WEBVTT
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What comes to mind when you hear the word freedom?
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The dictionary defines freedom as the power or right to act, speak,
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or think like you want to, which makes freedom a
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very powerful thing. But the truth is, it's not always
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easy to come by. And we're about to meet a
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character who knows that truth all too well. I'm Rebecca Shear,
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and welcome to Circle Round, where story time happens all
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the time. Today, our story is called The Caged Bird.
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It's inspired by tales from Jewish and Persian lore.
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The Caged Bird.
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Some really great people came together to bring you our
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version of this folktale, including Tim Matheson and Jonathan Tucker. Grown-ups,
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you may know Jonathan Tucker from hit TV shows like Kingdom, Parenthood,
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City on a Hill, Debris, and Westworld. Tim Matheson is
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a 60-plus year veteran of film and television with well-known
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roles in National Lampoon's Animal House, The West Wing, Heart
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of Dixie, and most recently, Virgin River. His new memoir
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is called Darn Glad to Meet You. So, circle around, everyone,
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for the caged bird. A young prince was strolling through
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the palace gardens when he heard something that stopped him
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in his tracks.
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That sounds like a parrot. I never see parrots around
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these parts. I must get a closer look.
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The prince cupped a hand to his ear and followed
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the sound to a towering elm tree. And there, perched
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on a low, leafy branch, was indeed... a parrot.
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My goodness. Aren't you a pretty bird? Your feathers are
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every color of the rainbow, and they sparkle and shine
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like the sun. What a perfect parrot you are.
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Pulse it, parrot. Pulse it, parrot.
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Oh!
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And you talk, too. Well, you repeat anyway.
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Repeat anyway.
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As the prince gazed up at this magnificent creature, it
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suddenly occurred to him. A parrot this special shouldn't have
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to fend for herself in the wild. She should live
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with him in the palace and be treated like royalty.
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Listen, you pretty bird. I'm just going to fetch a
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little something. Stay where you are, and I'll be right back.
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Right back where you are.
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The prince spun around and raced to the garden shed.
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He grabbed a long-handled net, then hid it behind his
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back as he returned to the elm tree.
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I'm back, pretty bird. Aren't you a pretty bird?
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Pretty bird.
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Yes, you are.
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You're a very pretty bird.
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Very pretty. Very pretty. Bye.
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The prince inched closer and closer. Once he was so
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close that he could see his reflection in the parrot's
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bright round eyes, he pulled out the net, held it
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up high, and with one quick swish.
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Gotcha!
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The bird was trapped.
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Don't worry, my pretty bird. From now on, you're going
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to be mine.
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All mine.
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I shall keep you with me in my room, and
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trust me, You will be the happiest bird who ever lived.
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Back at the palace, the prince ordered the royal goldsmith
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to craft a sparkling golden cage. He ordered the royal
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tailor to sew a miniature satin pillow. And he ordered
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the cook to prepare a platter of fresh fruit and vegetables.
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Then he gave all of these gifts to his new pet.
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For the first time in her life, the parrot had
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a safe, secure home. A soft, cushy bed an ample
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amount of food that she didn't need to gather herself.
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So what do you think? Was she now the happiest
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bird who ever lived? The answer, I'm afraid, is no.
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In those rare moments when she was alone in the
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prince's room, she would hang her rainbow head and bemoan
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her lot.
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Oh, the prince lavishes me with so many luxuries. Yet
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the one thing I want is the one thing I
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cannot have.
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Freedom.
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Oh, if only I could sing with the other birds
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again and fly with the other birds again.
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But alas, I am a prisoner of this golden cage.
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The parent did not share her feelings with the prince. Instead,
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she acted like everything was fine, making her usual calls
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and squawks and repeating snippets of conversation, just as she
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always did. A few months passed, and one afternoon, the
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king came to the prince's room to share some news.
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My dear son, I have been called away to another
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royal summit. The kingdom to the south will be hosting
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this time around. The rulers of all neighboring lands are
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expected there next week, so we can discuss business.
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Business?
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How dreadfully boring.
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Dreadfully boring.
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Business.
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Perhaps you'd like me to bring this bird with me,
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so you can enjoy some peace and quiet for once.
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Peace and quiet for once.
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Papa.
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Papa.
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You know I never let this bird out of her cage.
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And I never let this cage out of my room.
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I was only kidding. I know how attached you are
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to this creature. But tell me, son, shall I bring
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you a souvenir from my trip? Like another bird to
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keep this one company?
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Another bird. Keep company.
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Don't be ridiculous, Papa. My parrot doesn't need company. She
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doesn't need anything. I've given her everything a bird could want.
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Very well, son, very well. Now head down to the
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banquet hall, won't you? We are having an early supper
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so I can prepare for my journey. I'll be with
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you shortly. Of course, Papa.
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Bye-bye, pretty bird.
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Bye-bye. Once the prince pranced out the door, the king
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flashed the parrot a grin.
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Boy, oh boy.
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My son sure is fond of you. He rarely lets
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you out of his sight.
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Out of his sight? Fond of you?
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Look, I know you probably don't understand a word I'm saying,
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but while I'm away, will you keep an eye on
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the prince for me? It's always hard to leave him.
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He's my one and only child, and he's growing up
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so fast. I feel like I want to hold on
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to every moment before he spreads his wings and flies away.
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You know what I'm talking about, right?
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I do.
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And I don't.
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The king froze.
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What did you say?
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I said I do. And I don't.
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My goodness. I had no idea you actually spoke. I
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thought you just repeated things.
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Wee birds all speak when someone is worth speaking to.
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Hmm. I suppose that makes sense. But when you say
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you do and you don't, what do you mean by that?
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Well, you said that.
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One day the prince will spread his wings and fly away.
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Then you asked if I knew what you were talking about.
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And I do know. Just not anymore.
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You mean because you aren't able to spread your wings
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and fly away?
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Precisely. Your Majesty, will you do me a favor?
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If you're going to ask me to set you free,
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the answer is no. Unless my son agrees, and you
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know he never would.
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I do know, which is why I'm asking a different favor.
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When you set out on your travels, can you please
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deliver a message for me?
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A message?
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Yes.
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If you happen to come across any parrots who look
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like me, will you tell them what my life is like?
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Your life?
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Yes.
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Tell them how I live in a golden cage and
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I sleep on a satin pillow. and I'm giving fruits
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and vegetables and all the attention one could want. Then
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ask them how I might find my happiness.
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The king frowned. He didn't like to think that the
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parrot was unhappy, but what else could he do? So
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the next day, when he set off for the kingdom
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to the south, He kept his eyes peeled for rainbow
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parrots with feathers that sparkled and shined like the sun.
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It wasn't until the sun set. was over and he
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was journeying back home that he found what he was
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looking for as he traveled through a forest he caught
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sight of another rainbow parrot flitting and fluttering way up
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in the canopy the king gazed up at the bird.
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And called out.
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Oh, parrot, good parrot, may I speak with you? I
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come bearing a message. It's from another rainbow parrot who
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lives in my palace.
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To the king's delight, the parrot dove down and settled
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on a branch directly overhead.
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Thank you, parrot. This other parrot of which I speak,
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like I said, she lives in my palace. Her appearance
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is very similar to yours, but her life is nothing
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like yours. This parrot spends her days in a golden cage,
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not in a green forest. She sleeps on a satin cushion,
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not a nest. She is given the freshest of foods,
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but doesn't search for her own. She is given protection
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and safety, and all the attention in the world, but
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she cannot spread her wings and fly. So good parrot,
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this bird who lives in my palace, she wants to
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know one thing. How might she find her happiness?
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The parrot was quiet, very quiet. He turned his eyes
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upwards as if he was deep in thought. And then,
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He did something that surprised the king so much, you
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could have knocked him over with a feather. What do
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you think the bird in the forest did to stun
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the king? We'll find out what it was after a
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quick break.
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100 years from now in a land far, far away.
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Hang on. It's not so far away at all, actually. Hey,
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Circle Round families. We're here to share a new listening
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experience from WBUR. The Midnight Rebellion. It's a climate podcast
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adventure for kids 8 and up. Time traveling, problem solving,
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laughs in danger.
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It's here.
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Follow the feed to listen. Oh, and bring your goggles
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and boots. That's the Midnight Rebellion. In your feed or
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wherever you get podcasts.
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Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Shear. Today, our
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story is called The Caged Bird. Before the break, the
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prince's rainbow parrot asked the king for a favor. Should
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he encounter any other rainbow parrots during his upcoming travels,
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could he please tell them about her life in the
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palace and ask how she might find her?
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Her happiness?
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The king did as requested. He delivered the message to
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one of the parrot's relatives in a forest. And at first,
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this other bird did nothing. He just sat on a branch,
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gazing upwards as if deep in thought. But then he
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began to shiver and tremble. Then the bird went completely
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limp and plummeted to the ground. The surprised king rushed
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over to the fallen parrot. The bird wasn't breathing. He
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wasn't even moving. In fact, there were no signs of
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life whatsoever.
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Oh, this poor pitiful creature. Did he die of shock
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or a broken heart? Either way, I mustn't leave him
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here like this. I shall give him a proper burial.
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But the moment the king scooped up the parrot's motionless body,
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do you know what happened? The bird suddenly lifted his head,
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spread out his wings, and flew off into the air.
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The parrot soared higher and higher until his rainbow body
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was just a tiny winged shape against the bright blue sky.
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Well, what do you make of that? I for one
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have no idea. But I'll report everything to the prince's parrot.
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Perhaps she can make sense of this curious incident.
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The king hastened back to the palace. The prince was
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out for a swim when he arrived, so he took
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the opportunity to creep into his son's room. The moment
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the parrot laid eyes on the king, she bobbed up
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and down in her golden cage.
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Your majesty, you're back! Were you able to track down
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one of my relatives? and deliver my message?
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I was, and I did, but.
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But what? Why do you hesitate?
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Well, when I delivered your message, I'm afraid your relative
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didn't deliver a message back.
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What do you mean? Can you tell me what happened?
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The king took a breath and described his encounter in
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the forest. When he was done, the parrot sat in
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her cage... silent and still on her perch.
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I'm sorry I didn't bring happier news, my friend. But
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at least your relative survived and could spread his wings
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and fly away.
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The parrot said nothing. She just hung her head and
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buried it in her feathers. She stayed that way for
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the rest of the day. She wouldn't eat. She wouldn't drink.
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She wouldn't even repeat snippets of conversation. By nightfall, the
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prince was beside himself with worry.
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What's wrong with you, my pretty bird? I had the
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cook serve you the ripest berries. I had the tailor
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show you an even softer pillow. I opened every single
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window to give you more fresh air, and yet you
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just sit there, brooding. Are you tired? Are you sick?
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Are you.
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The prince fell silent. Because all of a sudden, the
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parrot's body shivered and trembled, then went limp. Next thing
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the prince knew, the bird went tumbling off her perch.
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My pretty bird! What's happening? Get up, will you? Get up!
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But the parrot did not get up. And as the
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prince took a closer look, he noticed she wasn't breathing.
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She wasn't even moving. In fact, there were no signs
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of life whatsoever.
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Come on, my pretty bird, get up!
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Get up!
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The commotion caught the ear of the king, who came
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racing down the corridor.
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What's going on, son? Are you all right?
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It's my bird, Papa. I don't think she's all right.
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Look!
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The prince pointed a quivering finger at the golden cage.
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Oh, dear.
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Seems this parrot went the way of her cousin.
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Went the way of her what?
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Oh, nothing, nothing. I'm sorry for your loss, son. We
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should give this parrot a proper burial, don't you think?
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The king undid the cage's latch and reached inside. But
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when he scooped the parrot's motionless body into his hands,
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do you know what happened? All of a sudden, she
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lifted her head, beat her wings... and began swooping around
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the room, much to the prince's astonishment.
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What is the meaning of this? How did you die,
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then come back to life, my pretty bird?
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But I'm not your pretty bird. Not anymore.
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What? I had no idea you actually spoke. But regardless,
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you are my pretty bird. I captured you in the garden,
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and I've been giving you the royal treatment ever since.
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Think of all the fresh food I've given you. The
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comfy pillows. The golden cage.
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The parrot glided toward the window and perched down on
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the sill.
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Don't you see, Prince?
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The finest food and pillows and cage in the whole wide.
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World are no good.
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No good at all.
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If I don't have freedom. Freedom to eat what I want.
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Sleep where I want. Fly where I want. And now
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I will have freedom, thanks to the message I received
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from my cousin in the forest.
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The prince's brow wrinkled in confusion.
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Your cousin in the forest? Papa, do you have any
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idea what this bird is talking about?
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The king smiled.
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Yes, son, I believe I do. You see, on my travels,
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I found another rainbow parrot in the forest. I asked
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him how this parrot might find happiness. The bird in
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the forest responded by pretending to die and then flying away.
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He didn't say anything. But I now realize he didn't
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need to.
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That's right, Your Majesty.
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After all, sometimes the best answers are given.
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Without a word spoken.
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And with that, the parrot spread her rainbow wings and
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flew out the window. soaring away from the palace and
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into the great wide world beyond. A free bird at last.
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Now it's your turn. We all have the right to freedom.
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To remind yourself that you are and should be free,
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you can make your own free bird. Find a piece
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of paper and draw the outline of any kind of
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bird you'd like. Inside your outline, draw one or more
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things that make you feel free. Is it riding your bike?
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Being able to read your favorite books? Perhaps it's the
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conversations you have with friends and family where you can
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openly share your opinions and ideas. Once you've finished drawing
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your free bird, Show it to someone you have fun with.
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And if you'd like, show it to us. Grown-ups, snap
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a photo of your Circle Round fan and their free
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bird and email it to circleround at wbur.org. With your permission,
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we may include it in the Lion's Roar, the monthly
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newsletter of the Circle Round Club. You can learn more
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about this super fun opportunity for super fans like you
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on our website, wbur.org slash circle round. This week's episode,
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The Caged Bird, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear. It
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was edited by Dean Russell. Our original music and sound
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design is by Eric Shimalonis. Our artist is Sabina Han.
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Sabina has created a black and white coloring page for
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all of our Circle Round stories, and you can print
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them out and color them in while you listen. Grown-ups,
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visit our website, wbur.org, and click on Coloring Pages. Special
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thanks to this week's actors, Jonathan Tucker and Tim Matheson.
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Over his 60-plus year career.
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Tim Matheson has starred in well-known movies and TV shows
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like National Lampoon's Animal House, The West Wing, Heart of Dixie,
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00:22:15.029 --> 00:22:18.589
and most recently, Virgin River. His new memoir is called
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00:22:18.769 --> 00:22:22.799
Darn Glad to Meet You. Jonathan Tucker's credits include memorable
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roles in such television programs as Kingdom, Parenthood, City on
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00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:31.170
a Hill, Debris, and Westworld. Our featured instrument this week
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was the santour. You can learn more about this stringed
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Persian instrument and see a photo of Eric Shimalonis playing
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00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:43.400
one on our website. Again, that's WBUR.org slash Circle Round. Grownups,
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if you enjoy Circle Round, please leave us a five-star
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00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:50.059
review on your favorite podcast app. It helps other listeners
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find the show. And don't forget to follow us on
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Facebook and Instagram. Our handle is at Circle Round Podcast.
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Circle Round is a production of WBUR. Boston's NPR News Station.
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I'm Rebecca Shear. Thanks for circling around with us. Now
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that you've made it to the end of this Circle
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Round episode, we want to know, what's your favorite Circle
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Round story? Thousands of fans just like you have been
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00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:22.299
telling us about the Circle Round stories they like best.
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Take a listen.
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Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours, too.
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My name is Comrade. I live in Australia in Raleigh
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Creek and my favourite story that Olga just made. Granny Snowstorm,
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and he just found a bucket of coins.
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My name is Jada.
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I live in Sunnyvale, California, and my favorite trickle-round story
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is The Sorcerer's Offer because I like the part when
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the sorcerer offers the girl three wishes.
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My name is Noah.
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I live in Nottentot, Pennsylvania.
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My favorite trickle-round story is The Friendship.
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My favorite part is where the boat doesn't move. My
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name is Aviva, and I'm from Oneonta, New York. And
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my favorite circle around story is the crystal story box.
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And my favorite part is when the sky goddess is
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so surprised that the spider got the snake and the bee.
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My name's Josie. I'm from Providence World Island. My favorite
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circle world story is Why the Ocean is Salty because
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I like.
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The part where the.
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Magic jar makes the older brothers sink into the ocean.
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My name is Miriam. I live in Providence, Rhode Island.
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And my favorite.
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Story is 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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00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:34.440
and oh so much more on our website, WBUR.org slash
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Circle Round.
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What comes to mind when you hear the word freedom?
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The dictionary defines freedom as the power or right to act, speak,
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or think like you want to, which makes freedom a
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00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:26.530
very powerful thing. But the truth is, it's not always
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easy to come by. And we're about to meet a
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00:00:29.609 --> 00:00:41.850
character who knows that truth all too well. I'm Rebecca Shear,
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00:00:41.929 --> 00:00:45.469
and welcome to Circle Round, where story time happens all
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the time. Today, our story is called The Caged Bird.
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It's inspired by tales from Jewish and Persian lore.
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The Caged Bird.
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Some really great people came together to bring you our
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version of this folktale, including Tim Matheson and Jonathan Tucker. Grown-ups,
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you may know Jonathan Tucker from hit TV shows like Kingdom, Parenthood,
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City on a Hill, Debris, and Westworld. Tim Matheson is
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00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:15.900
a 60-plus year veteran of film and television with well-known
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00:01:15.959 --> 00:01:19.760
roles in National Lampoon's Animal House, The West Wing, Heart
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00:01:19.799 --> 00:01:23.560
of Dixie, and most recently, Virgin River. His new memoir
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00:01:23.659 --> 00:01:27.890
is called Darn Glad to Meet You. So, circle around, everyone,
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for the caged bird. A young prince was strolling through
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the palace gardens when he heard something that stopped him
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in his tracks.
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That sounds like a parrot. I never see parrots around
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these parts. I must get a closer look.
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The prince cupped a hand to his ear and followed
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the sound to a towering elm tree. And there, perched
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on a low, leafy branch, was indeed... a parrot.
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My goodness. Aren't you a pretty bird? Your feathers are
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every color of the rainbow, and they sparkle and shine
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like the sun. What a perfect parrot you are.
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Pulse it, parrot. Pulse it, parrot.
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Oh!
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And you talk, too. Well, you repeat anyway.
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Repeat anyway.
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As the prince gazed up at this magnificent creature, it
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suddenly occurred to him. A parrot this special shouldn't have
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to fend for herself in the wild. She should live
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with him in the palace and be treated like royalty.
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Listen, you pretty bird. I'm just going to fetch a
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little something. Stay where you are, and I'll be right back.
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Right back where you are.
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The prince spun around and raced to the garden shed.
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He grabbed a long-handled net, then hid it behind his
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back as he returned to the elm tree.
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I'm back, pretty bird. Aren't you a pretty bird?
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Pretty bird.
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Yes, you are.
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You're a very pretty bird.
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Very pretty. Very pretty. Bye.
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The prince inched closer and closer. Once he was so
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close that he could see his reflection in the parrot's
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bright round eyes, he pulled out the net, held it
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up high, and with one quick swish.
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Gotcha!
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The bird was trapped.
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Don't worry, my pretty bird. From now on, you're going
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to be mine.
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All mine.
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I shall keep you with me in my room, and
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trust me, You will be the happiest bird who ever lived.
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Back at the palace, the prince ordered the royal goldsmith
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to craft a sparkling golden cage. He ordered the royal
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tailor to sew a miniature satin pillow. And he ordered
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the cook to prepare a platter of fresh fruit and vegetables.
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Then he gave all of these gifts to his new pet.
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For the first time in her life, the parrot had
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a safe, secure home. A soft, cushy bed an ample
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amount of food that she didn't need to gather herself.
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So what do you think? Was she now the happiest
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bird who ever lived? The answer, I'm afraid, is no.
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In those rare moments when she was alone in the
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prince's room, she would hang her rainbow head and bemoan
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her lot.
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Oh, the prince lavishes me with so many luxuries. Yet
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the one thing I want is the one thing I
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cannot have.
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Freedom.
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Oh, if only I could sing with the other birds
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again and fly with the other birds again.
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But alas, I am a prisoner of this golden cage.
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The parent did not share her feelings with the prince. Instead,
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she acted like everything was fine, making her usual calls
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and squawks and repeating snippets of conversation, just as she
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always did. A few months passed, and one afternoon, the
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king came to the prince's room to share some news.
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My dear son, I have been called away to another
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royal summit. The kingdom to the south will be hosting
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this time around. The rulers of all neighboring lands are
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expected there next week, so we can discuss business.
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Business?
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How dreadfully boring.
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Dreadfully boring.
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Business.
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Perhaps you'd like me to bring this bird with me,
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so you can enjoy some peace and quiet for once.
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Peace and quiet for once.
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Papa.
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Papa.
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You know I never let this bird out of her cage.
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And I never let this cage out of my room.
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I was only kidding. I know how attached you are
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to this creature. But tell me, son, shall I bring
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you a souvenir from my trip? Like another bird to
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keep this one company?
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Another bird. Keep company.
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Don't be ridiculous, Papa. My parrot doesn't need company. She
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doesn't need anything. I've given her everything a bird could want.
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Very well, son, very well. Now head down to the
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banquet hall, won't you? We are having an early supper
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so I can prepare for my journey. I'll be with
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you shortly. Of course, Papa.
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Bye-bye, pretty bird.
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Bye-bye. Once the prince pranced out the door, the king
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flashed the parrot a grin.
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Boy, oh boy.
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My son sure is fond of you. He rarely lets
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you out of his sight.
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Out of his sight? Fond of you?
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Look, I know you probably don't understand a word I'm saying,
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but while I'm away, will you keep an eye on
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the prince for me? It's always hard to leave him.
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He's my one and only child, and he's growing up
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so fast. I feel like I want to hold on
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to every moment before he spreads his wings and flies away.
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You know what I'm talking about, right?
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I do.
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And I don't.
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The king froze.
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What did you say?
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I said I do. And I don't.
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My goodness. I had no idea you actually spoke. I
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thought you just repeated things.
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Wee birds all speak when someone is worth speaking to.
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Hmm. I suppose that makes sense. But when you say
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you do and you don't, what do you mean by that?
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Well, you said that.
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One day the prince will spread his wings and fly away.
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Then you asked if I knew what you were talking about.
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And I do know. Just not anymore.
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You mean because you aren't able to spread your wings
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and fly away?
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Precisely. Your Majesty, will you do me a favor?
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If you're going to ask me to set you free,
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the answer is no. Unless my son agrees, and you
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know he never would.
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I do know, which is why I'm asking a different favor.
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When you set out on your travels, can you please
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deliver a message for me?
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A message?
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Yes.
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If you happen to come across any parrots who look
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like me, will you tell them what my life is like?
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Your life?
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Yes.
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Tell them how I live in a golden cage and
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I sleep on a satin pillow. and I'm giving fruits
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and vegetables and all the attention one could want. Then
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ask them how I might find my happiness.
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The king frowned. He didn't like to think that the
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parrot was unhappy, but what else could he do? So
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the next day, when he set off for the kingdom
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to the south, He kept his eyes peeled for rainbow
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parrots with feathers that sparkled and shined like the sun.
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It wasn't until the sun set. was over and he
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was journeying back home that he found what he was
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looking for as he traveled through a forest he caught
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sight of another rainbow parrot flitting and fluttering way up
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in the canopy the king gazed up at the bird.
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And called out.
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Oh, parrot, good parrot, may I speak with you? I
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come bearing a message. It's from another rainbow parrot who
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lives in my palace.
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To the king's delight, the parrot dove down and settled
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on a branch directly overhead.
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Thank you, parrot. This other parrot of which I speak,
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like I said, she lives in my palace. Her appearance
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is very similar to yours, but her life is nothing
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like yours. This parrot spends her days in a golden cage,
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not in a green forest. She sleeps on a satin cushion,
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not a nest. She is given the freshest of foods,
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but doesn't search for her own. She is given protection
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and safety, and all the attention in the world, but
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she cannot spread her wings and fly. So good parrot,
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this bird who lives in my palace, she wants to
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know one thing. How might she find her happiness?
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The parrot was quiet, very quiet. He turned his eyes
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upwards as if he was deep in thought. And then,
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He did something that surprised the king so much, you
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could have knocked him over with a feather. What do
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you think the bird in the forest did to stun
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the king? We'll find out what it was after a
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quick break.
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100 years from now in a land far, far away.
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Hang on. It's not so far away at all, actually. Hey,
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Circle Round families. We're here to share a new listening
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experience from WBUR. The Midnight Rebellion. It's a climate podcast
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adventure for kids 8 and up. Time traveling, problem solving,
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laughs in danger.
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It's here.
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Follow the feed to listen. Oh, and bring your goggles
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and boots. That's the Midnight Rebellion. In your feed or
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wherever you get podcasts.
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Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Shear. Today, our
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story is called The Caged Bird. Before the break, the
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prince's rainbow parrot asked the king for a favor. Should
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he encounter any other rainbow parrots during his upcoming travels,
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could he please tell them about her life in the
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palace and ask how she might find her?
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Her happiness?
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The king did as requested. He delivered the message to
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one of the parrot's relatives in a forest. And at first,
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this other bird did nothing. He just sat on a branch,
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gazing upwards as if deep in thought. But then he
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began to shiver and tremble. Then the bird went completely
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limp and plummeted to the ground. The surprised king rushed
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over to the fallen parrot. The bird wasn't breathing. He
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wasn't even moving. In fact, there were no signs of
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life whatsoever.
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Oh, this poor pitiful creature. Did he die of shock
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or a broken heart? Either way, I mustn't leave him
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here like this. I shall give him a proper burial.
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But the moment the king scooped up the parrot's motionless body,
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do you know what happened? The bird suddenly lifted his head,
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spread out his wings, and flew off into the air.
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The parrot soared higher and higher until his rainbow body
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was just a tiny winged shape against the bright blue sky.
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Well, what do you make of that? I for one
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have no idea. But I'll report everything to the prince's parrot.
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Perhaps she can make sense of this curious incident.
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The king hastened back to the palace. The prince was
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out for a swim when he arrived, so he took
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the opportunity to creep into his son's room. The moment
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the parrot laid eyes on the king, she bobbed up
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and down in her golden cage.
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Your majesty, you're back! Were you able to track down
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one of my relatives? and deliver my message?
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I was, and I did, but.
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But what? Why do you hesitate?
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Well, when I delivered your message, I'm afraid your relative
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didn't deliver a message back.
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What do you mean? Can you tell me what happened?
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The king took a breath and described his encounter in
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the forest. When he was done, the parrot sat in
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her cage... silent and still on her perch.
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I'm sorry I didn't bring happier news, my friend. But
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at least your relative survived and could spread his wings
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and fly away.
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The parrot said nothing. She just hung her head and
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buried it in her feathers. She stayed that way for
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the rest of the day. She wouldn't eat. She wouldn't drink.
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She wouldn't even repeat snippets of conversation. By nightfall, the
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prince was beside himself with worry.
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What's wrong with you, my pretty bird? I had the
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cook serve you the ripest berries. I had the tailor
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show you an even softer pillow. I opened every single
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window to give you more fresh air, and yet you
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just sit there, brooding. Are you tired? Are you sick?
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Are you.
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The prince fell silent. Because all of a sudden, the
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parrot's body shivered and trembled, then went limp. Next thing
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the prince knew, the bird went tumbling off her perch.
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My pretty bird! What's happening? Get up, will you? Get up!
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But the parrot did not get up. And as the
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prince took a closer look, he noticed she wasn't breathing.
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She wasn't even moving. In fact, there were no signs
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of life whatsoever.
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Come on, my pretty bird, get up!
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Get up!
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The commotion caught the ear of the king, who came
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racing down the corridor.
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What's going on, son? Are you all right?
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It's my bird, Papa. I don't think she's all right.
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Look!
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The prince pointed a quivering finger at the golden cage.
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Oh, dear.
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Seems this parrot went the way of her cousin.
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Went the way of her what?
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Oh, nothing, nothing. I'm sorry for your loss, son. We
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should give this parrot a proper burial, don't you think?
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The king undid the cage's latch and reached inside. But
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when he scooped the parrot's motionless body into his hands,
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do you know what happened? All of a sudden, she
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lifted her head, beat her wings... and began swooping around
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the room, much to the prince's astonishment.
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What is the meaning of this? How did you die,
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then come back to life, my pretty bird?
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But I'm not your pretty bird. Not anymore.
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What? I had no idea you actually spoke. But regardless,
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you are my pretty bird. I captured you in the garden,
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and I've been giving you the royal treatment ever since.
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Think of all the fresh food I've given you. The
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comfy pillows. The golden cage.
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The parrot glided toward the window and perched down on
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the sill.
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Don't you see, Prince?
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The finest food and pillows and cage in the whole wide.
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World are no good.
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No good at all.
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If I don't have freedom. Freedom to eat what I want.
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Sleep where I want. Fly where I want. And now
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I will have freedom, thanks to the message I received
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from my cousin in the forest.
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The prince's brow wrinkled in confusion.
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Your cousin in the forest? Papa, do you have any
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idea what this bird is talking about?
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The king smiled.
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Yes, son, I believe I do. You see, on my travels,
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I found another rainbow parrot in the forest. I asked
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him how this parrot might find happiness. The bird in
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the forest responded by pretending to die and then flying away.
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He didn't say anything. But I now realize he didn't
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need to.
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That's right, Your Majesty.
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After all, sometimes the best answers are given.
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Without a word spoken.
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And with that, the parrot spread her rainbow wings and
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flew out the window. soaring away from the palace and
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into the great wide world beyond. A free bird at last.
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Now it's your turn. We all have the right to freedom.
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To remind yourself that you are and should be free,
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you can make your own free bird. Find a piece
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of paper and draw the outline of any kind of
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bird you'd like. Inside your outline, draw one or more
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things that make you feel free. Is it riding your bike?
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Being able to read your favorite books? Perhaps it's the
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conversations you have with friends and family where you can
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openly share your opinions and ideas. Once you've finished drawing
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your free bird, Show it to someone you have fun with.
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And if you'd like, show it to us. Grown-ups, snap
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a photo of your Circle Round fan and their free
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bird and email it to circleround at wbur.org. With your permission,
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we may include it in the Lion's Roar, the monthly
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newsletter of the Circle Round Club. You can learn more
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about this super fun opportunity for super fans like you
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on our website, wbur.org slash circle round. This week's episode,
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The Caged Bird, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear. It
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was edited by Dean Russell. Our original music and sound
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design is by Eric Shimalonis. Our artist is Sabina Han.
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Sabina has created a black and white coloring page for
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all of our Circle Round stories, and you can print
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them out and color them in while you listen. Grown-ups,
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visit our website, wbur.org, and click on Coloring Pages. Special
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thanks to this week's actors, Jonathan Tucker and Tim Matheson.
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Over his 60-plus year career.
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Tim Matheson has starred in well-known movies and TV shows
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like National Lampoon's Animal House, The West Wing, Heart of Dixie,
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and most recently, Virgin River. His new memoir is called
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Darn Glad to Meet You. Jonathan Tucker's credits include memorable
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roles in such television programs as Kingdom, Parenthood, City on
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a Hill, Debris, and Westworld. Our featured instrument this week
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was the santour. You can learn more about this stringed
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Persian instrument and see a photo of Eric Shimalonis playing
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one on our website. Again, that's WBUR.org slash Circle Round. Grownups,
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if you enjoy Circle Round, please leave us a five-star
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review on your favorite podcast app. It helps other listeners
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find the show. And don't forget to follow us on
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Facebook and Instagram. Our handle is at Circle Round Podcast.
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Circle Round is a production of WBUR. Boston's NPR News Station.
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I'm Rebecca Shear. Thanks for circling around with us. Now
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that you've made it to the end of this Circle
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Round episode, we want to know, what's your favorite Circle
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Round story? Thousands of fans just like you have been
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telling us about the Circle Round stories they like best.
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Take a listen.
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Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours, too.
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My name is Comrade. I live in Australia in Raleigh
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Creek and my favourite story that Olga just made. Granny Snowstorm,
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and he just found a bucket of coins.
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My name is Jada.
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I live in Sunnyvale, California, and my favorite trickle-round story
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is The Sorcerer's Offer because I like the part when
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the sorcerer offers the girl three wishes.
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My name is Noah.
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I live in Nottentot, Pennsylvania.
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My favorite trickle-round story is The Friendship.
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My favorite part is where the boat doesn't move. My
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name is Aviva, and I'm from Oneonta, New York. And
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my favorite circle around story is the crystal story box.
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And my favorite part is when the sky goddess is
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so surprised that the spider got the snake and the bee.
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My name's Josie. I'm from Providence World Island. My favorite
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circle world story is Why the Ocean is Salty because
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I like.
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The part where the.
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Magic jar makes the older brothers sink into the ocean.
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My name is Miriam. I live in Providence, Rhode Island.
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And my favorite.
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Story is 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
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Circle Round.
