WEBVTT
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WBUR Podcasts, Boston. We'll start our story today with a riddle.
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You can live by me. You can keep me about you.
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But if you're not careful, you can also come to
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my end. What am I? The answer is your wits.
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When you live by your wits, you're using your cunning
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and cleverness. When you keep your wits about you, you're
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cautious and alert. But if you come to your wits end,
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you're desperate and don't know what to do next. Today's
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tale is all about wits, including a battle of wits,
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where the sharpest wit wins. I'm Rebecca Shear, and welcome
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to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time. Today,
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our story is called The Sharpest Tack. It's inspired by
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tales from many cultures, including the Apache and Lakota of
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North America and the Uyghur people of China. You'll also
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find versions from Turkey and across the Middle East. Some
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really great people came together to bring you our story,
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including Nagin Farsad and Stacey Vanik-Smith. Writer, director, comedian, and
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actor Nagin Farsad hosts the political comedy podcast Fake the Nation.
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You public radio fans will know her as a regular
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panelist on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, the NPR News Quiz.
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And you'll recognize longtime public radio reporter and host Stacey
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Vanek-Smith from Marketplace, Planet Money, and The Indicator from Planet Money.
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So circle around, everyone, for the sharpest tack. Everyone in
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the country knew that when it came to wit and wisdom,
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No one held a candle to Nasruddin. After all, Nasruddin
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was sharper than the sharpest tack, brighter than the brightest button,
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and slier than the slyest fox. No one had ever
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outwitted her, though they certainly had tried. One day, a
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newcomer arrived in Nasruddin's country. She was a merchant by trade,
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and a crafty one at that. Rather than play by
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the rules and conduct honest business... The merchant was always
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playing tricks on people to cheat them out of their money.
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All her life, the merchant had fancied herself to be
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the cleverest one around. So when she heard about the
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wonderfully witty Nasruddin, she was most displeased.
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Ugh, who does this Nasruddin character think she is? I've
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always been sharper than the sharpest tack, brighter than the
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brightest button, and slayer than the slyest fox. And now
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I am going to prove it.
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The merchant put on her finest shirt and pants, her
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fanciest velvet coat, her most expensive fur hat, and her
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shiniest leather boots. Then, garbed in all this splendid finery,
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she mounted her strongest, fastest horse and galloped off toward
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the city where Nasruddin lived. In a wide open field
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at the city's edge, the merchant halted her horse and
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hopped down. As she got to work building a campsite,
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She asked a farmer passing by to deliver a message
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in town.
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Find Nasruddin and tell her that I am a very
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important merchant who has very important business to discuss. Tell
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her she must travel to my campsite right away.
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It was nightfall by the time Nasruddin received the message,
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so the next morning she made a beeline for the
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campsite where the merchant was waiting. Nasruddin had heard people
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grumbling about the Wily ways and sneaky scams of a
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newly arrived merchant. So the moment she spied the woman's
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elegant attire and smug smirk, she instantly knew who she was.
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But she didn't let on.
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Greetings, madame. I am Nasruddin. Are you the very important
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merchant who wishes to see me?
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The merchant's smug smirk grew even smugger.
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Why, yes, Nasruddin, I am the very important merchant who
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wishes to see you. I am also a very successful merchant,
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as you can tell from my spectacular steed and glorious garb.
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The woman's utter lack of humility made Nasruddin's skin prickle,
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but she just nodded and grinned.
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Of course, madame, your horse is magnificent, as are your clothes.
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Clearly you are extraordinarily successful. But why summon me out here?
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What can I do for you?
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Well, Nasruddin, I am fairly new to these parts, but
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ever since I've arrived, I've been hearing about how quick
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you are, how clever, how sly, how smart, how slick.
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Word has it there's not a person on this earth
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whom you couldn't trick with your wit.
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Nasruddin shook her head. To be clear, madame, I don't
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use my wit to trick people. I use it to
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teach them important lessons. To show them how to be kinder,
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for instance. Or more understanding.
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Or.
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Yes, yes, yes, whatever. The point is, I hear you're
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able to outwit anyone. But I don't believe you can
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outwit me. In fact, I challenge you to try.
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Now remember, Nasruddin was sharper than the sharpest tack, brighter
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than the brightest button, and slyer than the slyest fox. So,
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quickly and quietly... She put her sharp, bright, sly mind
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to work on a plan.
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Well, madame, I am pleased to say that I accept
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your challenge. But I must admit, it looks like it's
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going to be a tough one. So, may I please
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go home first and get my box of tricks?
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The merchant wrinkled her brow.
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Your box of tricks? What do you mean?
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Well, with a woman as cunning and clever as you are...
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No simple trick will do. So I'll need my special
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box of tricks. It's bursting with brilliant ways to fool people.
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But here's the thing. My home is very far from here.
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May I please borrow your horse?
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The merchant hesitated. The horse was the fastest, strongest steed
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in her stable, and she had paid a pretty penny
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for it. But she was determined to show Nasruddin what's what.
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Fine, you may borrow my horse, but go easy on him,
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won't you?
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Of course, I'll be as gentle as can be.
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As Nostradine began walking toward the horse, she suddenly froze mid-stride.
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Oh dear, your horse looks rather nervous and jumpy. I
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don't think he likes me. Perhaps if you lend me
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your velvet coat and fur hat, the horse will believe I'm...
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The merchant.
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Thought this an odd request, but she was eager to
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see that box of tricks.
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Fine, here you go.
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The merchant pulled off her velvet coat and fur hat,
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and Nasruddin put them on. But as she was about
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to mount the horse, she hesitated again.
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Actually, your horse still looks really anxious. I don't think
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he's falling for my disguise. Maybe if you gave me
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your leather boots, too?
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My leather boots?
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The merchant sighed.
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All right, fine, take them.
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The increasingly impatient woman kicked off her leather boots and
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Nasruddin pulled them on. But she still didn't mount the horse.
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Gosh, your horse still looks kind of jittery. Perhaps if
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you gave me your shirt as well and your pants?
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The merchant didn't wish to strip down to her skivvies,
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but she was determined to see this box of tricks.
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So she grudgingly agreed. She took off her costly silk
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shirt and hand-sewn satin pants and handed them over. Now
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that Nasruddin was wearing all of the merchant's luxurious, elegant clothing,
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she finally climbed into the saddle of the merchant's strongest,
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fastest horse. Ah, that's much better.
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I am now ready to accept your challenge and prove
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that I can indeed trick you.
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And with that... Nasruddin gave the reins a tug and
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galloped off like the wind. The merchant sat at her
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campsite in her underwear, waiting to see how Nasruddin would
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use that box of tricks to outwit her. She waited
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one hour. She waited two hours. She waited many hours.
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And then, as the sun went down and the moon
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came up and the merchant shivered in the darkness... It
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finally became clear. She didn't have to wait to see
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how Nasruddin would use her box of tricks to outwit her.
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Because the sharp, bright, sly woman already had. Oh, how
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could I have been so foolish?
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But not to worry. I will find a way to
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get back at Nasruddin for what she's done. That rapscallion
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may have won this round. But next time we meet, I...
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shall even the score.
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What do you think the merchant will do next? Will
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she find a way to get revenge on Nasruddin? We'll
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find out after a quick break. I'm Rebecca Shear. Welcome
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back to Circle Round. Today, our story is called The
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Sharpest Tack. Before the break, Nasruddin tricked a cocky, conniving
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merchant into giving up a full suit of fancy clothing
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and a strong strapping horse. The merchant vowed to get revenge.
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And one day, many, many months later, it appeared she'd
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get her chance. She was working a new job by now.
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Word had spread of her devious ways as a merchant,
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so she gave up her business and got hired as
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a border guard. All day long, she waited in a
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little booth on the border, making sure travelers didn't smuggle
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any goods into her country. If someone tried sneaking in
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anything stolen... illegal or otherwise forbidden, and she caught them.
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She reported them to the police and took great pleasure
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in doing so. Thus, you can imagine the merchant-turned-guard's delight
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when she gazed out the window of her booth one
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day and spotted a familiar face approaching the border.
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It's that no-good scoundrel Nasruddin. Surely that scallywag is trying
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to smuggle something illegal across the border.
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And now.
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It's my chance to get revenge.
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The guard noticed Nasruddin was traveling by foot, and she
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was leading a donkey on a rope. Stacked on the
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donkey's back were heavy bales of straw. A scornful sneer
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spread across the guard's face as she motioned for Nasruddin
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to stop.
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Nasruddin, we meet again. I would say I'm glad to
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see you, but my days of dishonesty are far behind me, so...
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I dare not lie.
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Nostradine returned the guard's sneer with a smile.
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Well, madame, I, for one, am glad to see you.
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After your dishonesty forced you to give up your merchant business,
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I was worried you wouldn't land on your feet. But
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here you are, gainfully employed in spite of everything, and
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fully clothed.
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The guard rolled her eyes.
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Listen, Nasruddin, as much as I'd love to continue this chit-chat,
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I have a job to do. And given everything I
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know about you and your tricks, I want to make
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sure you're not attempting to smuggle any valuable goods across
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this border. I must search the donkey.
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Nasruddin shrugged.
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You are more than welcome to search this donkey, madame.
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But I can assure you, all you will find is straw,
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and there's nothing illegal about that.
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The guard rolled her eyes again and went to work
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pulling the straw bales apart. But even though she succeeded
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in making quite a mess, she did not succeed in
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finding anything suspicious.
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All right, Nasruddin, you appear to be fine this time.
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But if I see you again, you can bet I
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won't go easy on you.
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Well, as it happens, the guard did see Nasruddin again
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one short week later. Nasruddin was back at the border,
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once again leading a donkey laden with straw bales. The
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guard's eyes danced with disdain.
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You're back. Surely you have a trick up your sleeve
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this time, Nasruddin. But you can't fool me. I've brought
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some help.
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She snapped her fingers, and a team of assistants came
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bustling over. Together, they got to work tearing the straw
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bales to shreds. But once again... They found nothing suspicious.
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And once again, the annoyed guard had to allow Nasruddin
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to pass.
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You may proceed, but I'll get you next time. You'll see.
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Well, that next time came yet another week later. Once more,
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Nasruddin appeared, leading a donkey carrying bales of straw. But
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once more, the frustrated guard had to allow Nasruddin to pass.
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You may proceed, but I'll get you next time.
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The same scene played out the week after that.
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You may proceed.
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And the week after that. You may proceed. And the
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week after that.
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You may proceed.
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The guard was growing more and more frustrated. Nasruddin, on
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the other hand, seemed cool as a cucumber. Each time
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the guard and her team tore the straw bales apart,
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Nasruddin just stood off to the side, with her arms
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crossed and an amused glint in her eyes. Eventually, a
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year went by. But even though the routine never changed—
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Nasruddin showed up with a donkey, the guard conducted another
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fruitless search— one thing did change. Nasruddin appeared to grow wealthier.
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Her clothing got more lavish, and bright, sparkling jewels began
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to appear around her neck, wrists, and fingers— And yet,
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every time the guard and her team searched Nasruddin's donkey,
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they found nothing suspicious.
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You may proceed.
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Eventually, the day came when Nasruddin stopped showing up at
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the border. The guard couldn't get Nasruddin out of her mind.
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So one day after work, she traveled to Nasruddin's house.
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When she knocked on the door, a butler led her
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to a spacious courtyard where fountains sprayed, peacocks strutted, and
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exotic plants grew from gleaming marble pots. Standing in the
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midst of all this splendor was Nostradine, wearing an embroidered
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silk gown, glittering diamond earrings, and a broad grin.
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Well, hello, my friend. It's been a long time since
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I saw you last. Please sit down and tell me,
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to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?
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Nostradine swept over to a buttery leather sofa and sat down.
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The guard joined her.
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Well, Nastrudine, you're right. It has been a long time.
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But since I last laid eyes on you, curiosity has
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burned a hole in my heart. So, I have come
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to ask you a question.
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A question?
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What, like a riddle? Are you here to test my
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cleverness again?
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Nothing of the sort. It's just, all those years you
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came to the border leading a donkey and it... It
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seemed like you weren't smuggling a thing.
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Yet, look at you! You're living like a queen!
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I'm certain you must have been sneaking in something. But
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what was it?
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Nasruddin was quiet for a moment. Then she gave the
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guard a nod.
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The truth is, you're right. All those years when you
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saw me coming to the border, leading a donkey... and
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you painstakingly searched through all those bales of straw, I
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was smuggling something.
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I knew it!
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I knew you were smuggling something! But I shall never
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rest in peace until I know what it was. So
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tell me, I beg you, what were you smuggling across
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the border?
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Nostradine leaned back on the sofa. She folded her arms
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across her chest. Then she looked the guard squarely in
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the face. And with a smile that stretched from ear
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to sparkling ear, she answered the desperate woman's question with
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one simple word.
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Donkeys!
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Nasruddin's revelation hit the guard like a lightning bolt. It
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was the donkeys that had been forbidden. All this time,
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the answer had been right in front of her. Yet
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she was nowhere near clever enough to see it. And
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thus it came to pass that Nasruddin used her wits
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to teach an important lesson yet again. Because the merchant-turned-guard
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now knew that if you really want to be sharper
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than the sharpest tack, brighter than the brightest button, and
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00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:21.980
slyer than the slyest fox, a little bit of humility
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can go a long way.
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The End.
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Now it's your turn. Now that you've heard this story,
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grab a buddy or a family member and go back
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and listen to our other Nasruddin episodes, The Fire Within
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and The Unwelcome Guest. You can also read our book,
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The Tale of the Unwelcome Guest. You can find links
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to all of them on our website, wbur.org slash circleround.
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When you're done, ask yourself the following questions. First, what
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lessons is Nasruddin trying to teach in each story? And second,
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if you were Nasruddin... Can you think of another witty
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way to teach these lessons? Share your answers with your buddy,
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00:19:06.750 --> 00:19:08.490
then see if they can come up with even more
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ideas from their own box of tricks. This week's episode,
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The Sharpest Tack, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear. It
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00:19:18.410 --> 00:19:22.380
was edited by Sophie Codner. Our original music and sound
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design is by Eric Shemelonis. Our artist is Sabina Hans.
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Sabina has created a really fun black and white picture
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for all of our Circle Round stories, and you can
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print them out and color them in. Grown-ups, visit our website, wbur.org
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slash circleround, and click on Coloring Pages. Special thanks to
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00:19:40.470 --> 00:19:46.130
this week's actors, Nagin Farsad and Stacey Vanek-Smith. Writer, director, comedian,
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00:19:46.150 --> 00:19:49.190
and actor Nagin Farsad hosts the political comedy podcast Fake
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00:19:49.250 --> 00:19:51.990
the Nation. If you're a public radio fan, you'll recognize
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00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:54.099
her as a regular panelist on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me,
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00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:57.819
the NPR news quiz. And you'll know longtime reporter and
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00:19:57.880 --> 00:20:01.500
host Stacey Vanek-Smith from such public radio shows as Marketplace,
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00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:04.960
Planet Money, and The Indicator from Planet Money. She's also
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00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:08.750
the author of Machiavelli for Women, Defend Your Worth, grow
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00:20:08.769 --> 00:20:13.049
your ambition, and win the workplace. Our featured instrument this
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week was the oud. You can learn more about this
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00:20:15.690 --> 00:20:18.650
Middle Eastern lute and see a photo of Eric Shimalonis
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00:20:18.710 --> 00:20:23.630
playing it on our website. Again, that's wbur.org slash circleround.
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And while you're at wbur.org slash circleround, you can find
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00:20:28.099 --> 00:20:30.960
all sorts of other cool stuff, like information about our
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00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:33.519
live events, how to get your hands on our circleround
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00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:36.410
picture books, and how you can support your favorite public
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radio podcast by joining the Circle Round Club. To show
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our thanks, we'll send you a welcome box with special
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Circle Round goodies, plus weekly activity emails, monthly newsletters, and
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early access to live Circle Round shows. You can also
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00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:54.900
get ad-free episodes, bite-sized bedtime stories, music education videos, and
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00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:59.400
a personalized birthday message from me. Visit wbur.org slash Circle
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00:20:59.420 --> 00:21:02.710
Round and click Circle Round Club. Grownups, if you enjoy
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00:21:02.789 --> 00:21:06.049
Circle Round, please leave us a five-star review on your
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favorite podcast app. It helps other listeners find the show.
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00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:11.859
We also invite you to spread the Circle Round love
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00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:15.200
on social media. Our handle on Facebook and Instagram is
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00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:19.779
at Circle Round Podcast. 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. Now that you've made it to the
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end of this Circle Round episode, we want to know,
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what's your favorite Circle Round story? Thousands of fans just
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00:21:38.529 --> 00:21:40.529
like you have been telling us about the Circle Round
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00:21:40.589 --> 00:21:43.730
stories they like best. Take a listen. Maybe one of
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00:21:43.789 --> 00:21:45.869
their favorites is one of yours, too.
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Hello, my name is Athena.
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I live in Portland, Oregon.
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00:21:50.630 --> 00:21:53.680
And my favorite Circle Round story is a three-legged pot.
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00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:59.250
I like the part when the three-legged pot skips Felix
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to the North Pole.
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00:22:01.490 --> 00:22:02.970
My name is Sais.
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00:22:03.589 --> 00:22:08.269
I live in Arlington, Massachusetts. And my favorite Circle Round
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00:22:08.329 --> 00:22:11.690
story is the Troop of Ten because I like the
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00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:16.299
part when they all walk in with black eggplants on
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00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:20.559
their left hand. Good luck and have a nice year.
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00:22:21.190 --> 00:22:24.609
My name is Bailey. I live in Los Angeles. My
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00:22:24.670 --> 00:22:28.269
favorite circle around story is The Clockbird. I like the
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00:22:28.309 --> 00:22:32.990
part when The Clockbird thinks about his heart and he
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00:22:33.069 --> 00:22:35.339
thinks about his friends.
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My name is Presley and my favorite circle around story
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00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:43.079
is The Horse of a Different Color. Why I like
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00:22:43.099 --> 00:22:45.599
it is because the girl wins.
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00:22:46.359 --> 00:22:50.329
Hi, my name is Olivia and I live at Amherst,
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00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:55.089
New York. Outside Buffalo, and my favorite circle round story
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00:22:55.250 --> 00:22:58.609
is The Bird of a Different Feather because I like
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00:22:58.690 --> 00:23:03.329
the part where Gideon says, school hug! My name is Olive,
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00:23:03.569 --> 00:23:07.710
and I live in West Virginia. My favorite circle round
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00:23:07.890 --> 00:23:12.670
is Amos and the Ogre. My favorite part is when
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00:23:13.089 --> 00:23:16.349
the ogre says, ready to get your butt smacked.
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00:23:16.970 --> 00:23:23.319
My name is Lyrax. I'm from Alaska, and my favorite
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00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:27.730
story is The Little Blue Pebble, and my favorite part
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is when the Susan found the pebble from the moth.
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Dear Choco Run, I love this story because it was
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00:23:36.210 --> 00:23:39.680
a great story. It's one of my favorite stories. I
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00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:43.740
love when you make cool stories and cool snuggle time stories.
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Love, Idiot.
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P.S.
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It's the best story ever.
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00:23:49.769 --> 00:23:51.670
Did someone mention a story you've missed?
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Not to worry.
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00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:55.799
Grown-ups, you can find all of our Circle Round stories,
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00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:59.440
plus links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages,
383
00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:04.259
and oh so much more on our website, wbur.org slash circleround.
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00:00:01.439 --> 00:00:12.330
WBUR Podcasts, Boston. We'll start our story today with a riddle.
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00:00:13.269 --> 00:00:16.829
You can live by me. You can keep me about you.
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00:00:17.429 --> 00:00:20.289
But if you're not careful, you can also come to
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00:00:20.370 --> 00:00:25.649
my end. What am I? The answer is your wits.
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00:00:27.510 --> 00:00:30.449
When you live by your wits, you're using your cunning
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00:00:30.530 --> 00:00:33.289
and cleverness. When you keep your wits about you, you're
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00:00:33.390 --> 00:00:36.929
cautious and alert. But if you come to your wits end,
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00:00:37.109 --> 00:00:40.679
you're desperate and don't know what to do next. Today's
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00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:44.200
tale is all about wits, including a battle of wits,
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00:00:44.619 --> 00:00:51.240
where the sharpest wit wins. I'm Rebecca Shear, and welcome
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00:00:51.259 --> 00:00:55.380
to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time. Today,
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00:00:55.520 --> 00:00:58.979
our story is called The Sharpest Tack. It's inspired by
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00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:02.399
tales from many cultures, including the Apache and Lakota of
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North America and the Uyghur people of China. You'll also
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00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:10.109
find versions from Turkey and across the Middle East. Some
16
00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:12.480
really great people came together to bring you our story,
17
00:01:12.620 --> 00:01:17.290
including Nagin Farsad and Stacey Vanik-Smith. Writer, director, comedian, and
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00:01:17.489 --> 00:01:21.430
actor Nagin Farsad hosts the political comedy podcast Fake the Nation.
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00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:23.939
You public radio fans will know her as a regular
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00:01:23.980 --> 00:01:26.640
panelist on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, the NPR News Quiz.
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00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:30.609
And you'll recognize longtime public radio reporter and host Stacey
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00:01:30.629 --> 00:01:34.530
Vanek-Smith from Marketplace, Planet Money, and The Indicator from Planet Money.
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00:01:36.609 --> 00:01:46.959
So circle around, everyone, for the sharpest tack. Everyone in
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the country knew that when it came to wit and wisdom,
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No one held a candle to Nasruddin. After all, Nasruddin
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was sharper than the sharpest tack, brighter than the brightest button,
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00:02:00.109 --> 00:02:04.069
and slier than the slyest fox. No one had ever
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00:02:04.189 --> 00:02:08.509
outwitted her, though they certainly had tried. One day, a
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newcomer arrived in Nasruddin's country. She was a merchant by trade,
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and a crafty one at that. Rather than play by
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00:02:16.229 --> 00:02:20.199
the rules and conduct honest business... The merchant was always
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playing tricks on people to cheat them out of their money.
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All her life, the merchant had fancied herself to be
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the cleverest one around. So when she heard about the
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wonderfully witty Nasruddin, she was most displeased.
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Ugh, who does this Nasruddin character think she is? I've
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always been sharper than the sharpest tack, brighter than the
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brightest button, and slayer than the slyest fox. And now
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I am going to prove it.
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The merchant put on her finest shirt and pants, her
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fanciest velvet coat, her most expensive fur hat, and her
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shiniest leather boots. Then, garbed in all this splendid finery,
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she mounted her strongest, fastest horse and galloped off toward
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the city where Nasruddin lived. In a wide open field
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00:03:10.580 --> 00:03:13.379
at the city's edge, the merchant halted her horse and
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hopped down. As she got to work building a campsite,
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She asked a farmer passing by to deliver a message
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in town.
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Find Nasruddin and tell her that I am a very
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important merchant who has very important business to discuss. Tell
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her she must travel to my campsite right away.
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It was nightfall by the time Nasruddin received the message,
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so the next morning she made a beeline for the
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campsite where the merchant was waiting. Nasruddin had heard people
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grumbling about the Wily ways and sneaky scams of a
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newly arrived merchant. So the moment she spied the woman's
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00:03:52.289 --> 00:03:57.599
elegant attire and smug smirk, she instantly knew who she was.
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But she didn't let on.
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Greetings, madame. I am Nasruddin. Are you the very important
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merchant who wishes to see me?
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The merchant's smug smirk grew even smugger.
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Why, yes, Nasruddin, I am the very important merchant who
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wishes to see you. I am also a very successful merchant,
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as you can tell from my spectacular steed and glorious garb.
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The woman's utter lack of humility made Nasruddin's skin prickle,
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00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:33.459
but she just nodded and grinned.
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Of course, madame, your horse is magnificent, as are your clothes.
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Clearly you are extraordinarily successful. But why summon me out here?
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What can I do for you?
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00:04:47.459 --> 00:04:50.720
Well, Nasruddin, I am fairly new to these parts, but
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00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:53.860
ever since I've arrived, I've been hearing about how quick
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00:04:53.899 --> 00:04:57.720
you are, how clever, how sly, how smart, how slick.
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Word has it there's not a person on this earth
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whom you couldn't trick with your wit.
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Nasruddin shook her head. To be clear, madame, I don't
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use my wit to trick people. I use it to
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teach them important lessons. To show them how to be kinder,
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for instance. Or more understanding.
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Or.
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Yes, yes, yes, whatever. The point is, I hear you're
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able to outwit anyone. But I don't believe you can
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outwit me. In fact, I challenge you to try.
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Now remember, Nasruddin was sharper than the sharpest tack, brighter
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00:05:36.360 --> 00:05:40.730
than the brightest button, and slyer than the slyest fox. So,
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quickly and quietly... She put her sharp, bright, sly mind
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to work on a plan.
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Well, madame, I am pleased to say that I accept
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your challenge. But I must admit, it looks like it's
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going to be a tough one. So, may I please
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go home first and get my box of tricks?
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The merchant wrinkled her brow.
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Your box of tricks? What do you mean?
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Well, with a woman as cunning and clever as you are...
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No simple trick will do. So I'll need my special
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box of tricks. It's bursting with brilliant ways to fool people.
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But here's the thing. My home is very far from here.
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May I please borrow your horse?
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The merchant hesitated. The horse was the fastest, strongest steed
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in her stable, and she had paid a pretty penny
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for it. But she was determined to show Nasruddin what's what.
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Fine, you may borrow my horse, but go easy on him,
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won't you?
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Of course, I'll be as gentle as can be.
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As Nostradine began walking toward the horse, she suddenly froze mid-stride.
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Oh dear, your horse looks rather nervous and jumpy. I
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don't think he likes me. Perhaps if you lend me
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your velvet coat and fur hat, the horse will believe I'm...
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The merchant.
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Thought this an odd request, but she was eager to
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see that box of tricks.
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Fine, here you go.
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The merchant pulled off her velvet coat and fur hat,
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and Nasruddin put them on. But as she was about
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to mount the horse, she hesitated again.
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Actually, your horse still looks really anxious. I don't think
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he's falling for my disguise. Maybe if you gave me
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your leather boots, too?
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My leather boots?
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The merchant sighed.
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All right, fine, take them.
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The increasingly impatient woman kicked off her leather boots and
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Nasruddin pulled them on. But she still didn't mount the horse.
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Gosh, your horse still looks kind of jittery. Perhaps if
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you gave me your shirt as well and your pants?
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The merchant didn't wish to strip down to her skivvies,
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but she was determined to see this box of tricks.
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So she grudgingly agreed. She took off her costly silk
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shirt and hand-sewn satin pants and handed them over. Now
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that Nasruddin was wearing all of the merchant's luxurious, elegant clothing,
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she finally climbed into the saddle of the merchant's strongest,
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fastest horse. Ah, that's much better.
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I am now ready to accept your challenge and prove
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that I can indeed trick you.
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And with that... Nasruddin gave the reins a tug and
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galloped off like the wind. The merchant sat at her
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campsite in her underwear, waiting to see how Nasruddin would
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use that box of tricks to outwit her. She waited
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one hour. She waited two hours. She waited many hours.
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And then, as the sun went down and the moon
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came up and the merchant shivered in the darkness... It
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finally became clear. She didn't have to wait to see
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how Nasruddin would use her box of tricks to outwit her.
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Because the sharp, bright, sly woman already had. Oh, how
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could I have been so foolish?
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But not to worry. I will find a way to
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get back at Nasruddin for what she's done. That rapscallion
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may have won this round. But next time we meet, I...
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shall even the score.
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What do you think the merchant will do next? Will
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she find a way to get revenge on Nasruddin? We'll
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find out after a quick break. I'm Rebecca Shear. Welcome
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back to Circle Round. Today, our story is called The
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Sharpest Tack. Before the break, Nasruddin tricked a cocky, conniving
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merchant into giving up a full suit of fancy clothing
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and a strong strapping horse. The merchant vowed to get revenge.
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And one day, many, many months later, it appeared she'd
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get her chance. She was working a new job by now.
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Word had spread of her devious ways as a merchant,
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so she gave up her business and got hired as
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a border guard. All day long, she waited in a
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little booth on the border, making sure travelers didn't smuggle
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any goods into her country. If someone tried sneaking in
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anything stolen... illegal or otherwise forbidden, and she caught them.
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She reported them to the police and took great pleasure
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in doing so. Thus, you can imagine the merchant-turned-guard's delight
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when she gazed out the window of her booth one
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day and spotted a familiar face approaching the border.
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It's that no-good scoundrel Nasruddin. Surely that scallywag is trying
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to smuggle something illegal across the border.
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And now.
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It's my chance to get revenge.
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The guard noticed Nasruddin was traveling by foot, and she
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was leading a donkey on a rope. Stacked on the
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donkey's back were heavy bales of straw. A scornful sneer
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spread across the guard's face as she motioned for Nasruddin
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to stop.
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Nasruddin, we meet again. I would say I'm glad to
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see you, but my days of dishonesty are far behind me, so...
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I dare not lie.
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Nostradine returned the guard's sneer with a smile.
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Well, madame, I, for one, am glad to see you.
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After your dishonesty forced you to give up your merchant business,
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I was worried you wouldn't land on your feet. But
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here you are, gainfully employed in spite of everything, and
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fully clothed.
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The guard rolled her eyes.
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Listen, Nasruddin, as much as I'd love to continue this chit-chat,
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I have a job to do. And given everything I
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know about you and your tricks, I want to make
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sure you're not attempting to smuggle any valuable goods across
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this border. I must search the donkey.
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Nasruddin shrugged.
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You are more than welcome to search this donkey, madame.
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But I can assure you, all you will find is straw,
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and there's nothing illegal about that.
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The guard rolled her eyes again and went to work
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pulling the straw bales apart. But even though she succeeded
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in making quite a mess, she did not succeed in
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finding anything suspicious.
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All right, Nasruddin, you appear to be fine this time.
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But if I see you again, you can bet I
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won't go easy on you.
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Well, as it happens, the guard did see Nasruddin again
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one short week later. Nasruddin was back at the border,
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once again leading a donkey laden with straw bales. The
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guard's eyes danced with disdain.
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You're back. Surely you have a trick up your sleeve
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this time, Nasruddin. But you can't fool me. I've brought
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some help.
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She snapped her fingers, and a team of assistants came
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bustling over. Together, they got to work tearing the straw
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bales to shreds. But once again... They found nothing suspicious.
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And once again, the annoyed guard had to allow Nasruddin
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to pass.
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You may proceed, but I'll get you next time. You'll see.
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Well, that next time came yet another week later. Once more,
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Nasruddin appeared, leading a donkey carrying bales of straw. But
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once more, the frustrated guard had to allow Nasruddin to pass.
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You may proceed, but I'll get you next time.
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The same scene played out the week after that.
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You may proceed.
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And the week after that. You may proceed. And the
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week after that.
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You may proceed.
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The guard was growing more and more frustrated. Nasruddin, on
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the other hand, seemed cool as a cucumber. Each time
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the guard and her team tore the straw bales apart,
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Nasruddin just stood off to the side, with her arms
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crossed and an amused glint in her eyes. Eventually, a
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year went by. But even though the routine never changed—
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Nasruddin showed up with a donkey, the guard conducted another
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fruitless search— one thing did change. Nasruddin appeared to grow wealthier.
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Her clothing got more lavish, and bright, sparkling jewels began
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to appear around her neck, wrists, and fingers— And yet,
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every time the guard and her team searched Nasruddin's donkey,
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they found nothing suspicious.
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You may proceed.
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Eventually, the day came when Nasruddin stopped showing up at
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the border. The guard couldn't get Nasruddin out of her mind.
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So one day after work, she traveled to Nasruddin's house.
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When she knocked on the door, a butler led her
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to a spacious courtyard where fountains sprayed, peacocks strutted, and
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exotic plants grew from gleaming marble pots. Standing in the
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midst of all this splendor was Nostradine, wearing an embroidered
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silk gown, glittering diamond earrings, and a broad grin.
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Well, hello, my friend. It's been a long time since
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I saw you last. Please sit down and tell me,
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to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?
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Nostradine swept over to a buttery leather sofa and sat down.
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The guard joined her.
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Well, Nastrudine, you're right. It has been a long time.
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But since I last laid eyes on you, curiosity has
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burned a hole in my heart. So, I have come
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to ask you a question.
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A question?
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What, like a riddle? Are you here to test my
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cleverness again?
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Nothing of the sort. It's just, all those years you
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came to the border leading a donkey and it... It
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seemed like you weren't smuggling a thing.
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Yet, look at you! You're living like a queen!
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I'm certain you must have been sneaking in something. But
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what was it?
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Nasruddin was quiet for a moment. Then she gave the
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guard a nod.
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The truth is, you're right. All those years when you
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saw me coming to the border, leading a donkey... and
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you painstakingly searched through all those bales of straw, I
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was smuggling something.
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I knew it!
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I knew you were smuggling something! But I shall never
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rest in peace until I know what it was. So
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tell me, I beg you, what were you smuggling across
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the border?
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Nostradine leaned back on the sofa. She folded her arms
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across her chest. Then she looked the guard squarely in
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the face. And with a smile that stretched from ear
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to sparkling ear, she answered the desperate woman's question with
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one simple word.
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Donkeys!
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Nasruddin's revelation hit the guard like a lightning bolt. It
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was the donkeys that had been forbidden. All this time,
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the answer had been right in front of her. Yet
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she was nowhere near clever enough to see it. And
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thus it came to pass that Nasruddin used her wits
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to teach an important lesson yet again. Because the merchant-turned-guard
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now knew that if you really want to be sharper
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than the sharpest tack, brighter than the brightest button, and
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slyer than the slyest fox, a little bit of humility
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can go a long way.
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The End.
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Now it's your turn. Now that you've heard this story,
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grab a buddy or a family member and go back
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and listen to our other Nasruddin episodes, The Fire Within
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and The Unwelcome Guest. You can also read our book,
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The Tale of the Unwelcome Guest. You can find links
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to all of them on our website, wbur.org slash circleround.
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When you're done, ask yourself the following questions. First, what
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lessons is Nasruddin trying to teach in each story? And second,
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if you were Nasruddin... Can you think of another witty
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way to teach these lessons? Share your answers with your buddy,
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then see if they can come up with even more
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ideas from their own box of tricks. This week's episode,
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The Sharpest Tack, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear. It
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was edited by Sophie Codner. Our original music and sound
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design is by Eric Shemelonis. Our artist is Sabina Hans.
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Sabina has created a really fun black and white picture
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for all of our Circle Round stories, and you can
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print them out and color them in. Grown-ups, visit our website, wbur.org
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slash circleround, and click on Coloring Pages. Special thanks to
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this week's actors, Nagin Farsad and Stacey Vanek-Smith. Writer, director, comedian,
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and actor Nagin Farsad hosts the political comedy podcast Fake
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the Nation. If you're a public radio fan, you'll recognize
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her as a regular panelist on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me,
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the NPR news quiz. And you'll know longtime reporter and
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host Stacey Vanek-Smith from such public radio shows as Marketplace,
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Planet Money, and The Indicator from Planet Money. She's also
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the author of Machiavelli for Women, Defend Your Worth, grow
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your ambition, and win the workplace. Our featured instrument this
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week was the oud. You can learn more about this
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Middle Eastern lute and see a photo of Eric Shimalonis
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playing it on our website. Again, that's wbur.org slash circleround.
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And while you're at wbur.org slash circleround, you can find
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all sorts of other cool stuff, like information about our
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live events, how to get your hands on our circleround
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picture books, and how you can support your favorite public
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radio podcast by joining the Circle Round Club. To show
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our thanks, we'll send you a welcome box with special
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Circle Round goodies, plus weekly activity emails, monthly newsletters, and
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early access to live Circle Round shows. You can also
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get ad-free episodes, bite-sized bedtime stories, music education videos, and
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a personalized birthday message from me. Visit wbur.org slash Circle
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Round and click Circle Round Club. Grownups, if you enjoy
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Circle Round, please leave us a five-star review on your
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favorite podcast app. It helps other listeners find the show.
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We also invite you to spread the Circle Round love
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on social media. Our handle on Facebook and Instagram is
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at Circle Round Podcast. 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. Now that you've made it to the
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end of this Circle Round episode, we want to know,
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what's your favorite Circle Round story? Thousands of fans just
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like you have been telling us about the Circle Round
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stories they like best. Take a listen. Maybe one of
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their favorites is one of yours, too.
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Hello, my name is Athena.
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I live in Portland, Oregon.
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And my favorite Circle Round story is a three-legged pot.
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I like the part when the three-legged pot skips Felix
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to the North Pole.
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My name is Sais.
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I live in Arlington, Massachusetts. And my favorite Circle Round
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story is the Troop of Ten because I like the
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part when they all walk in with black eggplants on
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their left hand. Good luck and have a nice year.
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My name is Bailey. I live in Los Angeles. My
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favorite circle around story is The Clockbird. I like the
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part when The Clockbird thinks about his heart and he
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thinks about his friends.
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My name is Presley and my favorite circle around story
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is The Horse of a Different Color. Why I like
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it is because the girl wins.
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Hi, my name is Olivia and I live at Amherst,
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New York. Outside Buffalo, and my favorite circle round story
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is The Bird of a Different Feather because I like
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the part where Gideon says, school hug! My name is Olive,
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and I live in West Virginia. My favorite circle round
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is Amos and the Ogre. My favorite part is when
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the ogre says, ready to get your butt smacked.
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My name is Lyrax. I'm from Alaska, and my favorite
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story is The Little Blue Pebble, and my favorite part
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is when the Susan found the pebble from the moth.
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Dear Choco Run, I love this story because it was
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a great story. It's one of my favorite stories. I
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love when you make cool stories and cool snuggle time stories.
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Love, Idiot.
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P.S.
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It's the best story ever.
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Did someone mention a story you've missed?
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Not to worry.
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Grown-ups, you can find all of our Circle Round stories,
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plus links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages,
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and oh so much more on our website, wbur.org slash circleround.
