النص 🔗
WEBVTT
1
00:00:01.229 --> 00:00:04.049
WBUR Podcasts, Boston.
2
00:00:09.330 --> 00:00:14.150
Ever heard the expression, nothing ventured, nothing gained? What it
3
00:00:14.189 --> 00:00:17.170
means is, if you want to achieve something, often you
4
00:00:17.210 --> 00:00:20.949
have to take risks. In today's story, three characters take
5
00:00:21.030 --> 00:00:24.469
a big risk, and they wind up gaining more than
6
00:00:24.489 --> 00:00:36.250
they ever expected. Whistling I'm Rebecca Shear, and welcome to
7
00:00:36.350 --> 00:00:40.270
Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time. Today, our
8
00:00:40.329 --> 00:00:43.850
story is called The Stork King. It's inspired by tales
9
00:00:43.909 --> 00:00:49.509
from the Eastern European country of Ukraine. Some really great
10
00:00:49.549 --> 00:00:52.189
people came together to bring you our version of this tale,
11
00:00:52.609 --> 00:00:56.350
including Julian Lerner, who most recently starred in the reboot
12
00:00:56.450 --> 00:00:59.409
of The Wonder Years on ABC. Kids, you can hear
13
00:00:59.469 --> 00:01:07.109
Julian's voice in the PBS animated series Alma's Way. So
14
00:01:07.170 --> 00:01:16.920
circle around, everyone, for The Stork King. Once upon a time,
15
00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:20.480
way out in the country, there lived a wheat farmer.
16
00:01:20.980 --> 00:01:25.040
The wheat farmer had three children, Maxim, Sasha, and Yuri.
17
00:01:25.590 --> 00:01:30.579
And the family spent long days diligently working the land. Okay,
18
00:01:30.599 --> 00:01:34.599
so maybe not everyone in the family. While Yuri was
19
00:01:34.680 --> 00:01:36.120
always quick to offer help.
20
00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:37.439
I'll help you, Mother.
21
00:01:38.140 --> 00:01:41.340
Maxim and Sasha were quick to offer excuses.
22
00:01:42.040 --> 00:01:45.530
Um, I would help you, Mother, but I feel a
23
00:01:45.650 --> 00:01:47.489
head cold coming on.
24
00:01:48.329 --> 00:01:51.049
And I feel a stomach bug.
25
00:01:51.650 --> 00:01:54.269
And did I mention I have a backache?
26
00:01:54.730 --> 00:01:57.730
And I have the worst earache.
27
00:01:59.209 --> 00:02:02.599
One sunny morning, while Yuri was running errands, and Maxim
28
00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:05.939
and Sasha were running on about their aches and pains.
29
00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:07.859
And head colds.
30
00:02:08.419 --> 00:02:09.879
And stomach bugs.
31
00:02:10.539 --> 00:02:12.930
The farmer went out to the stable where she kept
32
00:02:13.150 --> 00:02:16.789
her oxen. The two strong creatures were the only animals
33
00:02:16.830 --> 00:02:19.819
the farmer could afford. and they were excellent workers when
34
00:02:19.860 --> 00:02:22.520
it came to plowing, planting, and harvesting.
35
00:02:22.539 --> 00:02:26.210
Good morning, my brawny friends.
36
00:02:26.909 --> 00:02:30.569
It's time for some plowing. I'll just get the cart
37
00:02:30.650 --> 00:02:31.169
here and.
38
00:02:33.389 --> 00:02:35.110
What in the world?
39
00:02:35.590 --> 00:02:38.550
The farmer gasped as the wheat field suddenly grew dark,
40
00:02:39.069 --> 00:02:41.719
as if a large shadow had fallen across it.
41
00:02:42.469 --> 00:02:45.310
What happened to the sun now? Did a whole bunch
42
00:02:45.349 --> 00:02:48.969
of storm clouds roll in and cover up the sky?
43
00:02:50.180 --> 00:02:53.060
The farmer tilted her head upward, but she did not
44
00:02:53.219 --> 00:02:59.500
see a bunch of storm clouds. Instead, she saw a stork.
45
00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:05.199
That's right, but not just any stork. This stork was huge.
46
00:03:05.740 --> 00:03:08.939
Its body was nearly as long as the oxen's stable,
47
00:03:09.379 --> 00:03:12.289
and its outstretched wings were nearly as wide as the
48
00:03:12.409 --> 00:03:13.310
farmer's house.
49
00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:19.580
Greetings, farmer. I am the stork king.
50
00:03:20.199 --> 00:03:23.360
As the enormous bird glided to the ground, the farmer
51
00:03:23.379 --> 00:03:25.939
was at a loss for words. She had never been
52
00:03:25.960 --> 00:03:29.300
in the presence of a gargantuan stork before, let alone
53
00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:30.900
a royal one who spoke.
54
00:03:32.199 --> 00:03:36.710
Greetings, your highness. To what do I owe the pleasure
55
00:03:36.759 --> 00:03:38.930
of this most unexpected visit?
56
00:03:39.389 --> 00:03:43.990
Well, it just so happens that I, too, have a farm.
57
00:03:44.789 --> 00:03:49.789
Right outside my silver palace. My workers could use an
58
00:03:49.909 --> 00:03:55.009
extra hand. So I've come to take your oxen.
59
00:03:55.689 --> 00:03:56.770
Take my oxen?
60
00:03:57.310 --> 00:03:59.069
The farmer felt her heart clench.
61
00:03:59.789 --> 00:04:04.620
You can't take my oxen. I need them to plow, plant,
62
00:04:04.680 --> 00:04:08.020
and harvest wheat so my children and I can make
63
00:04:08.060 --> 00:04:08.560
a living.
64
00:04:09.659 --> 00:04:10.400
I see.
65
00:04:11.020 --> 00:04:13.580
The stork king blinked his bright gray eyes.
66
00:04:14.389 --> 00:04:17.769
In that case, how about I take one of your
67
00:04:18.009 --> 00:04:25.120
children instead? Some human assistance could be useful. The choice
68
00:04:25.509 --> 00:04:26.480
is yours.
69
00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:30.639
The farmer shuddered down to her work boots. Was this
70
00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:34.220
talking bird really forcing her to decide between her oxen
71
00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:35.620
and her offspring?
72
00:04:36.480 --> 00:04:40.139
Listen, I am not about to part with any member
73
00:04:40.180 --> 00:04:45.639
of my family, so fine. You can take the oxen.
74
00:04:46.519 --> 00:04:49.930
The stork king gazed at the farmer. Then he lowered
75
00:04:50.009 --> 00:04:53.110
his head until he was looking her straight in the eye.
76
00:04:54.269 --> 00:04:59.569
I see you possess a good heart, farmer. So, in
77
00:04:59.629 --> 00:05:05.319
return for your oxen, I will offer payment. Have one
78
Load full transcript
00:05:05.339 --> 00:05:08.459
of your children visit my palace. I will send them
79
00:05:08.519 --> 00:05:10.980
home with whatever reward they choose.
80
00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:15.339
The farmer felt relieved. and confused.
81
00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:19.759
I appreciate the offer, Your Highness, and I will take
82
00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:23.209
you up on it. But we don't know where your
83
00:05:23.250 --> 00:05:26.329
palace is. How are we supposed to find it?
84
00:05:27.209 --> 00:05:30.449
Let's just say anyone can find it if they play
85
00:05:30.509 --> 00:05:34.980
their cards right. But you can start by looking east
86
00:05:35.250 --> 00:05:39.459
of the Morning Star. Thank you for the oxen.
87
00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:43.500
And with that, the great bird seized both oxen in
88
00:05:43.540 --> 00:05:48.680
his talons. And with a few flaps of his enormous wings,
89
00:05:49.079 --> 00:06:00.889
he disappeared from view. Will one of the farmer's children
90
00:06:00.990 --> 00:06:04.160
find the stork king's palace? And if they do, what
91
00:06:04.199 --> 00:06:08.500
reward do you think they'll bring home? We'll find out
92
00:06:08.509 --> 00:06:18.740
what happens after a quick break. I'm Rebecca Shear. Welcome
93
00:06:18.759 --> 00:06:22.110
back to Circle Round. Today our story is called The
94
00:06:22.170 --> 00:06:36.089
Stork King. Before the break, the Stork King took both
95
00:06:36.189 --> 00:06:39.949
of the farmer's oxen. In exchange, he promised a reward,
96
00:06:40.470 --> 00:06:42.709
which one of her three children would have to pick
97
00:06:42.810 --> 00:06:46.629
up at his silver palace. That evening, as the family
98
00:06:46.689 --> 00:06:50.040
gathered around the kitchen table for a humble dinner, the
99
00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:51.980
farmer made an announcement.
100
00:06:52.819 --> 00:06:58.220
Maxim, Sasha, Yuri, I have something to tell you.
101
00:06:58.720 --> 00:06:59.319
What is it, Mother?
102
00:06:59.339 --> 00:07:02.620
And please make it quick, because I'm fighting off this
103
00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:03.620
stomach bug.
104
00:07:03.860 --> 00:07:07.120
And I'm dealing with this backache!
105
00:07:07.779 --> 00:07:10.180
I thought you said it was an earache.
106
00:07:10.500 --> 00:07:14.000
And I thought you said it was a head cold.
107
00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:20.879
Children, please. I called you here because I have some news.
108
00:07:21.639 --> 00:07:22.339
So listen up.
109
00:07:23.620 --> 00:07:26.519
The farmer took a breath, then told the story of
110
00:07:26.579 --> 00:07:30.139
her visit from the stork king. Maxim and Sasha gaped
111
00:07:30.199 --> 00:07:32.519
at their mother as if she had just declared she
112
00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:34.100
was from outer space.
113
00:07:34.980 --> 00:07:41.029
So, mother... You're telling us you met a giant talking stork?
114
00:07:41.610 --> 00:07:42.569
Yes, Maxim.
115
00:07:43.110 --> 00:07:47.990
And this giant talking stork made off with our oxen?
116
00:07:48.649 --> 00:07:49.860
That's right, Sasha.
117
00:07:50.459 --> 00:07:52.920
And you're sure you didn't doze off in the fields
118
00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:54.920
and start dreaming or something?
119
00:07:55.480 --> 00:07:59.240
Because this story sounds ridiculous.
120
00:07:59.800 --> 00:08:00.959
Oh, come on, you two.
121
00:08:01.620 --> 00:08:03.649
Yuri wagged a finger at his siblings.
122
00:08:04.209 --> 00:08:07.560
Oh, stop making fun. I, for one, believe Mother's story,
123
00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:11.360
and I volunteer to visit the Stork King's Palace to
124
00:08:11.399 --> 00:08:14.470
get a reward. Surely it will be valuable enough to
125
00:08:14.509 --> 00:08:16.350
take you to town and trade for two new oxen.
126
00:08:17.089 --> 00:08:18.430
Maybe even more.
127
00:08:19.129 --> 00:08:20.410
The farmer shook her head.
128
00:08:21.569 --> 00:08:25.360
I appreciate the offer, Yuri, but I can't send you
129
00:08:25.420 --> 00:08:28.519
to the Stork King's Palace. There's too much for you
130
00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:32.759
to do here on the farm. Without our oxen, we're
131
00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:36.370
in danger of going hungry. so I'll need you to
132
00:08:36.409 --> 00:08:37.629
work extra hard.
133
00:08:38.230 --> 00:08:42.250
The farmer flashed Yuri a smile, then turned toward Maxim.
134
00:08:42.929 --> 00:08:46.769
Maxim, I want you to visit the store king's palace
135
00:08:47.389 --> 00:08:49.250
and bring back the reward.
136
00:08:49.960 --> 00:08:50.419
Me?
137
00:08:51.259 --> 00:08:55.340
Maxim shifted in his seat. He certainly didn't love the
138
00:08:55.419 --> 00:08:58.840
idea of embarking on a potentially dangerous journey to a
139
00:08:58.940 --> 00:09:02.559
destination that he may or may not ever find, but
140
00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:04.919
he didn't want to go hungry either.
141
00:09:05.629 --> 00:09:08.509
All right, fine, I'll do it.
142
00:09:09.230 --> 00:09:10.789
I'll leave first thing tomorrow.
143
00:09:12.129 --> 00:09:16.129
So the next morning, just before dawn, Maxim pulled himself
144
00:09:16.250 --> 00:09:19.210
out of bed, stuffed some crusty bread into a bag,
145
00:09:19.710 --> 00:09:23.740
then set off east of the morning star. He traipsed
146
00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:28.500
through flower-covered meadows and walked across babbling brooks. He trekked
147
00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:32.500
up and down grassy knolls. With each step, he grew
148
00:09:32.620 --> 00:09:36.360
wearier and hungrier. And after winding his way into a
149
00:09:36.419 --> 00:09:40.120
thick green forest, he stopped beside a rushing stream for
150
00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:43.320
a rest and a snack. But just as he tore
151
00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:46.220
off a hunk of bread, he heard a voice.
152
00:09:47.379 --> 00:09:52.870
Pardon me, sir. Could you please share your bread with me?
153
00:09:53.509 --> 00:09:57.950
Maxim turned his head. Hopping into the clearing was a stork,
154
00:09:58.429 -->
00:10:02.519
a regular-sized stork. with one of her wings drooping and
155
00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:03.779
dragging behind her.
156
00:10:04.539 --> 00:10:08.080
With this injured wing of mine, it's so hard to
157
00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:11.399
find food. I'd appreciate a nipple.
158
00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:16.320
Now, if you were in Maxim's shoes, you'd probably feel
159
00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:21.159
pity in your heart, right? Well, all Maxim felt was
160
00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:22.940
hunger in his stomach.
161
00:10:23.899 --> 00:10:27.669
Look, stork, it's not going to happen. I've been traveling
162
00:10:27.710 --> 00:10:32.029
for hours and I am famished. Not only that, but
163
00:10:32.049 --> 00:10:35.129
I have a long journey ahead, so I'll need every
164
00:10:35.230 --> 00:10:38.389
bite I have. I'm going to visit the palace of
165
00:10:38.450 --> 00:10:39.490
the stork king.
166
00:10:40.070 --> 00:10:41.490
The stork cocked her head.
167
00:10:42.169 --> 00:10:43.929
The palace of the stork king?
168
00:10:44.690 --> 00:10:45.809
I know how to get there.
169
00:10:46.570 --> 00:10:48.340
If you let me perch on your shoulder.
170
00:10:49.019 --> 00:10:52.169
I'll show you the way. Maxim scoffed.
171
00:10:53.350 --> 00:10:58.509
You're joking, right? I'm already exhausted. How could I possibly
172
00:10:58.570 --> 00:11:02.830
carry a lanky bird like you on my shoulder? No way.
173
00:11:03.769 --> 00:11:04.409
All right.
174
00:11:05.090 --> 00:11:05.929
Suit yourself.
175
00:11:06.730 --> 00:11:10.049
And with that, the stork blinked her gray eyes, then
176
00:11:10.190 --> 00:11:13.700
spread both of her wings and flew away.
177
00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:15.879
Would you look at that?
178
00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:21.100
That bird flew away without any problem. Yet she tried
179
00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:23.580
to convince me she had an injured wing.
180
00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:25.240
What a phony.
181
00:11:26.220 --> 00:11:28.110
Good thing I didn't fall for her trick.
182
00:11:29.129 --> 00:11:31.389
Maxim took a bite of bread, then rose to his
183
00:11:31.429 --> 00:11:34.649
feet and resumed his journey through the thick green forest.
184
00:11:35.450 --> 00:11:38.570
Okay, so if I want to head east of the
185
00:11:38.649 --> 00:11:44.100
morning star, then I need to go this way. Or
186
00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:49.889
perhaps that way? Oh dear, this forest is so dense
187
00:11:49.929 --> 00:11:51.269
I've gotten all turned around.
188
00:11:52.470 --> 00:11:56.299
Maxim zigged and zagged, zagged and zigged until he found
189
00:11:56.340 --> 00:12:00.919
himself helplessly, hopelessly lost. He staggered over to a tree,
190
00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:10.929
curled up beneath it, then dropped off to sleep. Meanwhile,
191
00:12:11.090 --> 00:12:13.730
back at the farm, the rest of Maxim's family was
192
00:12:13.850 --> 00:12:17.799
patiently awaiting his return. But after a few days, the
193
00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:19.500
farmer was losing hope.
194
00:12:20.419 --> 00:12:26.480
Sasha, Yuri, it's been days, and Maxim has yet to return.
195
00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:28.899
I fear he never will.
196
00:12:29.659 --> 00:12:30.600
Don't you worry, Mother.
197
00:12:31.299 --> 00:12:34.110
I'll go out and look for him. Then he and
198
00:12:34.299 --> 00:12:36.289
I will go to the Stork King's palace together.
199
00:12:37.169 --> 00:12:42.129
Oh, I appreciate the offer, Yuri. But no, I need
200
00:12:42.169 --> 00:12:43.509
your help on the farm.
201
00:12:44.049 --> 00:12:45.429
She turned toward Sasha.
202
00:12:46.299 --> 00:12:50.350
Sasha, I want you to go out and find Maxim
203
00:12:51.129 --> 00:12:56.549
and the Stork King's palace, if you're able. Otherwise, we'll
204
00:12:56.590 --> 00:12:59.230
have some very hard times ahead.
205
00:13:00.649 --> 00:13:04.049
Like Maxim, Sasha wasn't too keen on heading into the
206
00:13:04.110 --> 00:13:07.620
Great Unknown, but she didn't want to starve either. So
207
00:13:07.659 --> 00:13:10.320
the next morning, she stuffed a boiled potato into a
208
00:13:10.360 --> 00:13:13.899
bag and headed east of the Morning Star. She wound
209
00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:17.700
up taking the exact same path Maxim had, traipsing through
210
00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:22.659
flower-covered meadows, walking across babbling brooks, trekking up and down
211
00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:26.019
grassy knolls, and before long she found herself in the
212
00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:30.620
same thick green forest. Like her brother before her, she
213
00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:33.799
found the rushing stream and stopped for a rest and
214
00:13:33.830 --> 00:13:36.850
a snack. But just as she was taking her boiled
215
00:13:36.950 --> 00:13:38.389
potato out of her bag.
216
00:13:39.169 --> 00:13:45.059
Excuse me, miss? Could you please share your potato with me?
217
00:13:45.779 --> 00:13:48.700
Sasha turned her head and wouldn't you know it, there
218
00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:52.519
was the same stork Maxim had seen with one of
219
00:13:52.580 --> 00:13:54.620
her wings dragging behind her.
220
00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:58.980
With this injured wing of mine, it's so hard to
221
00:13:59.019 --> 00:14:02.580
gather food. I'd appreciate just one bite.
222
00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:07.370
Now, you know what Maxim said to the stork, right? Well,
223
00:14:07.419 --> 00:14:10.990
as you can probably guess, Sasha was no different person.
224
00:14:11.730 --> 00:14:16.730
Not a chance, stork. I've been wandering all day and
225
00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:21.799
I am ravenous. Plus, I have a lengthy voyage ahead,
226
00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:25.480
so I'll need all the food I can get. I'm
227
00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:28.460
on my way to the palace of the stork king.
228
00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:32.059
The palace of the stork king? I know how to
229
00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:34.820
reach it. If you let me perch on your shoulder,
230
00:14:35.320 --> 00:14:36.320
I'll show you the way.
231
00:14:36.940
--> 00:14:38.360
Sasha rolled her eyes.
232
00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:40.200
Oh, come on.
233
00:14:41.970 --> 00:14:46.009
Do you really think I'm about to chauffeur around a big,
234
00:14:46.470 --> 00:14:52.669
unwieldy bird like you? It's a ride from someone else.
235
00:14:53.370 --> 00:14:54.330
Very well.
236
00:14:54.950 --> 00:14:55.690
Suit yourself.
237
00:14:56.549 --> 00:14:59.429
And with that, the stork took to the air and
238
00:14:59.669 --> 00:15:01.450
flew off. Ha!
239
00:15:02.029 --> 00:15:06.529
Get a load of that. That bird wasn't injured at all.
240
00:15:07.190 --> 00:15:10.289
Lucky for me, I didn't fall for her trick.
241
00:15:12.090 --> 00:15:14.629
Sasha took a bite of potato, then got to her
242
00:15:14.669 --> 00:15:18.750
feet and continued her journey through the thick green forest. But,
243
00:15:19.029 --> 00:15:20.870
just like her brother before her.
244
00:15:20.889 --> 00:15:26.220
Uh, if I'm trying to head east of the morning star,
245
00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:29.840
then I need to take this path.
246
00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:34.710
Or maybe that one?
247
00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:39.330
Sasha zigged and zagged, zagged and zigged, until she had
248
00:15:39.490 --> 00:15:43.950
no idea where she was. She stumbled over to a bush,
249
00:15:44.529 --> 00:15:53.769
snuggled up beside it, then drifted off to sleep. Meanwhile,
250
00:15:53.990 --> 00:15:57.169
back at the farm, the farmer was worried sick about
251
00:15:57.250 --> 00:16:02.169
Maxim and Sasha. So, once again, Yuri volunteered his services.
252
00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:05.179
I'll go out and find the mother. Maybe I'll find
253
00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:08.679
the store at King's Palace, too. Then we'll be doubly rewarded.
254
00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:15.059
I admire your confidence, Yuri. But you're all I have left.
255
00:16:15.659 --> 00:16:17.779
What if something happens to you out there?
256
00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:25.250
Look, Mother. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Please, let me do this.
257
00:16:26.970 --> 00:16:30.230
The farmer finally gave in. And early the next morning,
258
00:16:30.570 --> 00:16:32.789
Yuri stuffed half a head of cabbage into a bag
259
00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:37.519
and began journeying east of the morning star. As it happens,
260
00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:41.059
he took the exact same path his siblings did, and
261
00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:44.269
wound up in the thick green forest. And just as
262
00:16:44.309 --> 00:16:46.970
he paused by the stream for a rest and a snack,
263
00:16:47.429 --> 00:16:50.629
who should he see but the stork with the drooping wing?
264
00:16:52.169 --> 00:16:55.549
I beg your pardon, sir. Could you please share your
265
00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:56.629
cabbage with me?
266
00:16:57.480 --> 00:17:02.059
Now, you remember what Yuri's siblings told the stork, right? Well,
267
00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:05.859
as you can guess, Yuri's answer was completely different.
268
00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:09.859
Of course
I can share my cabbage. It must be
269
00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:13.079
hard to find food with an injured wing. So here,
270
00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:14.859
have as much as you want.
271
00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:16.220
Thank you.
272
00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:20.279
You are so kind. Yuri handed the stork his cabbage.
273
00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:22.440
The grateful bird took a nibble.
274
00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:25.529
So tell me, where are you off to?
275
00:17:26.029 --> 00:17:29.089
Well, I'm supposed to be looking for the palace of
276
00:17:29.109 --> 00:17:31.519
the stork king. so I can get a reward for
277
00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:34.599
the oxen he took from my family's farm. But I'm
278
00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:36.640
also trying to find my brother and sister.
279
00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:41.009
I don't know about your siblings, but I do know
280
00:17:41.069 --> 00:17:43.670
how to find the Sir King's Palace. If you let
281
00:17:43.710 --> 00:17:45.890
me perch on your shoulder, I'll show you the way.
282
00:17:46.990 --> 00:17:50.829
Now, we all know that Maxim scoffed at the bird's offer,
283
00:17:51.029 --> 00:17:54.230
as did Sasha. But Yuri sympathized.
284
00:17:54.789 --> 00:17:57.910
Of course I'll let you perch on my shoulder. Climb on.
285
00:17:58.890 --> 00:18:02.230
Yuri held out his shoulder. To his surprise, however, the
286
00:18:02.269 --> 00:18:06.309
bird did not climb on. Instead, she spread both her
287
00:18:06.369 --> 00:18:08.710
wings and motioned toward her back.
288
00:18:09.609 --> 00:18:12.569
Actually, how about if you climb on instead?
289
00:18:13.329 --> 00:18:17.490
Yuri was astonished and overjoyed. He slung a leg over
290
00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:20.960
the stork's back and they soared into the sky. They
291
00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:24.339
flew over mountains and rivers and plains and then, as
292
00:18:24.380 --> 00:18:28.460
they passed above a wide green valley... We're nearly there!
293
00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.660
Hold on tight!
294
00:18:30.490 --> 00:18:33.170
Yuri clung to the stork's neck as they dove downward.
295
00:18:33.690 --> 00:18:37.730
When they landed, towering above them was a magnificent palace
296
00:18:38.210 --> 00:18:43.000
with every last inch crafted from pure, sparkling silver.
297
00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:47.359
Here we are, the stork king's palace. This is where
298
00:18:47.380 --> 00:18:51.359
we part ways, my friend. But before I go, one
299
00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:54.769
piece of advice. When the stork king asks you what
300
00:18:54.809 --> 00:18:57.930
you want in exchange for the oxen... Tell him you
301
00:18:57.990 --> 00:19:01.190
want nothing more than what he puts under his pillow
302
00:19:01.390 --> 00:19:01.890
each night.
303
00:19:02.529 --> 00:19:06.460
What he puts under his pillow each night? All right.
304
00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:10.160
You've been so kind, so I'll do as you say.
305
00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:13.059
But will I ever find my brother and sister?
306
00:19:13.839
--> 00:19:15.039
If you put your cards right.
307
00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:19.549
And with those words, the stork spread her wings and
308
00:19:19.690 --> 00:19:25.329
flew away. Yuri knocked at the palace's silver door. A
309
00:19:25.349 --> 00:19:28.049
pair of stork guards let him in and ushered him
310
00:19:28.089 --> 00:19:31.400
into a great hall, where he found the stork king
311
00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:34.799
wearing a long silver robe and sitting high on a
312
00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:35.799
silver throne.
313
00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:40.140
You must be one of the farmer's children. I owe
314
00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:44.849
you for two oxen, and I always keep my word.
315
00:19:45.789 --> 00:19:49.269
So tell me, what would you like as payment?
316
00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:54.640
Yuri glanced around the grand room. He saw all sorts
317
00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:59.700
of riches. Silver platters on a silver table, silver candlesticks
318
00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:04.289
mounted on silver walls, a silver chandelier sparkling from the
319
00:20:04.420 --> 00:20:05.329
silver ceiling.
320
00:20:06.150 --> 00:20:09.089
I can see your palace is filled with many valuable things,
321
00:20:09.109 --> 00:20:11.720
Your Highness. But all I ask in return for the
322
00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:16.009
oxen is what you put under your pillow each night.
323
00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:19.450
The stork king's gray eyes grew dark.
324
00:20:20.170 --> 00:20:24.289
That is what you request? What I put under my
325
00:20:24.349 --> 00:20:26.890
pillow each night? Yes.
326
00:20:27.650 --> 00:20:29.539
Nothing more, nothing less.
327
00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:33.619
The stork king fell silent. It looked to Yuri as
328
00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:37.039
if he were gnashing his teeth, if storks had teeth.
329
00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:39.869
But then the king took a deep breath. and to
330
00:20:39.950 --> 00:20:41.509
let it out slowly.
331
00:20:44.529 --> 00:20:51.490
Very well. You may have what you ask for. Guards,
332
00:20:52.410 --> 00:20:54.890
bring this fellow his reward.
333
00:20:56.029 --> 00:20:58.710
The guards rushed out of the hall. When they returned,
334
00:20:58.990 --> 00:21:04.599
they handed Yuri a ring. A plain, round ring, not
335
00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:07.200
made of silver, but some other dull metal.
336
00:21:07.910 --> 00:21:12.119
Now take your reward and go, before I change my mind.
337
00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:15.240
Yuri stuffed the ring into his pocket and ran from
338
00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:18.480
the palace. Once he burst through the silver doors, he
339
00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:20.630
took out the ring and stared at it.
340
00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:25.630
Hmm. I wonder why the stork king was so upset
341
00:21:25.690 --> 00:21:27.029
about me taking this ring.
342
00:21:28.089 --> 00:21:31.789
Compared with the riches in his palace, it seems worthless.
343
00:21:33.089 --> 00:21:33.839
And here I was.
344
00:21:34.829 --> 00:21:37.730
thinking I would bring home something valuable enough to trade
345
00:21:37.750 --> 00:21:39.289
for two new oxen.
346
00:21:40.509 --> 00:21:43.339
Now all I have is this silly ring, and my
347
00:21:43.410 --> 00:21:49.180
brother and sister are still missing. Ugh, what a horrible fortune.
348
00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:51.799
I wish I could just be back at the farm,
349
00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:56.960
enjoying a delicious meal with my family, my entire family.
350
00:21:58.160 --> 00:22:00.039
I wish, oh, I wish, I wish.
351
00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:05.279
As Yuri fretted, He absentmindedly pushed the ring onto his
352
00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:08.869
finger and twisted it around. And the moment he did,
353
00:22:09.390 --> 00:22:12.970
do you know what happened? There was a flash of light.
354
00:22:14.490 --> 00:22:17.250
And next thing Yuri knew, he was back at his farm,
355
00:22:17.690 --> 00:22:21.009
sitting at his kitchen table. The table was piled high
356
00:22:21.069 --> 00:22:24.339
with delicious food, and clustered around it were none other
357
00:22:24.380 --> 00:22:28.140
than his mother and his siblings. They all looked just
358
00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:30.539
as surprised as Yuri was. Yuri! Yuri!
359
00:22:31.289 --> 00:22:31.910
You're back!
360
00:22:32.569 --> 00:22:36.589
And Maxim, Sasha, you've returned too!
361
00:22:38.329 --> 00:22:40.069
Oh, but how?
362
00:22:41.049 --> 00:22:44.089
And where did all this food come from?
363
00:22:44.690 --> 00:22:46.819
Maxim and Sasha were flummoxed.
364
00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:48.720
I have no idea, Mother.
365
00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:55.119
Me either. But as for Yuri, suddenly he knew exactly
366
00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:57.579
how they all came to be sitting in the kitchen
367
00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:01.480
gazing at this beautiful feast under the table. He gave
368
00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:04.539
the ring on his finger a quick turn. Then, under
369
00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:09.779
his breath, he made one more wish. The next day,
370
00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:13.549
when the farmer woke up, she was pleasantly surprised at
371
00:23:13.589 --> 00:23:17.190
what she found outside. Standing in the stable was an
372
00:23:17.269 --> 00:23:23.269
entire team of new oxen. And working in the fields
373
00:23:23.349 --> 00:23:28.250
were all three of her children. Yuri was plowing, Maxim
374
00:23:28.309 --> 00:23:33.210
was planting, and Sasha was harvesting. without a headache, backache,
375
00:23:33.369 --> 00:23:47.589
or earache to be found. Now it's your turn. If
376
00:23:47.730 --> 00:23:50.779
you had the Stork King's magic ring, and you could
377
00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:54.059
wish for anything at all, what would it be? Draw
378
00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:55.660
a picture of what it would look like if your
379
00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:58.319
wish came true. Then show your picture to someone you
380
00:23:58.359 --> 00:24:02.349
have fun with. And if you'd like, share it with us. Grown-ups,
381
00:24:02.369 --> 00:24:04.509
you
can snap a photo of your Circle Round fan
382
00:24:04.609 --> 00:24:14.779
and their artwork and email it to circleround at wbur.org.
383
00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:18.359
This week's episode, The Stork King, was adapted by me,
384
00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:22.539
Rebecca Shear. It was edited by Sophie Codner. Our original
385
00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:26.180
music and sound design is by Eric Shimalonis. Our artist
386
00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:29.619
is Sabina Hahn. Want to color while you listen? Sabina
387
00:24:29.640 --> 00:24:32.779
has drawn a black and white picture for all 200-plus
388
00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:35.089
Circle Round stories, and you can print them out and
389
00:24:35.289 --> 00:24:40.369
add your own colors. Grown-ups, visit our website, wbur.org, and
390
00:24:40.450 --> 00:24:47.230
click on Coloring Pages. And while you're at wbur.org, you
391
00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:50.420
can support our public radio podcast by joining the Circle
392
00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:53.720
Round Club. To show our thanks... We'll send you a
393
00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:58.140
CircleRound welcome box, weekly activity emails, a monthly newsletter. You'll
394
00:24:58.220 --> 00:25:01.559
also get early access to CircleRound events. Other benefits can
395
00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:06.509
include ad-free episodes, bite-sized bedtime stories, music education videos, and
396
00:25:06.549 --> 00:25:11.630
a personalized birthday message from me. Visit WBUR.org slash CircleRound
397
00:25:11.750 --> 00:25:15.410
and click CircleRound Club. Special thanks to this week's actors,
398
00:25:15.789 --> 00:25:20.019
Theodore Chin, Dave Edson, Kim Miller, Jessica Rau, Marion Toro,
399
00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:23.819
and Julian Lerner. Julian Lerner most recently starred in the
400
00:25:23.859 --> 00:25:26.799
reboot of The Wonder Years on ABC. Kids, you can
401
00:25:26.839 --> 00:25:30.269
hear Julian's voice in the PBS animated series Alma's Way.
402
00:25:34.170 --> 00:25:37.869
Our featured instrument this week was the hammered dulcimer. You
403
00:25:37.890 --> 00:25:41.089
can learn more about this trapezoid-shaped stringed instrument that you
404
00:25:41.170 --> 00:25:46.029
play with, yes, hammers, on our website. Again, that's WBUR.org
405
00:25:46.049 --> 00:25:51.369
slash CircleRound. Grown-ups, enjoy what you hear on CircleRound. then
406
00:25:51.450 --> 00:25:54.119
please help us spread the word by leaving a five-star
407
00:25:54.130 --> 00:25:57.359
review on your favorite podcast app, telling your friends about
408
00:25:57.400 --> 00:26:00.380
the show, and talking about us on social media. Our
409
00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:05.579
Facebook and Instagram handle is at CircleRoundPodcast. CircleRound is a
410
00:26:05.599 --> 00:26:15.609
production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station. I'm Rebecca Shear.
411
00:26:15.910 --> 00:26:22.650
Thanks for circling round with us. Now that you've made
412
00:26:22.670 --> 00:26:25.230
it to the end of this Circle Round episode, we
413
00:26:25.269 --> 00:26:29.930
want to know, what's your favourite Circle Round story? Thousands
414
00:26:29.970 --> 00:26:32.150
of fans just like you have been telling us about
415
00:26:32.170 --> 00:26:35.130
the Circle Round stories they like best. Take a listen.
416
00:26:35.579 --> 00:26:38.200
Maybe one of their favourites is one of yours too.
417
00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:44.119
My name's Inara. I live in England and I love
418
00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:49.680
Circle Round. My favourite story is a dozen loaves of bread.
419
00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:53.950
My favourite part is when the dozen loads of bread.
420
00:26:53.769 --> 00:26:55.440
Fly out the window, of course.
421
00:26:56.150 --> 00:26:57.230
My name is Lucy.
422
00:26:57.750 --> 00:26:58.490
I live in St.
423
00:26:58.609 --> 00:26:59.650
George, Utah.
424
00:26:59.970 --> 00:27:02.849
My favorite episode of Circle Round is Amos and the Ogre.
425
00:27:03.250 --> 00:27:05.890
I like the part where he prepares to do the
426
00:27:05.930 --> 00:27:07.589
big challenges with the ogre.
427
00:27:08.130 --> 00:27:11.650
My name is Aaron, and I live in Salt Lake,
428
00:27:11.690 --> 00:27:15.890
North Carolina. And my favorite Circle Round story is the
429
00:27:15.930 --> 00:27:17.970
dust up, because I like the purple.
430
00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:21.279
And all the animals run off to find water. My
431
00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:25.980
name is Evian, and I'm from Vermont. My favorite Circle
432
00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:31.299
Round story is A Taste of Honey because I like
433
00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:34.529
the poet went, Oh, can you do you believe how
434
00:27:34.589 --> 00:27:38.809
much gold we found today? Hi, my name is Lennox
435
00:27:39.130 --> 00:27:44.369
and I'm from Boston, Massachusetts. And my favorite Circle Round
436
00:27:44.789 --> 00:27:47.670
is The Princess and the Egg. And I like the
437
00:27:47.710 --> 00:27:52.599
part where the princess says to them, These flower pots
438
00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:58.609
contain honey. Roasted peas, roasted corn, and a few roasted chestnuts.
439
00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:03.910
My name is Vivian. I live in Austin, Texas. My
440
00:28:04.009 --> 00:28:09.910
favorite story is when the three-legged part says it's time
441
00:28:09.950 --> 00:28:12.029
to skip and skip and skip.
442
00:28:12.970 --> 00:28:16.690
Did someone mention a story you've missed? Not to worry. Grownups,
443
00:28:16.890 --> 00:28:19.470
you can find all of our Circle Round stories, plus
444
00:28:19.529 --> 00:28:22.619
links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages,
445
00:28:22.769 --> 00:28:27.480
and oh so much more on our website, wbur.org slash circleround.