ship.
Versions of this tale originally come from the island nation of Japan.
Some really great people came together to bring you our adaptation of this folktale, including Kara Patterson. who stars in the Disney Plus series Turner & Hooch.
You Broadway fans may have seen her breakout performance as the only female in the 2017 Tony Award-winning play Jitney.
So circle around, everyone, for the friendship.
Long, long ago, at the tippy-tippy top of a steep, steep hill, there grew a tree.
It was a tall tree, its branches stretching so high they nearly brushed the clouds.
It was a thick tree, too, with a trunk so broad it would take you a good five minutes just to walk around it.
Far below the tree, at the bottom of one side of the steep, steep hill, there lived a woman named Raina.
Raina shared a small drafty house with her mother. frail old woman whose bones were so rickety and crickety she hardly ever got out of bed.
Raina, could you please fetch me another blanket?
I feel such a chill. Of course, Mother. Here you go.
Thank you, dear. On the other side of the hill lived a rich landowner, or lord.
The Lord had a grand mansion with countless rooms, countless corridors, and countless servants. whom he bossed around to no end.
Cook, this soup is cold. Taylor, these pants are torn.
Footmen! These boots are dull! Polish them at once!
Among the Lord's servants was Raina, who worked as a laundress. washing and scrubbing the wealthy man's extravagant garments till they looked like new.
But even then... Laundress! The Lord never failed to complain.
This robe is dingy! Wash it again! Early each morning, when Raina climbed up the steep, steep hill to go to work, She would always stop and say hello to the tall, tall tree.
Greetings and salutations, tree. Don't your leaves look extra lush and green this morning?
And late each evening, when she climbed the hill to get back home, She would say hello again.
Good evening, tree. That was some rain we had today, huh?
I'm glad you got a nice long drink. Raina had been passing by the tree for so long, she thought of it as an old friend.
She talked to the tree when she was happy.
Great news, tree! Mother actually got out of bed today.
For a moment, anyway. and she talked to the tree when she was sad.
Ugh. The Lord fired yet another baker today, Tree, just because he burnt one cookie.
One cookie! Oh, I feel so bad for him and his family.
Every time Raina spoke, the tree's branches waved and swayed almost as if it heard her words and understood.
One year, Mother's health took a turn for the worse.
Reina called the village doctor, and after paying the bill and buying the prescribed medicine, Reina was down to her last penny.
The next morning, on her way to work, she shared her woes with the tall, tall tree.
Oh, Tree, I'm in such a pickle. I mean, I'm glad Mother will get better.
But now, all my savings are gone. Not that I had much, of course.
But now, I have nothing. I'll have to start from scratch.
And the Lord pays me so little for my work as a laundress.
It'll take me forever to build up another nest egg.
The tree's branches waved and swayed as Raina racked her brain for an idea—
Then, all of a sudden, it came to her. I know what I'll do.
Every day, the Lord lets us servants have one plate of leftovers from the kitchen.
I'll take a few morsels for myself, then bring the rest home for Mother.
That way, I can save some of the money I usually set aside for buying food.
After that, every time Raina went to work, she began stashing away bits of food and bringing them home to Mother.
But then, one fateful day... Excuse me, what do you think you're doing?
Why are you putting that food inside that basket?
My servants are allowed to eat one plate of food from the kitchen, but you're not permitted to bring it home.
I'm sorry, sir. It's just that my mother...
She's so old and frail, and I spent our last coin to buy her medicine.
And so we can't afford to... Spare me the sob story.
Rules are rules, and what I say goes. You're fired.
But sir... This food isn't for me. It's for men.
I don't care if it's for the emperor himself.
Your services are no longer needed. That night, when Raina climbed the hill, she couldn't help herself.
She fell to the ground, pulled her knees to her chest, then leaned back against the tall, tall tree and began to cry.
Oh, Tree, I'm really in trouble now. Without a job, I have no income.
And without an income, I have no way to make ends meet.
What will become of me and mother? Oh, how I wish someone could tell me what to do.
A river of tears ran down Reina's face. Her body shuddered as she sobbed and sobbed.
And then, all of a sudden... I know what you can do, Rayna.
You what? Rayna sat bolt upright. Who said that?
Where are you? I'm right here, Raina. I've always been here.
And I have a plan that won't just help you make ends meet.
It'll set you up for life. Who do you think spoke up just now?
And what might their plan be? We'll find out after a quick break.
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Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Shear.
Today, our story is called The Friendship Story.
Before the break, the wealthy lord fired Raina for bringing food to her ailing mother.
On Rena's way home, she passed the tall, tall tree atop the steep, steep hill. and told her old friend everything that happened.
Usually when Raina spoke to the tree, It swayed and dipped its branches as if it understood every word.
But this time... Wait a minute! That voice I heard just now, it didn't belong to you, Tree.
Did it? Actually... The tree fluttered its leaves.
It did. So you talk? Well, usually I just listen.
And I've been listening to you for years now, Raina. hearing you talk so lovingly about your poor old mother. hearing you complain about that disagreeable lord.
And I've been watching you, too. Watching you trek up this hill at the crack of dawn to go to work? watching you bring morsels of food back home so your mother can eat.
That's why I'm going to help you. Raina was stunned.
All these years she'd been talking to the tree, not once did she expect it to talk back.
Oh, that's so very kind of you, Tree. So very kind.
But no offense, how can a tree help me support myself And my mother.
Oh, you'd be surprised. Again, the tree fluttered its leaves.
Listen, Raina. Word has it... that that unpleasant former boss of yours is building a ship.
A gigantic ship. The most massive ship this part of the world has ever seen.
And do you know what he's using to make that ship?
I don't know. Wood? That's right. But not just any wood.
He's using mine. Your wood? Raina clamped a hand to her chest.
You don't mean he's chopping you down. I'm afraid he is.
He wanted the very best wood from the thickest, tallest tree.
And, well, that would be me. In a way. It's kind of an honor.
He can't do that. He can't just... Oh, but he can.
And he will. But here's the good part. The Lord is going to turn me into this gargantuan ship, right?
Thing is, I'm not going to move. Reina cocked her head.
Not going to move? You mean, you're not going to launch?
Nope. The Lord will try to launch me, of course.
After spending all this money and all this time building this whale of a ship, He'll have this big launching ceremony, right?
He'll show me off to all the people, and he'll try to set me afloat in the water.
But I'm not going to budge. Oh, tree. Raina found herself grinning.
That's positively wicked of you. I know.
Right? And the Lord will be so desperate to get me to launch that he'll do anything. anything to propel me into the water.
And that's where you come in. Now listen up.
Raina leaned in and listened as the tree told her exactly what she should do.
Then Raina gave her friend a big hug and went back down the hill to her mother.
Sure enough, the next morning, Raina could hear the whacking and hacking of axes as the Lord's woodcutters began chopping down the tall, tall tree.
Raina was sad to lose her friend, but she knew what she must do.
The day of the big launch, the Lord invited everyone in the land to come to the shore and view his magnificent creation.
Ladies and gentlemen, have you ever seen such a wonder?
See how it glimmers and gleams as its glorious wooden hull reflects the rays of the sun!
I am convinced that this is the greatest ship ever created.
And now, I will prove it as we launch this ship.
On the count of three, one, two, three. But just as the tree had predicted, the ship would not launch.
Well, this is odd. Perhaps my crew hasn't untied all the ropes.
Deckhands, make sure the ship is no longer moored to the dock!
The Lord's deckhands double-checked and triple-checked, but sure enough, the ship was completely unmoored.
All the ropes were untied. Well, let's try again then.
One... But again, the ship refused to launch.
The Lord was growing flustered. Okay, so that didn't work.
Perhaps the ship's too heavy. We need to unload some cargo.
So they did. But still... One... Two...
Three! The ship refused to launch. The Lord tried everything. raising more sales, One, two, three!
Rowing with oars? Gah! One, two, three!
He even had his deckhands get into the water and push.
Two! Three! but the ship wouldn't move an inch.
Finally, the Lord couldn't take it anymore.
I give up! If anyone here can get this ship to launch, I'll give you anything you want.
Anything at all. At first, no one in the crowd spoke up.
But then... I'll do it. Raina stepped forward.
I'll launch your ship, sir. I'll send it clear across the water.
The Lord pointed a finger at Raina. You?
Aren't you the laundress who stole food from my grand mansion?
You're nothing but a common thief, yet you think you can launch this boat?
Oh, I don't think I can, sir. Raina looked to the Lord right in the eye.
I know I can. And with that, Raina marched right up to the boat.
In her hand, she held a long, gnarled stick, which she suddenly lifted into the air as if casting a spell.
Then she spun in a circle and waved her arms this way and that.
The people on the shore watched in wonder.
Was this laundress actually an enchantress?
Was she casting a spell? And would it work?
Raina was stomping her feet on the shore now, kicking great clouds of sand every which way.
Then she stopped and crouched down low, before exploding into the air in a graceful leap and tapping, the side of the ship with her stick.
And to the moment she did, do you know what happened?
The ship eased away from the dock and began sliding into the sea.
The Lord was gobsmacked. My ship! You've lost my ship!
However did you do it? Reina smiled. Hmm, let's just say I had help from an old friend.
Well, after that, Rena had no trouble making ends meet.
As a reward for launching the ship, the Lord gave her exactly what she wanted.
A bit of money? plus enough clothing and food to keep her and her mother warm and fed for years to come.
Rena wasn't exactly rich as a lord, but she was comfortable.
Because thanks to her old friend, the tree, Her ship had finally come in.
Thank you. Now it's your turn. What are some ways you can be a good friend?
Find a piece of paper or poster board and draw a big square.
Then divide that big square into nine little squares or three rows of three and get ready to play Friendship Bingo.
In each of the nine squares, have a grownup help you write one thing you can do to be a good friend.
It can be as simple as giving a friend a compliment, telling a joke to cheer them up, or making a get-well card if they're feeling under the weather.
Once you've written all nine squares, Hang your friendship bingo board wherever you can see it.
Then, every time you do something on your board...
Fill in that square with a sticker or stamp.
When you've completed your friendship bingo board, share it with us.
Ask a grown-up to snap a photo and email it to circlearound at wbur.org.
This week's story, The Friendship, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear.
It was edited by Circle Round's supervising producer, Anne-Marie Sievertson.
Circle Round's 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.
Ask a grown-up to visit wbur.org slash circleround.
Then click on Soundtrack and Coloring pages.
And while you're at WBUR.org slash Circle Round, you can find links to the Circle Round soundtrack, t-shirt and coloring book, as well as a transcript for each and every Circle Round Tale.
Special thanks to this week's actors, Robert Fung, Faith Saley, Dawn Ursula and Cara Patterson.
Watch for Kara in Turner & Hooch, now available on Disney+.
The featured instrument in today's story was the harp.
You can learn more about this member of the String family on our website.
Again, that's wbur.org slash circleround.
Never want to miss an episode of Circle Round?
Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
And please leave us some stars, write us a review, or just tell your friends about the show.
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 My name is Leo.
I live in Germany. And my favorite story... about Jella and the dragon because the dragon gets tricked.
My name is Erin. I live in Berkeley, California, and my favorite Circle Run story is is the uncommon offering because I like when they get married.
My name is Jacob and I live in Florida. And my favorite circle round story is the Emperor's Challenge because the girl didn't lie.
Hi, my name is Stella and I'm from San Francisco.
It's hard for me to say which circle and tree I like best because I like all of them.
Hi, my name is Willa and I live in Kittery, Maine.
And my favorite story is Um, the kangaroo enjoyed it too because I liked the part when Dingo shows up.
My name is Edwin and I live in Houston. My favorite soak around is the magic boat, and thank you for having these soak arounds for me to listen to. you 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.
Thank you.
