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Do you know what it means if you have the upper hand?
Having the upper hand means you hold an advantage.
You're in a stronger position or situation than someone else's.
And we're about to meet a character who gets the upper hand by taking the lower half...
I'm Rebecca Scheer and welcome to Circle Round, where story time happens all the time.
Today our story is called Top Banana.
It was inspired by tales told in the Philippines, a country of over 7 ,000 islands in Southeast Asia.
Some really great people came together to bring you our adaptation of this story, including Tatiana Ali and Jack DeSenna.
Grown -ups you may know Tatiana Ali from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, the original and reboot, as well as Abbott Elementary on ABC.
And kids, you can hear Jack DeSenna's voice in a bunch of animated TV shows, including Lego Monkey Kid, The Dragon Prince, and Avatar The Last Airbender.
So circle round everyone for Top Banana.
It was summertime in the lush, mossy forest, and all morning long, Turtle had been sunning her brownish -red shell and skin on a big, flat rock.
I'm starting to get overheated.
I think I'll go for a swim in the river.
Splashing around in the cool, clear water would hit the spot right now.
When Turtle shuffled over to the river bank, her bright, round eyes were met with an astonishing sight.
It's a banana plant, and it's in the water, floating down the river.
Indeed, with a crown of broad green leaves on one end and a spindly web of roots on the other, the banana plant was drifting downstream and heading Turtle's way.
What if I pull the banana plant out of the river, then I bring it home and plant it in my garden?
Goodness knows I love growing things.
With a little love and care, that plant will be sprouting delicious bananas in no time.
Turtle plunged into the water and paddled toward the banana plant.
She was hoping to rip it in her claws and tug it back to shore.
But the plant was heavier than she expected, and the current was stronger than she expected, and she soon found herself struggling.
Oh dear, I can't pull this plant to shore alone.
I need help. You bet you do.
The idea of a teeny tiny turtle carrying a banana plant to shore is, well, bananas.
Turtle swiveled her gaze to the riverbank, and there was Monkey.
His shaggy brown body doubled up with laughter.
I mean, no offense, Turtle, but your attempts are looking downright fruitless.
Get it? Fruitless, like your attempts won't amount to anything, and what they won't specifically amount to is bananas, which is a fruit.
Oh, I crack myself up.
Very funny, Monkey.
But would you mind canning the jokes and helping me out?
Canning the jokes? Is that another banana pun?
Because I've never heard of eating canned banana before.
It sounds kinda gross.
No, Monkey, it is not a pun.
It's a humble appeal.
Ah ha ha, see what you did there.
Appeal? Appeal? Like a banana peel?
Monkey, I'm serious!
Not me, I'm never serious.
But fine, I'll help you if you'll share your banana plant with me.
Turtle hesitated. Monkey wasn't the brightest banana in the bunch, but his body was strong, and hers was getting weaker by the moment.
Alright fine, I'll share the banana plant with you, Monkey.
Now lend a hand, will you?
Monkey dove into the water.
He and Turtle worked together to drag the banana plant to shore, before carrying it across the forest to Turtle's garden.
Thanks for your help, Monkey.
Now, how about we put this banana plant in the earth?
We'll wait for it to sprout bananas, and then, when they're all yellow and ripe, we'll share them.
Okay, first of all, it would have been far funnier if you had said, we'll share the fruits of our labors.
And second, I don't want to wait to get my share of the bananas.
I say we split the plant in half, right now.
Split the plant in half?
That is no way to share a plant, Monkey.
And that is no way to treat the courageous hero who dove into a raging roiling river to save you.
I want my half, Turtle.
The question is, which half?
Monkey looked the banana plant up and down.
When his gaze landed on the broad green leaves at the top, his face broke into a grin.
The top half! I want the top half.
After all, that's the part where the bananas will sprout, so it's the better one.
And please, don't try convincing me that the better half should be yours, because trust me, it's not going to work.
Well, actually, Monkey.
Turtle paused. The truth was, if Monkey picked the top, then the better half would be hers.
Why? Because she would have the bottom, and the bottom had the plant's roots.
The roots would dig into the earth, they would suck up all the nutrients, and the plant would eventually sprout bananas.
The top half, of course, did not have roots.
Therefore, it would not sprout bananas.
But Turtle knew that Monkey would never be convinced of this fact.
So she just sighed and smiled.
Actually, Monkey, what I was going to say is, I'll need your help if we're going to split the plant's top from its bottom.
Do you mind lending another hand?
Monkey happily obliged.
He and Turtle cut the banana plant in half.
Then, as Turtle got to work planting the bottom half in her garden, Monkey set off through the forest, carrying the top.
Certainly got the better end of that deal, end of the plant.
With just the bottom, there's no way Turtle will get any fruit.
The whole thing is totally hilarious.
No, ha ha ha, turtly hilarious.
No, ha ha ha, turtly shell -arious.
Ha ha ha, ha ha, ha ha, man, I'm good.
When Monkey got home, he quickly planted his top half in his yard.
Ah, yeah. Any time now, this plant is going to sprout sweet, delicious bananas.
I'll just sit here and keep my eyes peeled until it does.
Ha ha ha ha. Well, as you can no doubt guess, the plant in Monkey's yard did not sprout sweet, delicious bananas.
Instead, it wilted, then withered, then died.
What's going on here?
Why didn't my bananas grow?
I'm going to go see Turtle.
She's got some explaining to do.
Monkey stomped over to Turtle's house, where he found her sitting in her garden, beneath her half of the banana plant.
Only her half looks nothing like his, because sprouting from the top were bunches and bunches of ripe yellow bananas.
Well, thanks a lot, Turtle, or dare I say, thanks a bunch.
My half of the plant didn't grow a single banana.
How did your half grow so many?
It was easy, Monkey.
I put it in the earth, the roots took hold, and eventually I had all these bananas.
Turtle gave Monkey a grin.
He did not grin back.
Instead, his eyes filled with tears, and Turtle's heart filled with pity.
Listen, Monkey, the thing about a turtle like me growing her own bananas is I can't climb up and pick them.
They're so high off the ground, I have to wait for them to fall or get blown off by the wind.
So, I'll tell you what.
If you climb up and pick the bananas, I will share them with you.
Monkey wiped his eyes.
Do you really mean it, Turtle?
You'll share your bananas if I climb up and pick them?
I absolutely will. After all, you'll be doing me a huge favor.
Those bananas aren't exactly low -hanging fruit, am I right?
Monkey didn't waste a second.
He reached out his strong arms and legs and began shimmying up the plant.
Once he got to the top, do you know what he did?
He plucked off a bunch of bananas and began to eat them.
Oh, these bananas are so tasty, so ripe.
Turtle jumped out of the way as a cascade of empty banana peels came tumbling to the ground.
Monkey, you're eating all of the bananas.
We were supposed to share them.
Yeah, I guess we were, weren't we?
But now that I'm tasting them, I've decided that for you, these bananas are forbidden fruit.
Get it? Forbidden fruit?
As in, something you want more because you know you can't have it?
Yeah, I know what forbidden fruit is, Monkey.
But this plant is mine.
I should get my share of bananas.
I don't know, Turtle.
Not so long ago, you cheated me out of my share of bananas by giving me the bad half of the plant.
So now it's my turn to come out on top.
Turtle heaved a sigh.
Monkey had insisted on taking the bad half of the plant.
She never could have convinced him otherwise.
And now, here he was eating, yes, the fruits of her labors.
Turtle's legs may have been slow, but her mind was swift.
And as Monkey lounged at the top of the plant, gobbling down one banana after another, Turtle set her nimble mind into motion.
I believe I have a plan for how to teach Monkey a lesson.
And if it works, that pesky primate will be sorry.
In fact, he might even make like a banana and split!
How do you think Turtle will get back at Monkey?
We'll find out in a banana second.
Okay, I'm sorry. That wasn't nearly as funny as I thought it would be.
And besides, our breaks are more than a nanosecond, right?
Sometimes they're more like, I don't know, a minute.
Anyhow, I will try that again.
How do you think Turtle will get back at Monkey?
We'll find out after a quick break.
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Welcome back to Circle Round.
I'm Rebecca Scheer.
Today, our story is called Top Banana.
Before the break, Monkey was at the top of Turtle's banana plant, eating all of her bananas and refusing to share.
So Turtle decided to teach Monkey a lesson.
Moving as fast as her legs could carry her, she shuffled into the forest.
When she came back, she had a heap of thorns balanced on her brownish -red shell without making a sound.
She scattered the prickly bride into her face and landed her fires around the base of the banana plant.
Monkey was so absorbed in his eating that he didn't even notice.
So when he finished the last banana and leaped down to the ground, guess what he landed right on top of?
Monkey sprang this way and that as his feet were stung by sharp, pointy thorns.
And as he hooted and hollered, guess who he spied out of the corner of his eye?
With a hint of a smile on her face.
Oh, so you think this is Funny Turtle, do you?
Well, not so much Funny, as fitting.
You promised you would share my bananas with me.
Then you went back on your word.
So I had to do something to teach you a lesson for all of your, pfft, monkeying around.
OK, first of all, I'm the pun guy, not you.
And second, you want to talk about teaching lessons?
How about if I teach you a lesson for your thievery and tricks?
Thievery and tricks?
You're the tricky one, monkey and the thief.
You just ate all of my bananas.
Oh, and I enjoyed them.
Bunches and bunches.
But that's neither here nor there.
The point is, I'm going to get even with you, Turtle, I am going to snatch you up and feed you to a bigger animal.
Like Eagle. She'd be happy to take you under her wing or into her stomach.
Hee hee hee hee hee.
Turtle shivered. She did not want to wind up in the belly of a vicious bird of prey.
So once more, she put her mind to work.
You know, monkey, I wouldn't feed me to Eagle if I were you.
After all, if Eagle tries to eat me, my shell may give her a stomach ache, which would make her quite cross with you.
And next thing you know, he'll be her next meal.
Turtle knew that Eagle was too smart to actually eat her shell.
The bird would break it off before chowing down.
But monkey didn't know that.
And just as Turtle hoped, her declaration stopped him right in his tracks.
All right, fine. I'll get even with you some other way.
I'll, uh, oh, I'll drop you into a volcano.
Ha ha ha. Yeah, a volcano.
Yeah, that'll get you into a hot mess.
Hee hee hee hee hee hee.
Turtle shivered again.
No one could survive a fall into a burning hot volcano.
How would she talk her way out of this one?
You know, monkey, I wouldn't drop me into a volcano if I were you.
After all, if you drop me into a volcano, my brownish red skin may become redder and redder and more and more beautiful until I'm the most beautiful creature in the forest and everyone will admire me.
Once again, monkey was thrown for a loop.
All right, fine. Then I'll get even with you some other other way.
I will, uh. As monkey racked his brain, desperately seeking a new method of revenge, Turtle got an idea.
Actually, monkey, there is one way you could get even with me.
No, but I can't tell you.
Why, what are you, shell shocked?
Yes, you can tell me how to get even with you, and you will.
Now. All right, fine.
Since you're so clever, monkey, and you'll probably figure it out anyway, here goes.
Do you remember the day you saw me struggling in the river?
Of course I remember that day.
It's what got us into this whole mess.
But do you remember how I was flailing and floundering?
I was on the verge of going under, monkey, going under.
That moment could have been my last.
Monkey paused. Turtle had been flailing and floundering until he jumped into the water to help her out.
And he stayed on the shore.
She very well could have gone under.
Wait a minute, Turtle.
Don't say another word because I have come up with the perfect way to get even.
I will throw you into the river.
Turtle tried not to smile.
This was exactly what she hoped monkey would say.
But monkey, don't you know that if you throw me into the river, then it's highly likely that I'm going to drown.
That you're going to drown?
Yes, I know. Like you said, I'm clever.
So have fun enjoying your just desserts, Turtle.
If you could call it dessert, given that I ate all of your dinner.
Quick as a wink, monkey clamped his furry hands around Turtle's body and marched her to the river.
Then he lifted Turtle high over his head.
This will get you out of your shell.
And flung her into the air.
Turtle soared across the water before splashing into the river, and sinking out of sight.
Boy, hope that wasn't too startling for her.
Or should I say too sturdling?
With an impact like that, maybe she should have been wearing a shellmet.
But seriously, I shouldn't crack jokes.
After all, when you say goodbye to someone, it's not the appropriate time to shell -a -brate!
But it is appropriate when you say hello again.
Or should I say shell -o?
Monkey whirled around.
And there was Turtle, gracefully and easefully swimming his way.
I want to thank you for the ride, monkey.
It was turdly awesome.
Or should I say it was more fun than a barrel of monkeys?
But Turtle, you told me that I was struggling in the river that day?
I was because of the banana plant.
Turtles are excellent swimmers when they're not lugging around an object 10 times their size.
I'm sorry if I misled you, monkey.
I was trying to teach you a lesson for misleading me.
Monkey hung his head.
Turtle was right. She had put her trust in him, and he had broken that trust.
So now she had gotten her revenge.
In fact, you could even say she had made a monkey out of him.
Well, I'm happy to say that after the banana plant incident, monkey changed his tune.
He did not stop punning, but he did start practicing kindness, generosity, and honesty.
And that definitely made him a far more appealing guy to have around.
Now it's your turn.
Think about a time you shared with someone.
Perhaps you put together a puzzle with a friend and took turns picking out pieces.
Maybe you shared a snack with a classmate or donated some clothing or books to a charity.
Sharing isn't always easy, but it can make us feel good.
And what's more, it can make the people we're sharing with feel great.
This week's episode, Top Banana, was adapted by me, Rebecca Scherer.
It was edited by Dean Russell.
Our original music and sound design is by Eric Schimelone.
Our artist is Sabina Hahn.
Sabina has created a black and white coloring page for all of our circle round stories.
And you can print them out and color them in.
Grown ups, visit our website, wbur .org slash circle round, and click on coloring pages.
Special thanks to this week's actors, Tatiana Ali and Jack De Senna.
Kids, you can hear Jack De Senna's voice in a bunch of animated TV shows, including Lego Monkey Kid, The Dragon Prince, and Avatar, The Last Airbender.
Grown ups, you can check out Tatiana Ali on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, The Original, and The Reboot, as well as Abbott Elementary on ABC.
Our featured instrument this week was the sarin.
You can learn more about this Southeast Asian instrument consisting of bronze bars on a wooden frame and see a photo of Eric Schimelone is playing one on our website.
Again, that's wbur .org slash circle round.
Grown ups, if you enjoy circle round, please leave us a five -star review on your favorite podcast app.
It'll truly make our day and help 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.
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I'm from Wilma, Illinois, and my favorite circle round story is the Governor's Puzzle.
My favorite part is when the Governor's daughter solved the puzzle.
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My favorite circle round is misery loves company.
And I like the part where Alexandra traps misery in the caves.
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I'm from Seattle, Washington.
My favorite story is why the ocean is salty, because I like the part when the brother takes the pearl.
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My favorite story was the 10 troops.
I like when they got tricked, but the troop leader saved them.
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I'm from Acto, Massachusetts.
And my favorite circle round story is the star fruit tree.
And my favorite part is when the sister and the other sister trade.
I'm Peter Pham, at all Massachusetts.
My favorite circle round story is The Blizzard Wizard.
I like the part when she zip lines on her hair.
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And my favorite story is The Horse of a Different Color.
My favorite part is when the horse lets the girl win the tournament of throwing an apple into the Emperor's Diet.
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My favorite circle round story is the three -legged paw.
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My favorite story is the lion's whisker.
And my favorite part is when the grandmother says we're making a potion.
Did someone mention a story you've missed?
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