Encore: The Magic Touch

Hi, Rebecca Shear here. We're excited to circle around with you this weekend at the mega

“awesome super huge wicked fun podcast play date in Boston. In person tickets to our April 25th”

show are sold out, but we invite you to join our live stream. Get your tickets at wbwr.org/circleround. While we gear up for the performance this week we're bringing you an

on-core edition of Circle Round, a magical episode you may have missed the first time around.

We'll be back with a new episode soon. Think about a time somebody showed you kindness. Maybe a family member gave you a compliment or a friend helped you solve a problem. We're about to meet a character who's all about being kind to others. And the result is truly magical. I'm Rebecca Shear and welcome to Circle Round. Our story time happens all the time. Today our story is called

The Magic Touch. Versions of this tale originally come from East Africa.

“Some really great people came together to bring you our adaptation of this folktale, including”

Eddie Getheggi, whom you grown up smear recognize from the American Western film The

Hurter They Fall. And watch for him in the third season of the space drama for all

mankind on Apple TV plus. So circle round everyone for the magic touch. There are once or two brothers, twins actually, their names were Juma and Imani. Juma and Imani were raised by their mother, a kind generous woman who her sons loved with all their heart. When the twins grew up and it was time for them to go out and lick their way in the

world, something unexpected happened. Mother fell ill, so ill she had to take to her bed. Oh mother, Imani and I can't leave you like this.

“Juma's right. We must stay here and take care of you.”

That's very sweet my sons, but I don't want to stop you from making your way in the world. Mother turned to Juma. You were born a handful of minutes before Imani was. So how about you go out into the world first while Imani stays home and takes care of me. Once I'm well again, he can follow you. Of course mother, that's a fine idea.

So Juma kissed his family goodbye, then set out on a sailboat across the sea. He had been drifting on the waves for a few days when he spotted an island. Oh, look at this beautiful place! I don't see any people but get a load of those fruit trees. Their branches are dripping with bright red fruit. This could be a nice place to stop for a while. Juma went ashore and began picking and eating fruit.

This fruit is delicious, so sweet, so juicy, but oh, there are pits inside. Definitely don't want to eat those. I'll just spit them out. At the moment, the pits hit the ground. An unbelievable sight met Juma's eyes. Could it be? Each pit is growing into a whole new fruit tree and the blink of an eye. It's getting taller and taller and now it's as tall as all the other trees.

And it's brushing with bright red fruit. I've never seen anything like this.

Juma grabbed some barrels from his boat and began loading them up with fruit. I'm going to bring this magical fruit to another island. With the way these trees grow, I'll have an endless supply to sail. Juma hoisted a sails and put his boat back to sea. After a few days, he came to an island that was priming with people.

He made his way to the bustling marketplace and set out his barrels of fruit. Magical fruit here, get your magical fruit, spit out the pit and watch a new tree grow in a flash. It wasn't long before a curious crowd gathered, but when Juma went to demonstrate the magical powers of his fruit, chewing a handful of them, then spitting out the pits. Nothing happened.

So sorry, ladies and gentlemen, perhaps the pieces of fruit weren't ripe enough. Let me try again. So he did. He grabbed another handful of fruit and began to chew. But once more, when he spit the pits out, nothing happened.

A fake, a total fraud.

We knew your magical fruit was too good to be true.

Juma was flummixt. But ladies and gentlemen, I assure you, I am not a phony. On the island where I picked this fruit, it worked like a charm. I swear! I just spit out the pits and write there before my very eyes.

The fortjuma could say another word. He felt someone grabbed his shoulder.

“So, you're the one making up stories about magical fruit, huh?”

Juma world has head around. Standing before him was a burly man in uniform. Listen, pal. I am part of the Queen's royal guard, and it is my duty to tell you, that on this island, we are honest. Because her royal majesty despises dishonesty.

She loaves lying. She forbids any fibs. But I'm not telling any fibs, and I'm not lying! I'm telling you, this fruit. Enough arguing, mister.

I'm taking you to the palace dungeon and putting you behind bars. Queen's orders. Meanwhile, back at home, mother and demani were completely unaware of Juma's misfortune.

Instead, the pair was in high spirits, because mother had finally recovered from her illness.

Inmani, now that I'm feeling fit as a fiddle,

“it's your turn to make your way in the world.”

Now go out there and make me proud. You better will mother. So, like his twin brother before him, and Monty kissed his mother goodbye, then headed out in his boat. Little did he know that ahead of him lay some stormy seas,

and some unimaginable adventures. What do you think will happen to Emani? Then what about his twin brother, Juma? Will he ever go free? He'll find out after a quick break.

The reviews are in and super fans like you are loving the Circle Round Club, an exciting opportunity to support public radio and get cool stuff, including ad-free episodes and a personalized birthday message from me. My eye-o-lake about the Circle Round Club is that my back is here since I've shown messages

and it's a much special and there are new ads. grown-ups support public radio and sign-up today at wbru.org/ Circle Round Club. Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Sheer. Today our story is called The Magic Touch.

Before the break, twin brothers Juma and Emani set off to make their ways in the world.

Juma went first and wound up in jail,

but Emani didn't know that. So when it was his turn to leave home and go traveling, he was in high spirits as he hopped into his boat and took to the sea. Unfortunately, the sea was not kind to Emani. The clouds rolled in, the wind picked up,

and sheets of rain surged down from the sky. After being tossed for days across the choppy phoned halfed waves, Emani ran around on a cold, rocky island. Look at this place. So bleak and dreary.

I definitely don't want to stay long, but the sea is too rough to head out again. I'll wait for the skies to clear and have a snack. All that sailing has me famished. Emani plopped down on Iraq and reached into his bag for a pot of cooked millet,

but just as he was spooning the grain into his mouth. Excuse me, sir. Any chance you could share some of that? Emani looked up. Purchased on a cliff above him was a black and white bird.

Its body was scrawny, and its feathers were rough and matted. Was that you talking just now, bird?

“What did those crazy waves toss my boat and my brains?”

Oh, it was me, all right. And I'm sorry to bother you, sir. But the storm stranded beyond this desert island and I haven't eaten him days. The bird fluttered down and purged on Emani's shoulder.

Emani gave the scraggly creature a pat. I'd be happy to share my millet with you, bird. And please, call me Emani. The ravenous birds stuck its beak into the pot and doubled up all the millet. Wow, that hit the spot.

And I promise, one day I'll repay you somehow.

“Then the bird spread its wings and took off across the island.”

Emani felt his stomach growl, he was still hungry. So he reached into his bag and fished out a small jar of honey. But just as he was about to suck down a spoonful. He parted me, sir, any chance you could share some of that. Emani looked down.

There on the ground, wasn't ant. Its little black body was all shriveled and it seemed to be walking with a limp. Was that you talking just now ant? Or am I hearing things? Oh, it was me, all right.

And I'm so sorry to interrupt, sir, but I'm downright famished. This island is so rocky and barren and I've had a devil of a time finding anything to eat. The ant wiggled its antennae. Emani knelt down and gave the creature a smile. I'd be happy to share my honey with you ant.

And please, call me Emani. Emani drizzled all of his honey on the ground. And the ant went to work lapping up the sticky sweet stuff. Hmm, that was just what I needed. I appreciate your kindness, Emani.

“And I promise one day I will pay you somehow.”

Then the ant scurried away. Emani rummaged through his bag and found a cup of rice. But just as he was about to stick a fist fall into his mouth. I beg your pardon, sir. Any chance you could share some of that.

Emani looked up floating in the air before him. Was a gin. His mother had told many tales about these supernatural spirits,

but this was the first time Emani had actually seen one.

Whoa. Was that you talking just now, Gin? Or am I so hungry? I'm hallucinating. Yep.

It was me. I hope I didn't freak you out, sir. But evil spirits have banished me to this island. And it's an absolute wasteland. I've been without food for days.

Emani gave the gin a sympathetic nod. I'd be happy to share my rice with you, Gin. And please, call me Emani. The gin took hold of the rice and poured every single grain down its gullet. Yum.

That was perfect. I appreciate your kindness, Amani. And I promise, one day I'll repay you somehow. Then the gin disappeared with a poof. Well, that was crazy.

I met a talking bird and aunt. I even met a gin. But I'm so hungry I could pass out. And it's obvious I won't find any food in this dismal place. Now that the skies have clear, I'll get back in my boat and move on.

So Amani hoisted his sails and took off across the calm, peaceful water. Before long he caught sight of another island, and to his delight it was covered with fruit trees. Now, as you might guess, this was the exact same island that his brother Juma had found. Amani didn't know that, so he docked his boat, sprinted to the fruit trees, and stuffed handfuls of the bright red fruit into his mouth.

This fruit is to the left of the boat. Well, put away. It has bits inside. Better spit them out. Of course, the moment Amani spit out the pits and the pits hit the ground.

You know what happened, right? What do you look at that? They instantly blossomed into new trees. My goodness! Not only is this fruit delicious juicy and sweet, but it's magic!

I'll bring a bunch of this with me to my next destination. I bet it can come in very handy. But just as Amani went to fetch some barrels from his boat. Amani, wait! Amani flicked his head around.

He couldn't see anyone, but he could have sworn he heard the chin. The supernatural spirit with whom he'd shared his rice on the desolate barren island. Gen? Is that you? Are you here? Not exactly. I'm still stuck on that bleak for Lord Island,

but I've used my powers to watch over you ever since you left. And since I promised I'd repay you for your kindness, I must tell you. That fruit you're picking? It won't grow just anywhere. It won't?

It will only grow on the soil of the island where you're standing right now.

“If you take the fruit with you, you must take some of the soil with you too.”

Only then will the fruit work its magic and grow before your very eyes. Amani felt his heart overflow with gratitude. Thank you, Gen. Thank you so much.

Always happy to help a friend in need, Amani.

Amani smiled to himself as he filled his barrels with fruit and soil.

He soon arrived at another island, and as fate would have it, it was the same island where his twin brother was imprisoned. But again, Amani didn't know that. So he snatched up his barrels and hustled over to the marketplace. Magical fruit here!

Get your magical fruit! Spit out the pit and watch a new tree grow in the blink of an eye! Amani expected a crowd to gather around, eager to catch sight of his marvellous mystical fruit. But instead... Magical fruit, you say?

You're seriously gonna play that trick again. Last time you pulled that stunt, you wound up in the Queen's dungeon. Given how much she despises dishonesty and loathes lying, I can hardly believe she lets you out. I can't believe it.

At first, Amani was utterly confused. Wait, what are you talking about?

I have never been to this island before.

“You must be talking about somebody who looks just like me.”

Someone... Suddenly, Amani understood. They must be referring to his twin brother. In which case, Juma was locked in the Queen's dungeon. Amani rushed to the palace and demanded to speak with the Queen.

But when the Queen caught sight of Amani, royal face broke into a scowl. You again? Need I remind you that because I despise dishonesty, because I loath the lying,

because I forbid any fibs. I threw you into the dungeon. How in the world did you break out? But that wasn't me or majesty. It was my twin brother.

And he didn't mean to deceive you.

Those fruits he brought to the island.

He couldn't get them to grow, because he didn't know their secret. But I do! Please, Your Highness. Give me a chance to prove myself.

“First thing tomorrow, come to the palace garden.”

I will show you this miraculous fruit. The Queen gave Amani a very long, very stern look. All right. Fine. Tomorrow morning, you may show me this so-called miracle.

But remember, if you fail, you will be cast into the dungeon with your treacherous twin, and the two of you will live out your dishonest days behind bars. The next morning, Amani woke before sunrise, hurried to the palace garden,

and sprinkled the magic soil upon the ground. By the time the Queen arrived, Amani had covered the entire garden with a thin layer of the enchanted earth. Well, young man,

I don't have all day. Show me this supposed magic of yours. Amani grabbed a piece of fruit and popped it into his mouth. He began to chew and chew and then. He spat the pit onto the ground,

right on top of the magic soil.

“And just like that, a whole new tree began to grow,”

springing from the earth in the blink of an eye. The queen was gumsmacked. That was phenomenal. Extraordinary. I must try it for myself.

She reached into Amani's barrel of fruit and popped a handful into her mouth. Then she began spitting and spitting. Until much her delight, the royal garden was filled with magical fruit trees.

This fruit of yours is utterly spectacular young man. Thank you, Your Majesty. Now that you know I was telling the truth, will you please free my brother from his cell? The queen gaped at him,

as if he had three heads. Free your brother? No. I will not free your brother. A fib is a fib,

and he told me a real opera. But your highness, I assure you, my brother did not know it was a fib. He just did know the secret. Only I know the secret.

Young man, you appear to be some sort of magician. And that intrigues me. So I tell you what. If you can work, two more feats of magic,

I will free your brother. But the thought of his brother going free, and Amani's heart leapt. But at the thought of having to perform two more magic tricks, his heart fell.

Your Majesty, with all due respect, is there any way you can just let my brother go, without me having to absolutely not. You must work more magic,

or your brother will never see the light of day.

Here is the first thing I want you to do. The queen pointed at the jewel, the finger. Do you see that field over there?

That's the one! I want you to plant it.

Not with that fruit of yours,

but with wheat. All the wheat in the royal storehouse. The entire field must be planted by tomorrow morning. Now get to it! As the queen marched away,

Amani felt a pit form in his stomach. How could he possibly do as the queen asked? He spent the rest of the day trying to formulate a plan, but by nightfall he hadn't come up with a single idea. Oh man,

that field is bigger than my hometown.

“How in the world will I single-handedly plan it with wheat?”

That's easy! You won't! Amani glanced up, and did you know who he saw? Bird!

The same bird with whom he had shared his millet on the desolate island. I told you I'd find a way to repay you Amani. So here I am, or rather, here we are. I brought along a few friends. Amani heard a great wish of wings,

and suddenly the night sky filled with black and white birds. So many birds they blocked out the moon and stars. The birds swooped into the royal storehouse, scooped up grains of wheat in their beaks, then went about planting the field,

dropping the wheat on the earth and using their wings to smooth the soil. By morning, the job was done, and Amani was overcome with gratitude. Thank you, Bird! Thank you so much!

Always happy to help a friend and need, Amani!

The black and white bird took off into the air, followed by its flock of friends. Once the last feathered creature was out of sight, the queen came riding over on horseback. She galloped up and down the field.

For gleaming eyes fixed on the ground. Well, young man seems you managed to plant my entire field! By morning! I did your highness. Though if you must know,

I actually had a little bit of... Don't care what you had! You passed my test, that's all that matters. But, you still have one more trick to perform. Hmm?

Did you see that tree over there? Amani peered into the distance.

“You mean that tall one with a trunk is wide and broad as a house?”

That's the one! I want you to cut through that tree with one stroke of a sword. Just one. If you succeed, I will free your brother! Then the queen turned around and galloped away.

Amani spent the rest of the day racking his brain, trying to figure out how he could possibly cut down such a massive tree with just one stroke of a sword. Oh boy, I am in real trouble now. There is no way one hack can knock that tree down.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Amani glanced down. And do you know who he saw? And! The same ant with whom he chaired his honey on the rocky island.

I told you I'd find a way to repair you, Amani. So here I am, and I didn't come alone. Amani heard a wrestling tapping skittering sound. And suddenly the ground was swarming with ants. The army of ants marched over to the tree and scuttled up its trunk.

They chewed a hole, burrowed inside. Then began eating their way through the trunk's wood. By morning, the bark of the trunk still stood in place. But the inside of the trunk was all hollowed out. Amani felt a rush of gratitude.

Thank you, and thank you so much.

Always happy to help a friend and me, Amani.

As the ants marched up and over the hill, the queen came riding over. She hopped off her horse and handed Amani a steel sword. All right, Magician! Let's see what you can do. Amani took the sword, lifted at high in there,

and brought it down across the trees trunk. Because the inside was hollow. The enormous tree immediately toppled over. And guess what? So did the queen.

She was so astounded by what Amani did that she fainted to the ground. When she finally came to, she knew she had no choice but to make good on her promise and set juma-free. She was a staunch supporter of honesty, after all. But before the twin brothers could set sail and leave her island. Amani, wait!

Oh, I wonder.

“Will you stay here and join my court as the new royal Magician?”

You can cast your spells all over the palace. All over the kingdom, even.

Yes, or no? Well, Amani answered without hesitation. And he said, no. Because he knew the queen wanted a magician whose magic comes from a wand, or a hat, or a big book of wizardly spells.

But Amani's magic came from something else entirely, a kind generous heart. And he was eager to go out and share that heart with the world. Now, it's your turn. What's one good deed you can do this week? Maybe you can donate extra toys to a charity.

Pick up trash or recycling you find in a park, or write a thing you know to someone who's always there for you.

Whether it's a librarian, a postal worker, a bus driver, or family member. Think about your one good deed, then go out and do it.

“And remember that little acts of kindness can do a lot.”

[music] This week's story, The Magic Touch, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shier. It was edited by Circle Rounds, a supervising producer, Ann Marie C. Ferguson. Our original music and a silent design is by Anaction Malonis. Our artist is Sabina Han.

Sabina has drawn a black and white picture for every Circle Rounds story, and you can color them in. Grow nubs, you can print out more than 150 coloring pages on our website. WBUR.org/ CircleRound. [music] Special thanks to this week's actors.

Fiat Orchin. Taise Harris. Anthony Polmini. Erica Rose. Nick Shawley.

Mike Smith. Alexia Trainer. Don Ursula. And Eddie Getheggi. Grow nubs, check out Eddie Getheggi in the American Western film The Harder They Fall.

And watch for him in the third season of the Space Drama for All-Man Kind.

An Apple TV Plus. Our featured instrument this week was The Ambira. You can learn more about this percussive instrument from Africa. And see a photo of Eric and Malonis playing it on our website. Again, that's WBUR.org/ CircleRound.

Love the stories you hear on CircleRound. Please help us spread the word. Give us a five-star review on your favorite podcast app. Don't tell your friends to follow us wherever they get their podcasts. CircleRound is a production of WBUR.

Boston's NPR News Station. I'm Rebecca Shear. Thanks for circling round with us.

Now that you've made it to the end of this CircleRound episode,

“we want to know what's your favorite CircleRound story?”

Thousands of fans just like you have been telling us about the CircleRound stories they like best. Take a listen. Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours too. I'm Brian. I come from China.

This year, my favorite CircleRound story is The Crystal Storybox. My favorite part is with Anonsee Trip, Paisant, and brought Paisant to the Sky Queen. I love you, Rebecca Shear. My name is Ellie Thames, and I live in Seattle.

I can come to my favorite circle. See you like it flat in my favorite circle. It's one of Felix's clothes. Hi, what are you doing? You know I can go to the North Pole, right?

My name's Evelyn.

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and my favorite circle round eight, The Boston Star, and my favorite part is when he talks about the trailer. My name is Otto. I live in Albany, Oregon, and my favorite circle round story is The Paisant Cat.

By Rebecca Shear, we love you so much. My name is Icy, and I am from Candy and New Hampshire, and my favorite circle round story is where I mean the rainbow. My favorite part is When the Rinal Rines about being hungry. I love the stories Rebecca Shear, bye.

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