TRANSKRIPT 🔗
WEBVTT
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Produced by the i-Lab at WBUR Boston.
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Have you ever needed help with something? If so, did
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you reach out and ask someone to lend a hand?
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In today's story, we'll meet a character who isn't very
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keen on asking for help, but he gets it in
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more ways than he ever imagined.
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BELL RINGS.
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I'm Rebecca Shearer, and welcome to Circle Round, where story
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time happens all the time. Today our story is called
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Every Other Friday. Versions of this tale originally come from Mexico.
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Some really great people came together to bring you our
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adaptation of this folktale, including Melora Hardin and Gilder Jackson. Grown-ups,
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you might know Emmy Award nominee Melora Hardin from The Office, Transparent,
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and Freeform's hit show The Bold Type, where she appears
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alongside real-life husband Gilder Jackson. This story also kicks off
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our special summer series with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and
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features musical accompaniment by BSO double bassist Ben Levy. And now,
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circle around, everyone, for Every Other Friday.
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¶ ¶.
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Not long ago, in a bustling town with a river
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flowing right down the middle, there lived a baker named Marco.
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Once upon a time, Marco ran his very own bakery.
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But while Marco's bake shop got many rave reviews, he
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never sold enough sweets and treats to make ends meet.
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So he had to close his doors and had struggled
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to make a living ever since. Marco lived with his
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aging mother, his ailing father, and his seven boisterous children
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in a cramped little house at the edge of town.
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As the weather grew colder and his family's bellies grew emptier,
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Marco knew he had to do something.
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Ah, I can't let my mother, father, and children starve.
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I guess I'll just go out into the streets and beg.
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Marco put on his worn-out shoes and shabby coat and
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walked through the town, his threadbare cap upturned in his hand.
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Pardon me, miss. Could you spare a coin
Load full transcript
or two? Sir,
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any chance you have some extra change?
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Some of the townspeople dropped a coin into Marco's cap.
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Most didn't. Desperate and sad, he kept wandering. Eventually, he
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found himself standing at the marble steps of a beautiful mansion.
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The grand building was owned by a rich and powerful countess,
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and as Marco stared up at the stately pillars and archways,
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the lofty towers and stained-glass windows, he suddenly heard.
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Excuse me!
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a voice.
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Sir, can I help you?
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Marco looked to see whose voice it was. And who
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should he spy rushing out the front door and hopping
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down the marble steps but the Countess herself? The aristocratic
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woman wore a frilly satin dress, lavish jewelry, and fancy
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leather boots with the highest heels Marco had ever seen.
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Oh, I hope I didn't startle you, sir. It's just
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that I saw you come trudging up the road just
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now and you looked so very sad. Oh, wait a minute.
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The Countess tilted her head.
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Do I know you?
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Marco felt his cheeks burn.
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No, ma'am, you don't know me. I'm just another nobody.
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Sorry to disturb you.
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He was about to turn on the heel of his
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worn-out shoe and shuffle away. But then.
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Wait! I do know you. You're Marco the Baker!
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Marco's body stiffened. No one knew him as Marco the
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Baker anymore. After all, he'd been forced to shut down
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his business so very long ago. Yes!
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You're Marco the baker!
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Wow!
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You know, Marco, your bread pudding was to die for. Oh,
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and your sweet corn cake? Unbelievable! What ever happened to
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your bakery?
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Marco looked at the ground and gave a shrug.
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Let's just say I had to close up shop.
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The countess frowned.
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Oh, I'm sorry to hear it. Do you think you'll
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ever open up a new one?
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Marco stared at the Countess. The truth was, he wanted
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to open a new bakery more than anything in the world,
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but he could never afford it.
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No, ma'am, I don't think I'll open a new bakery
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any time soon.
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Well, that's a shame. I would walk a thousand miles
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for one of your pecan shortbread cookies. Although not in
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these shoes, of course.
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The countess pointed to her fancy high-heeled boots. Marco tried
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to smile.
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I thank you for your kind words, madam, but I
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really should be going.
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Nonsense!
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The countess grabbed Marco's hand. He noticed that a dazzling
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ring encircled each one of her perfectly manicured fingers.
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Look, Marco, it seems you've fallen on hard times, and
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I want to help you. So please, come inside.
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Marco followed the elegant woman up the marble steps, through
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the front door, and into a cavernous room with vaulted
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ceilings and a crystal chandelier. The Countess motioned for Marco
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to sit down on a plush velvet chair.
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So tell me, who else lives with you in your home?
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You do have a home, don't you?
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Marco nodded.
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Luckily I do, though not a very big one. I
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share it with my frail old parents and my seven
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rambunctious kids.
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Wow, that's quite a full house. But good to know.
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Wait right here, please.
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The countess sashayed out of the room. Minutes later, she
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came breezing back in, trailed by a butler. The butler
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was holding a large sack.
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Inside this sack, Marco, you will find gifts for you,
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your mother, your father, and your seven rambunctious kids. I've
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packed some clothing, some groceries, some money. But before I
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give you these gifts, I need you to promise me
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one thing.
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Marco's heart raced.
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Of course, Countess. I'll do anything.
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Very well. I need you to promise me that you'll
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come back to my house every two weeks, on Fridays.
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Do that, and I will give you exactly what you
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and your family need.
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You have my word, Countess. I'll come back to your
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house every other Friday. Is there anything I can do
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to repay you?
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The Countess grinned.
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Perhaps you can bake me a batch of those pecan
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shortbread cookies someday. Now, take this sack back to your
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parents and kids. And good luck, Marco the Baker.
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For the first time in a long time, Marco had
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a spring in his step as he traveled back to
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his cramped little house at the edge of town. When
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he showed his family the clothing, groceries, and money the
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Countess gave him, His children squealed, and his parents clapped
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their weathered old hands with delight. Two weeks later, on
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a Friday afternoon, Marco made good on his promise to
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the Countess and returned to her mansion. But when he
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went bounding up the steps and wrapped the big iron
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knocker on the door, the butler told him the Countess
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was not at home.
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Oh, I thought for sure she'd be here. Well... Did
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she happen to leave a message for me, for Marco,
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the baker?
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The butler thought for a moment.
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Actually, she did. She told me I should give you this.
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The butler reached out a gloved hand and presented Marco
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with a small paper bag. When Marco opened the bag
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and peered inside, His eyes grew wide and his jaw dropped,
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because what he saw was nothing like he expected. Nothing
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at all. What do you think Marco found inside the
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Countess's paper bag? We'll find out what it was after
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a quick break. Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Shear.
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Today our story is called Every Other Friday. Before the break,
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Marco was down at the heels and begging on the
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streets when he encountered an elegant countess. The countess had
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loved the sweets and treats Marco made at his bakery
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before he went out of business. She invited Marco inside
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her mansion, then sent him home with a big sack
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of clothing, food, and money. The countess made Marco promise
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that he would return to her mansion every other Friday.
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In exchange, she would give him exactly what he and
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his family needed. So, two weeks later, Marco came back.
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The countess wasn't home, But she had instructed the butler
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to give Marco a small brown paper bag. And when
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Marco looked inside the bag, he was astounded to see
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one loaf of bread. He shook his head at the butler.
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I'm sorry, sir, but are you sure this is all
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the countess wanted you to give me? One loaf of bread?
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Indeed, sir, one loaf of bread.
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Marco was confused. Granted, the loaf of bread was beautiful,
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all fresh and crusty and perfectly round, but the countess
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knew that Marco had a very full house. Did she
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actually think one loaf of bread would be enough to
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feed him, his parents, and his seven children? And did
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she actually think it would last the family two whole weeks?
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Marco thanked the butler with a sigh, then started back
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toward his house. On the way, he came to the
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river that ran through the middle of town. Beside the
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river was a grain mill. Suddenly, Marco had an idea.
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He tipped his threadbare cap at the miller, who was
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hard at work grinding corn to make flour.
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Hello, ma'am. I wonder, could I please have some of
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your corn?
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The miller grinned.
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Of course.
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It's one silver coin for one bag of corn.
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I see.
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Marco scratched his chin.
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Unfortunately, I don't have any cash on me right now,
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but is there any chance you could trade me one
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bag of corn for this?
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Marco reached inside the paper bag and lifted out the
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loaf of bread the Countess had given him. The
miller's
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eyes widened when she saw how fresh, crusty, and perfectly
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round the loaf was.
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I'd be happy to trade you a bag of corn
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for such beautiful bread.
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Here you go.
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Once the trade was complete, Marco continued on his way.
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This bag of corn will go a whole lot farther
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than that silly loaf of bread would have. I can
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cook with this corn. I can bake with it. I
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can't say it'll last me and my family a whole
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two weeks, but it's worth a try.
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When Marco got home, he told his family everything that happened.
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His parents were puzzled.
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But, son, if the Countess wanted you to have one
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loaf of bread, you should have kept the one loaf
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of bread.
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Oh, Mother's right, Marco. The Countess was so.
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Generous back when you met her, sending you home with
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all those wonderful gifts. Why trade her latest gift away?
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Marco threw up his hands.
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Because that one loaf of bread wasn't enough to feed
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this family. The fancy schmancy countess obviously has no idea
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about how the other half lives. And we can't live
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by bread alone.
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Two Fridays later, Marco returned to the mansion. Once more,
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the countess was not at home.
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But she did tell me to give you this.
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Marco took the brown paper bag from the butler and
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looked inside.
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Again? Seriously? One loaf of bread? Indeed, sir.
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One loaf of bread.
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Marco thanked the butler and made a beeline for the mill.
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The miller seemed especially excited to see him.
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Let me guess. You'd like to trade one loaf of bread...
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For one bag of corn?
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Yes, indeed.
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Terrific! That bread is amazing.
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Here you go.
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This went on for months. Every other Friday, Marco would
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swing by the mansion, the Countess would not be home,
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and the butler would hand over a brown paper bag containing.
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One loaf of bread.
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Then Marco would trade the bread for corn from the miller, who,
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he noticed, seemed more and more thrilled to see him
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each time he showed up.
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You have no idea how much I love this bread.
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Here you go.
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Finally, the Friday arrived when Marco wrapped the big iron
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knocker on the mansion's front door. And who should answer?
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Marco!
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But the countess.
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My goodness! It's been forever since I saw you last.
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What are you doing here?
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Marco was perplexed by the Countess's question, but tried not
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to show it.
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Well, just like I promised you back when we met,
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I've been coming to your house every other Friday. You're
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never around, so the butler always gives me a brown
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paper bag containing one thing. loaf of bread.
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The Countess crinkled her forehead.
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Right.
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About that. May I ask, what have you been doing
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with all the bread I've given you?
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Marco didn't want to offend the Countess by admitting he'd
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been trading away the bread for something far more useful.
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What have I been doing with all the bread, you ask? Well,
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I've been taking it from the butler and thanking him
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for it, of course. Then, you know, going on my
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merry way.
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I see. Well, in that case.
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The countess pointed at Marco's worn-out shoes and shabby coat.
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Why are you still so poor and miserable?
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Marco could hardly believe his ears. He was still so
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poor and miserable because all the Countess had been giving
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him all this time was one measly loaf of bread.
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But he wasn't about to tell her that.
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I guess I'm still poor and miserable because such is
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my lot in life. I lost my bakery, and in
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the process, I guess I lost my way, too.
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--> 00:17:31.259
Marco hoped the Countess would be satisfied with his answer.
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He could tell from the gleam in her eye... That
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she wasn't.
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Well, Marco, if you truly went home with the bread
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I've been giving you, and you ate the bread I've
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been giving you, I'm certain you wouldn't be so poor
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and miserable anymore. And, I suspect, you'd find your way, too.
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By now, Marco was so befuddled he couldn't even answer.
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He just lifted his shoulder in a half shrug and
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tried to smile.
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All right. Listen to me, Marco. Today, I will give
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you another loaf of bread. But you must promise me
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that you'll eat it. Because if you don't, I will
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never help you and your family again. Do you promise?
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Marco was beyond bewildered. But what else could he say except.
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Yes. I promise.
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Then he hung his head and walked away from the
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mansion with yet another brown paper bag containing yet another
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loaf of bread tucked beneath his arm.
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What in the world is the Countess thinking? I can't
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go home and feed this bread to my family. In
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no time at all, it'll be gone. And then what
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do we do? Dance to the rhythm of our own
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grumbling bellies? No offense to my... Generous patron, but I'm
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taking this bread to the miller and trading it for corn.
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It's the most practical thing to do.
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But when Marco reached the river, he discovered that the
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mill was closed. He called out to the miller, who
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was outside packing up boxes.
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Hey there. Excuse me. Are you really closing up shop?
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When the miller spotted Marco, her cheeks blushed.
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Actually, yes.
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Would you believe I've managed to bring in so much
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money these past few months that I don't need to
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stay open anymore? I can retire. Thanks again for all
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the bread, by the way.
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As Marco continued home, his shoulders slumped.
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Oh.
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Man. Somehow the miller's made enough money to close her business,
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yet I can't make enough money to open a business.
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Oh, dear.
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I guess I'll just do as the countess said. I'll
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take this bread home and eat it.
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When Marco trudged through the door of his cramped little house,
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his mother and father gazed at him with concern.
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Why, the furrowed brow son, did your trip to the
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mansion go okay?
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Did you trade your loaf of bread for a bag
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of corn from the miller?
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Marco shook his head.
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Actually, no. The miller has gotten lucky and made enough
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money to close down her mill. So all I've brought
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home is the Countess's loaf of bread, which we'd better
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eat because if we don't, the Countess said she'll never
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help us again.
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Marco plopped down in a chair, then called his children
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to the table and began slicing into the fresh, crusty,
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perfectly round loaf of bread. But the moment he did,
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his knife hit something.
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What's going on here? There must be something stuck inside
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this loaf.
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Marco reached inside the bread and rooted around. Eventually, his
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hand found something hard and round. And when he pulled
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it out, do you know what it was?
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A gold coin.
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Marco held the coin up for his family to see.
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As the gold piece glittered and gleamed in the light,
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all of a sudden... Marco saw the light. Inside every fresh, crusty,
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perfectly round loaf of bread the countess had given him,
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she had hidden a gold coin. And when Marco traded
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those loaves to the miller, the miller wound up with
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all those gold coins. So instead of Marco collecting enough
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money to open a new business, the miller collected enough
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money to close hers. You may recall that when Marco
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first met the countess, The well-heeled and kind-hearted woman promised
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she would give him and his family exactly what they needed.
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And now, Marco finally understood that all this time, she was.
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Now it's your turn. What are some ways you can
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show kindness? Maybe you can write a thank you note
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or draw a picture for a local health care worker
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or delivery person. You can assist with a household chore.
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Or you can tell a family member or friend how
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much you love them. Dream up as many acts of
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kindness as you can. And then make your own kindness jar. First,
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have a grown-up help you write each of your acts
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of kindness on a slip of paper. Then put all
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the slips of paper into a jar. Reach into your
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kindness jar at least once a week. Do whatever act
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of kindness you pull out, and before long, you'll bring
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a whole lot of smiles to a whole lot of faces.
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This week's story, Every Other Friday, was adapted by me,
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Rebecca Scheer. It was edited by Circle Round's executive producer,
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Catherine Brewer. Our original music and sound design is by
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00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:32.339
Eric Shimalonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn. Sabina's drawn a
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black and white illustration for every Circle Round story, and
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you can print them out and color them in while
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you listen, or anytime. Ask a grown-up to visit our website, wbur.org
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slash circleround, and click on Soundtrack and Coloring Pages. Special
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thanks to this week's actors, Alexia Trainor, Chris Tucci, Eric Shimalonis,
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Dolores King-Williams, Melora Hardin, and Gildert Jackson. You grown-ups can
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check out Emmy Award nominee Melora Hardin in Freeform's hit dramedy,
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The Bold Type. Starring alongside her is real-life husband Gildert Jackson,
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who starred in Charmed and Whodunit and has voiced countless audiobooks.
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Our featured instrument this week was the double bass, played
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by Boston Symphony Orchestra member Benjamin Levy, who picked up
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his first bass when he was just nine years old.
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Ben did a really fun Zoom chat about the double
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bass with the BSO's Youth and Family Concerts conductor, Thomas Wilkins.
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To watch that video and to learn if the rumor
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is true about the double bass being the hardest instrument
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to play, check out our website. Again, that's WBUR.org slash
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Circle Round. Never want to miss an episode of Circle Round?
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00:24:47.509 --> 00:24:50.589
Ask a grown-up to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or whatever
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00:24:50.630 --> 00:24:54.690
podcast app they use. Circle Round is a production of WBUR,
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Boston's NPR news station. I'm Rebecca Shear. Thanks for circling
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round with us. One of the best things about creating
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Circle Round is hearing from listeners like you. Circle Round
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fans have been telling us about their favorite Circle Round stories,
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and we're excited to share some of their voices with
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you today.
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My name is Olivia, and I live in Berkeley Lake, Georgia.
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My favorite circle around is Stella and the Dragon. I
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00:25:28.829 --> 00:25:32.289
liked the part when Stella said she was big enough
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to hit the moon with the boulder. My name is Maris.
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My favorite circle around is the teen's face, and because
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he becomes teen. Hi, my name is Liesl. I live
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in Austin, Texas. And my favorite Circle Round is the
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Lion's Whisker because I like the part when the brother
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and sister share the meat.
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Did someone mention an episode you missed?
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No problem.
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You can find every single Circle Round story on our website.
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That's wbur.org slash Circle Round or wherever you and your
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grown-ups get your podcasts.