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Have you ever heard of a wild goose chase?
When we talk about a wild goose chase we're usually talking about a search for something that cannot be found, but in today's story we'll meet a tailor who goes on a wild goose chase of a different sort one that literally does involve a goose and with a little kindness and a whole lot of magic our hero
finds much much more than he ever expected.
I'm Rebecca Scheer and welcome to circle round live at Symphony Space in New York New York.
Today our story is called the wild goose chase it was inspired by tales told in Ukraine and Russia.
Joining me on stage is a star studded quintet of actors Adam Goldberg, Katherine Grody, Stephen Houk, Gideon Irving, and Faith Salley.
And providing musical accompaniment is the one and only Eric Shimalonis.
So circle around everyone for the wild goose chase.
In a country village in a cozy cottage there lived a tailor named Pavlo.
Pavlo worked out of a little shop in his garden shed where he spent long hours sewing stitching and mending beautiful suits jackets dresses and coats.
The talented tailor definitely had a way with a needle and thread but he also had a way with people.
When you visited Pavlo's shop to place your order you were always greeted with a smile.
Welcome my friend how wonderful to see you and if you happened to be a few coins short when you came back to pick your order up no problem my friend no problem at all you can pay me back with a cup of tea sometime yes.
Pavlo was by no means a rich man he earned just enough money sewing stitching and mending to buy food for his larder and supplies for his shop but he was content and happy until things took an unexpected turn Pavlo's village fell an unusually hard times and just like that orders for new suits jackets
dresses and coats all but dried up.
Oh dear my heart breaks to see my fellow villagers struggling to get by like this to say nothing of myself.
Hide down to my last crust of bread and my final bits of cheese.
I'll starve if a new order doesn't come in soon.
So you can imagine Pavlo's delight when a new order did come in from the Queen.
It arrived in the form of a carefully wrapped package and letter left by a royal messenger at Pavlo's door.
Pavlo read the letter first.
The Queen says in her letter that she has been searching for the most gifted tailor in the land she's heard about my skills and wishes for me to make her a new gown.
She says I have exactly one week to complete it and I must use the special thread in this box.
Pavlo shivered with excitement as he unwrapped the box.
He shivered even more when he saw what was inside.
My goodness it's a big spool of golden thread glittering and gleaming.
I cannot wait to use it.
Though come to think of it I mustn't wait.
Not if the Queen wants her new gown completed in just one week.
It was springtime the time of year when Pavlo often did his tailoring work in the yard under the light of the sun.
So after stuffing his apron with sewing needles, a measuring tape, and a pair of sharp shears he brought the golden thread outside.
But the moment he sat down and got to work do you know what happened?
The air around him filled with the flurry of beating wings.
And when Pavlo glanced up what should he spy wheeling in circles over his guard but a wild goose the size of a donkey.
The massive bird shot Pavlo a withering look and she opened her beak and much to the tailor's astonishment she spoke.
I see your golden thread and I'm impressed so I'm going to take it to build my nest.
You can try to resist but it's no use for no one can defy the wild goose.
Ahh! Haha! Haha! Haha!
Next thing Pavlo knew the goose was lowering her head and diving right toward him.
He tried jumping out of the way but it was too late.
The goose swooped down snatched the spool of golden thread from his hand then lofted into the sky and flew away.
Goodness gracious am I dreaming right now or did a giant talking goose just make off with my golden thread to build her nest?
Though now that I think of it, it isn't my golden thread at all.
It belongs to the queen.
And if I don't make the gown she's requesting I'll go broke.
I must get back that thread.
Pavlo's head and feet raced as he sprinted away from his yard doing his best to follow the bird's path.
He bolted across meadows.
He crested grassy hills.
When he reached a winding river he came to a sudden halt.
My word this river is littered with so many branches leaves and sticks that the current can hardly run and the fish can hardly swim.
What a sorry sight.
Yeah I am a sorry sight aren't I?
Pavlo's jaw dropped so low it nearly splashed into the water.
Pardon me who said that?
Don't tell me a river is talking to me now?
Yeah actually I am.
If you can call me a river I mean you know I'm so gummed up I look more like a pond.
Any chance you could lend a hand and clean me out?
Pavlo smiled. He was in a hurry but he wasn't heartless so he strode into the water stuck out his hands and scooped out all the debris.
There you go river all cleaned up.
Oh wow thank you thank you so much.
If I can return the favor someday you bet I will.
Pavlo bid the river farewell and resumed his chase.
He was dashing across a rolling valley when he came upon an apple tree.
As he drew closer he wrinkled his brow.
Dear me look how droopy those branches are and how tangled.
It looks like this tree hasn't been pruned in ages.
Poor thing. Yeah I am a poor thing aren't I?
Pavlo's eyes grew rounder than two apples.
Apple tree? Do you talk too?
Yeah yeah you better do yeah though not for much longer.
If my branches don't get pruned I'll never survive.
Any chance you could give me a trim?
Pavlo was losing time but he couldn't allow this tree to languish so he pulled his shears from his apron and gave the branches a snip.
There you go tree you're as good as new.
Thank you to thank you so much.
If I can return the favor someday you bet I will.
Pavlo waved the tree goodbye and resumed his chase.
He was racing through a wheat field when he noticed something curious.
At the edge of the field was a big stone oven covered with soot.
What is an oven doing in the middle of the countryside?
And it's so dingy and grimy.
What a mess. I am a mess aren't I?
Pavlo froze. Let me guess an oven is talking to me now.
I sure am. Though in my present state I'm a rather sorry excuse for an oven.
I was made long ago for a house that was never built so I was abandoned.
And look how grubby I've become.
Hey any chance you could uh put in a little elbow grease and clean me off?
Pavlo was eager to move on but he couldn't leave the oven like this so he pulled out a handkerchief and set to work wiping and scrubbing.
There you go oven not a lick of soot to be seen.
Thank you thank you so much.
If I can return the favor someday you bet I will.
Pavlo wished the oven well and carried on with his chase.
The hours passed and come nightfall he found himself in a swampy marsh and as he squinted through the darkness who should he spy sleeping amidst the moonlit reeds and rushes but the goose and my spool of golden thread is sitting beside her which means she hasn't built her nest yet.
Pavlo took a breath all he had to do was tiptoe to the sleeping goose seize the golden thread then high tail it toward home.
Of course when that goose wakes up and discovers what's missing she's bound to be angry so here's hoping I can grab that thread and get home before the goose gets me.
Will Pavlo get his golden thread back without being caught?
What would you do if you were the tailor?
We'll find out what happens after a quick break.
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I'm Rebecca Scheer, welcome back to circle round live at Symphony Space in New York, New York.
Today our story is called The Wild Goose Chase.
Before the break, Pavlo the tailor had one week to make a gown for the queen using a spool of golden thread.
When the thread was stolen by a giant wild goose, Pavlo gave Chase.
In his pursuit he came upon a river, tree and oven and did a good deed for each.
After running for hours, Pavlo finally tracked the goose down in a reedy marsh.
It was night time when the goose was sleeping.
You may not know this but geese have excellent hearing even when they're snoozing.
They stay unusually alert while unconscious.
So not long after Pavlo tiptoed over, seized the thread and scurried away.
Can you guess what happened?
The wild goose woke up and when she saw that the golden thread was missing, her eyes blazed with fury.
The golden thread, it's nowhere about.
Taken by that human no doubt, when I find him I won't let him loose.
He'll pay for messing with the wild goose.
The goose launched into the sky hot on Pavlo's trail.
Pavlo was nearing the oven in the wheat field when he heard angry honking behind him.
Oh oven, dear oven, I need your help.
Well I do owe you a favor.
What's up? Do you hear that sound?
How could I miss it?
Well a wild goose is chasing me and I need to hide.
Quick. No problem, hop in.
The oven popped open its door and Pavlo crawled inside.
Moments later the wild goose came winging over.
A clean stone oven on the ground.
Have you seen a human around?
He burgled my thread and stole it away.
So now I'm going to make him pay.
A thread burglar, you say?
Hmm. Now that I think of it I might have seen him.
Maybe he went that way.
The oven wobbled to one side, pointing the goose in the wrong direction.
Once the bird was out of sight the oven opened its door and Pavlo scrambled out.
Thank you oven. Don't mention it.
Pavlo gave the oven an appreciative pat then kept going but as he was approaching the apple tree.
Oh no! How did the wild goose find me?
She must have figured out the oven's trick.
Pavlo picked up the pace and went bolting to the tree.
Oh tree, dear tree, a wild goose is chasing me.
Can you help me with the favor you promised?
Of course, climb on up.
Without wasting a minute, Pavlo clambered up the tree's trunk.
The moment he disappeared into the leafy branches.
Tidy tree full of apples and leaves helped me find a new good thief.
He stole my thread in a sneak attack.
So now I'm going to get it back.
Ah no good thief, you say, huh?
Yeah, it's possible I saw him.
Perhaps he went that way.
The tree stuck out a branch pointing the goose in, you guessed it, the wrong direction.
Once the bird glided away, Pavlo leaped to the ground.
Thank you tree. My pleasure.
Pavlo flashed the tree a grin then pressed on.
He was nearing the river when, once more, oh river, dear river, a wild goose is after me and even though the oven pointed her in the wrong direction and the tree pointed her in the wrong direction somehow she's hot on my heels.
Can I ask for that favor you promised?
You sure can dive in.
Pavlo held his breath and plunged into the water moments after his head vanished beneath the surface.
Winding river, brimming with fish.
Help me find the thing that I wish.
A human stole my thread.
It's mine no more. Now I must find him and even the score.
A thread stealing human, you say.
I mean it could be that I saw him.
Perhaps he went that way.
The river let loose a stream of bubbles pointing the goose in, yes, the wrong direction.
Once she fluttered off, Pavlo emerged from the water.
Thank you river. You're very welcome now go.
Pavlo gave the river a salute and continued toward home but the moment his cozy cottage came into view.
Oh boy, there are no rivers, ovens or trees to save me now.
I'd better quicken my step.
Pavlo ran as fast as he could but the goose was flying as fast as she could and just when it looked like she would swoop down and snatch the tailor up, he burst through his cottage door slammed it shut then locked it tight.
The wild goose went even wilder swooping and diving around the cottage.
She banged on the door.
She rattled at the windows but it was no use.
She couldn't get in so at long last she gave up and soared away.
Now that the goose is gone I can finally start making the queen's gown.
But first I need some rest.
I ran miles and miles rescuing this golden thread and I can barely keep my eyes open.
Pavlo trudged off to bed and started snoring before his head even hit the pillow.
The next morning Pavlo was roused from his slumber not by the rising sun or the twittering birds but by his grumbling stomach.
Oh great heavens! I can't remember the last time I put food in my belly.
I wish I could dig into a wholesome breakfast but my larder is as empty as my stomach.
Better just grin, bear it and get started on the queen's gown.
Pavlo stuffed the golden thread in his apron and stepped outside but as he was walking to his shop in the garden shed his eyes were greeted by a most surprising sight.
Sitting in the yard were three baskets.
The first basket was filled with fish.
The second was filled with apples.
The third was filled with bread.
Good golly! Those fish are so fresh you'd think they'd just been caught from a river.
Those apples are so ripe you'd think they'd just been plucked off a tree.
And that bread is so golden you'd think it had just been baked in an oven.
Wait a minute! Pavlo scratched his chin.
A river, a tree, an oven, of course!
A river, a tree, and an oven!
And here I was thinking they'd already returned the favor.
Thank you my friends.
Thank you! Needless to say Pavlo's empty belly wasn't empty for long.
He enjoyed some of his new friends' fish, apples, and bread then shared the rest with his fellow villagers.
Then he picked up the golden thread and got to work.
By the end of the week the queen's gown was finished and she paid Pavlo quite handsomely for it.
But even though the tailor could now live more comfortably than ever it wasn't the money that made him feel rich.
It was the knowledge that when you sow the seeds of kindness you truly can reap the rewards.
Now it's your turn.
Pavlo was grateful to his new friends and they were grateful to him.
One way to show our loved ones how much we appreciate them is by making a gratitude circle.
Next time you're with family or friends, sit everyone down in a circle.
Now turn to the person to your left and tell them one thing you appreciate about them.
Then that person should turn to the person on their left and do the same.
Once you've all appreciated the person to your left you can reverse direction and share thanks the other way.
This week's story, The Wild Goose Chase, was adapted by me Rebecca Scheer.
It was edited by Dean Russell.
Eric Shimalonis composed our original music and played it live on the Dormra.
You can learn more about this loot with roots in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus and see a photo of Eric playing one on our website.
That's wbur .org slash circle round.
Circle round's artist is Sabina Han.
Sabina has created a black and white coloring page for each and every circle round story and you can color them in while you listen.
Grown -ups download our coloring pages on our website.
Again that's wbur .org slash circle round.
Special thanks to our incredible actors at Symphony Space.
Adam Goldberg, Catherine Grody, Stephen Hough, Gideon Irving, and Faith Salie.
Actor, musician, director, and photographer Adam Goldberg is known for his roles in films and TV shows like Saving Private Ryan, Dazed and Confused, Two Days in Paris, The Hebrew Hammer, Friends, Entourage, and The Equalizer with Queen Latifah.
Writer and Dramadesk nominated and Ooby Award winning actor Catherine Grody has starred in the groundbreaking off -Broadway shows The Marriage of Bette and Boo, Top Girls, and her own one woman play, A Mom's Life.
Her newest play, The Unexpected Third, comes to New York City in November 2025.
Fans of the marvelous Mrs.
Maisel will recognize Stephen Hough as Jane Lynch's impeccable butler Dawes.
Stephen has appeared in many shows on and off Broadway as well and in the Spike Lee joints, Old Boy, The Sweet Blood of Jesus, and She's Gotta Have It.
Gideon Irving is a performer and musician who has put on elaborate one -man shows in more than 700 living rooms, kitchens, attics, basements, garages, barns, woodsheds, sugar shacks, yurts, and cooling towers on four continents.
He's also mesmerized audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and off -Broadway.
Actor, author, journalist, and comedian Faith Salie is an Emmy Award -winning contributor to CBS Sunday Morning and a regular on NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me.
Her off -Broadway solo show, Approval Junkie, can be found on Audible.
And a big circle round of thanks to WBUR's Andrea O 'Meara and to the fantastic staff at Symphony Space in New York City.
Grown -ups, if you enjoy Circle Round, please leave us a five -star review on your favorite podcast app.
It helps other listeners find the show.
Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station.
I'm Rebecca Scheer.
Thanks for Circling Round with us.
Now that you've made it to the end of this Circle Round episode, we want to know, what's your favorite Circle Round story?
Thousands of fans just like you have been telling us about the Circle Round stories they like best.
Take a listen. Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours, too.
Hi, my name is Anya.
I live in Vancouver, Canada.
My favorite Circle Round story is The Horse for Hire.
I like the part where Maria merges the horse.
I also love the music.
Thanks, Rebecca Scheer.
My name is Lilia, and I'm from Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
My favorite Circle Round story is the bird of a different feather.
I like the part when Guinea fowl says squawk.
My name is Matthias, and I live in Arlington, Massachusetts.
My favorite Circle Round story is Chief Know -It -All.
I like the part where the baby comes in.
My name is Michael, and I live in Reesburg, Wisconsin.
My favorite story is telling the dragon.
My favorite part is when Stella defeats the dragon.
My name is Luke. I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and my favorite Circle Round is the Crystal Story Box, and I like the part where Anansi tricks Hornet into going into the gorge.
My name is Daniel. I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and my favorite episode is The Great Ball Game, and I like the part where Beryl must go to school, but the biggest mosquito you've ever seen bit him on the nose, and he didn't score.
My name is Maddie. I live in Alameda, California.
My favorite Circle Round story is Home Sweet Home.
My favorite part is when Hare goes hop, hop, hop while he's collecting grass for his home.
I love you, Rebecca Scheer.
Did someone mention a story you've missed?
Not to worry. Grown -ups, you can find all of our Circle Round stories, plus links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages, and oh so much more on our website, wbur .org slash Circle Round.
