The Bolt of Silk

Think about a time you felt peaceful, calm, at ease.

“In today's tale, a mysterious magic maker seeks to end peace, calm, and ease, until a brave”

heroine stands up to restore some harmony. I'm Rebecca Schier, and welcome to Circle Round. We're Storytime Happens All the Time. Today our story is called The Bolt of Silk. Versions of this tale come from Egyptian, Palestinian, and Sudanese folklore.

Some really great people came together to bring you our version of this folk tale, including Samantha Bayart, voice of such beloved video game characters as Carlac in Baldur's Gate 3, and Darth Null in Star Wars the Old Republic. So circle round everyone for The Bolt of Silk. Their once was a kind old woman named Nila.

“Nila always started her days the exact same way.”

She woke up right and early. Rise and shine! She pulled her quirky bones out of bed. Come on, knees, I need you to cooperate. Then fetched her walking stick to take her morning stroll.

More like a morning shuffle. If I walked any slower, I'd be mistaken for a glacier. Nila shuffled through the quiet streets in the broadening daylight, until she reached her favorite spot in the town square. A comfy wooden bench shaded by a palm tree.

“Ah, how lovely it is to sit here and watch the world go by, and to rest these crickly old”

knees. No one ever seemed to notice Nila, yet everyone seemed to know that this bench was hers.

It was always empty, ready and waiting for her to come and sit.

But then, one summer morning, Nila got to the town square and found her favorite spot. Taken! Sitting on the bench under the palm tree was an unfamiliar woman draped in a long crimson cloak. Nila hobbled over and smiled. Good morning madam, may I join you?

This bench happens to be my favorite spot, I find it so very peaceful. The woman glanced up, her eyes were piercing its sharp. May you join me, and I suppose you could, but be warned, this peaceful spot is about to get a whole lot less peaceful. Nila took a stem back, but I'm afraid I don't follow what do you mean it's about

to get a lot less peaceful. Oh, you'll see, Nila and the woman sat in silence. As the morning war on, the square began filling up, and once it was bustling with town's people, the woman stuck out her arm and swept it through the air. No sooner had she made this gesture than all the people in the square began to fight.

Couples were picking arguments, children were calling each other names. The grocer was shouting at the butcher who was hollering at the cobbler. It was pure, mayhem, Nila turned to the woman in alarm.

Madam, I have lived in this town my entire life and I've never seen everyone so angry.

What do you suppose has gotten into them? Oh, that's easy. The woman's face stretched into a cold grin, it's me. What do you mean? Turning people against each other, causing all sorts of distress, despair, and all

around discord, it's all part of my job as a sorceress, a sorceress. Nila's blood turned cold. You are a sorceress indeed, and as such, there's nothing I love more than sewing the seeds of suffering and sorrow, tumultant turmoil. Well, you can't stay here sorceress, you must leave at once, oh please.

I have no intention of leaving this town anytime soon my dear, so you'd better get used to me. Nila felt a clench of outrage. She had no intention of getting used to the sorceress, instead she intended to drive her away. You know, sorceress, what you said before, about sewing the seeds of suffering and sorrow

and tumultant turmoil, there's a few of my favorite things.

“Well, the more I think about it, couldn't anyone do that?”

There are plenty of people in this world who cause agony and anguish, grief and destruction all on their own. Why, even, I could do it. You, the sorceress, scoffed your little lady.

You could never do what I do, no one could, but I can, and if I do, you must promise

me you'll leave this town forever. The sorceress stared at Nila, like a cat would stare at an especially scrumptious mouse. All right then, if you can show me how a little lady like you can work darker magic than a sorceress like me, I will leave this town, but if you can't show me, you better watch your step.

A chill rushed down Nila's spine, but she took a breath, then motioned across the town square.

“Do you see that little shop over there, the one with windows full of colourful fabric?”

Yes, what of it? Well, that shop belongs to a cloth merchant, she got married a year ago to a baker, the two of them have been living in marital bliss ever since.

So I've noticed, I've managed to stir up trouble with a million different couples, but

I can't shake the happiness of those two, it's impossible. You may be, but not for me, once I'm through with them, that happy couple will be ready to call it quits. Meet me tonight outside the cloth merchant's house and bring your bags. Once you see the havoc I've reached, you'll be on the first train out of town.

What do you think Nila will do? What would you do if you were Nila? You'll find out what happens 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. What I like about the Circle Round Club is that my back is here, so take some messages, and it's a push to the show, and there are new ads. grownups support public radio and sign up today at wbru.org/ Circle Round Club. I'm Rebecca Scheer and welcome back to Circle Round.

Today our story is called The Bolt of Silk. Before the break, Nila bet she could reek just as much havoc as the sorceress could without magical powers. If the old woman succeeded, the sorceress must leave it town. The sorceress accepted the bet and Nila got to work.

Her target? The most happily married couple in town. She went back to her house and filled her purse with coins, then she returned to the town square and stepped into the cloth shop where the merchant greeted her with a wave. Good day madam, how may I help you, greetings, I've come to buy a gift, marvellous.

May I ask who it's for?

Well, the truth is, I don't know who it's for, I mean, I do know it's just that I've never

met him, but my daughter has fallen madly in love with him. Oh, there's nothing quite like true love.

“That's what I thought too, until I found out that this man is married married?”

Oh, yes, but my daughter is nuts about this guy, totally gagga, and apparently the feeling is mutual, he told her that he would run away with her, leave everything behind, including

Both of cloth, the most beautiful both of cloth in the world.

“A look of recognition, dawned on the merchant's face, aha, so that's why you've come”

to my shop, bingo. You must understand, my daughter is my one and only child, she is the light of my life and I adore her, so when she comes to me and says she'll die of a broken heart if she can't be with her beloved, what else can I do but help her out? The merchant was very quiet, Naila could tell her made up story, had sparked the woman's

interest and sympathy. Madam, I believe I have just the thing for you, wait right here. The merchant bustle to the back store room, when she returned, in her arms was a big role of beautifully embroidered silk. This silk was imported from a faraway land, it's very rare, and too expensive to put

on display with the rest of the merchant dice, so I keep it in the back. What do you think? I think it's perfect! Could you wrap it up for me please?

“Of course, I'll even use my special gold paper.”

The merchant swathed the bolts of silk and shimmering gold gift wrap, Naila paid her handsomely, then shoveled out to the town square. Okay, now that part one of my plan is in motion, it's time for part two! Clutching the gold wrapped package under her arm, she made her way across town. When she reached the house, the merchant shared with her husband, the maker, she knocked

at the door. Good day madam, may I help you? Naila flashed the baker a week, grin. "Oh, I certainly hope you can help me. I was walking through town when suddenly I felt so faint.

"Woozy, completely out of sort. I don't know if it's the heat or these old bones of mine, but I need to rest." To Naila's delight, the baker fell for her act. Oh, of course you can come in, here take my arm. The aroma of butter and cinnamon filled the air as the baker led Naila to the sitting

room. Make yourself comfortable on the sofa, and I'll bring you a cold drink. Some food too, I just took a batch of pastries out of the oven, I made them from my wife. Perhaps the loot favorite, but I'm sure she won't mind if you have a couple.

While the baker busyed himself in the kitchen, Naila got to work. She took the gold wrapped package and stuffed it behind a big fluffy pillow on the sofa. When the baker bustled in, the package was hidden from view. "Here you go madam, I brought you a glass of cold milk and some pastries, enjoy." Naila sipped the milk and nibbled the pastries.

And she thanked the baker, bid him farewell, and tuttered out of the house. Later that day, when the cloth merchant came home from work, the baker was waiting at the door, a tray of pastries in hand. "Welcome back dearest." "Oh darling, you begged my favorite pastries."

"I sure did, dry one." He popped a pastry into the merchant's mouth. "No, it's nice and sweet, just like you." Of course, they're also flaky, unlike me. "You've got that right, you're anything but flaky.

You're the most trustworthy person I've ever known.

And thanks to you, this first year of marriage has been the happiest year I've ever known."

Nail drink to that, speaking of which, how about some milk to go with your sweets, my sweet. Make yourself comfy on the sofa while I pour two glasses. The baker bustled to the kitchen, and the merchant settled down on the sofa. But when she rested her head on the big fluffy pillow, a puzzled expression crossed her face.

"Oh, why does this pillow feel so lumpy?" Something stuck behind it.

“She grabbed the pillow and tossed it aside, and can you guess what she found?”

That's right, the gold wrapped package of silk. The one she had sold to the old woman, so that her daughter could give it to her married boyfriend.

At first, the merchant was dumbfounded.

How did the package get here? But then, snippets of the day's conversation went zigzagging through her mind.

her.

“He told her that he would run away with her if she can give him one thing, the most beautiful”

bold of cloth in the world."

The merchant froze, "But this mysterious, married man, be her husband." "It couldn't be, yet it truly seems like it is. How could my love betray me like this? How could he be untrue? I can't bear to face him.

I'll go to my shop and spend the night, then I'll figure things out in the morning. Oh, my heart is broken, broken." The merchant sniffled at wiped her eyes. Then she drew herself to her feet, grabbed the package of silk, and burst out the door. Here's blurring her vision with every step.

By the time the baker came in with the milk, the merchant was gone.

"Uh, honey, where'd you go, honey?"

Meanwhile, as this dramatic scene was playing out, two witnesses were huddled outside in the bushes, watching through the window and hanging on to every word, and can you guess who they were? You've got it, it was Naila, and the sorceress. As the heartbroken merchant burst out of the house and disappeared down the road, Naila turned

to the sorceress with a look of triumph. "Well, I said that if you met me here tonight, you would see the havoc I reached. Now you have. Thanks to my work, the supposed happiest couple in the world is about to call it quits." The sorceress stared at Naila, open mouth, but it can't be a little lady like you.

"And yet I did.

You saw it with your own evil eyes.

Now take your seeds of suffering and sorrow tunneled and turmoil and leave this town sorceress, and don't even think of coming back." The sorceress shot Naila a glare, then she tossed her crimson cloak over her shoulder, swept out an arm and was gone.

“Naila drew in a deep breath, there was something very important she must do now, otherwise”

she would be no better than the sorceress. She took up her walking stick and shuffled through the cloth shop. The door was locked, so she gave a quick knock. When the merchant opened the door, her eyes were red and puffy, and her face was streaked with tears.

"The shop is closed, and I'm not seeing any customers until." "Oh, it's you!" Naila felt a wave of guilt, she knew she must make things right. "Indeed, ma'am, it is I. I'm looking for more of that silk you sold me today."

The merchant scowled, "Oh, you know." "You mean, one boat wasn't enough?" "It would have been, but on my way home from your shop I got terribly dizzy. My head started swimming my knees when weak, so I knocked at the door of a kind stranger." "I believe he was a baker."

The merchant's ears perked up a baker?

“"I think so, when he let me inside to rest on the sofa, he offered me the most delicious”

pastries." "Pastries?" "Oh, yes, the sweetest flakiest treats I have ever tasted. But when it was time for me to go, I forgot the package of silk. You...forgot it?"

"I did!" "Silly goose that I am, I must have left it on the sofa in his house. I stuck it behind this big fluffy pillow. And now I can't remember the address." The merchant's jaw dropped wide open.

Then, without a word, she hurried to the store room. She came back carrying the gold wrapped package of silk. Naila fained surprise, throwing a hand to her mouth. "Oh, my bolt of silk!" "How did it get back?"

"Yeah!" The merchant sighed. "Oh, well, it's like this. The house you stopped at today was mine." "Oh, no!"

"Yes, it was my husband who offered you pastries. The sweetest, most trustworthy man in the world. And now I must go home and give him the biggest hug in the world.

Naila grinned and left the shop.

“Then she watched as the merchant locked up and hastened home to her sweetheart.”

That was the last time Naila dabbled in sewing the seeds of sorrow and turmoil. Instead, she gratefully went back to her old routine. And from what I hear, she still started her days the exact same way. She wakes up bright and early. "Rise and shine!"

She pulls her creaky bones out of bed. "Oh, hyps!" "Are you the ones giving me grief today?" Then she fetches her walking stick, shuffles to her favorite spot, and sits, beaming from

ear to ear as she watches the world go by.

Now, it's your turn. What brings you peace? Is it a person, a place, an activity?

“Find some paper and draw a picture of something or someone that makes you feel peaceful.”

When you're done, share it with someone you love, and then, if you'd like, share it with us. Turn up Snap a Photo of your Circle Round fan and their picture and email it to [email protected]. With your permission, we may feature your photo in your monthly Circle Round newsletter, the Lions were.

If you're not yet on our email list, sign up today at wbr.org/circleround.

This week's episode, The Boat of Silk, was adapted by me for backish here.

It was edited by Dean Russell. Total original music and sound designed by Eric Shimalonis. Eric's featured instrument this week is the "Ewd". You can learn more about this Middle Eastern looped and see a photo of Eric playing one on our website, wbr.org/circleround.

“CircleRound's artist is Sabina Han, Sabina has created a black and white coloring page for”

all of our CircleRound stories and you can color them in while you listen. grown-ups download our coloring pages at wbr.org/circleround. Special thanks to this week's actors, Karen Kumar, Susanna Mars, Dawn Ursula and Samantha Bayard. Samantha is a classically trained actor best known for voicing utils of beloved video game

characters including Karlack and Baldur's Game 3 and Darth Null in Star Wars, the Old Republic. If you love CircleRound and want to circle around with us in even more ways, I invite you to join the CircleRound Club. As thanks for your donation, we'll send you an ad-free feed, bonus bedtime stories, a welcome

box, special CircleRound swag, audio features about Eric's musical instruments, and oh so much more, including the chance to order a personalized birthday message from me, Rebecca Share. Sign up for the CircleRound Club and support the public media podcast you love at wbr.org/circleround. Open up, if CircleRound is a favorite in your household, please leave us a five-star rating

or review on whatever podcast app you're using right now. Your feedback will help us keep the CircleRound Circle growing for years to come. CircleRound is a production of wbr, Boston's NPR. I'm Rebecca Share, 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.

Hi, my name is Stewart, and I live in Calgary, Alberta. My favorite CircleRound is the Flake Puber. My favorite part in the Flake Puber is when they catch the Flake Puber in the trap. My name is Winston, and I live in Calgary, Canada. My favorite CircleRound story is all of them.

My name is Mina. I live in Portland, Oregon, and my favorite CircleRound is Call of the Cucube, because I like the part when it says "Cucube, Cucube," and then the virus says, "I'm trying to yell at Barnaby," and Steve says, "Oh, sorry." My name is Cal up, and I'm from Domestim for Morn, and my favorite CircleRound story is of

beans and bunnies, and my favorite part is when Pedro tricks the mayor. My name is Julia, and I live in San Francisco, and my favorite story is Grace Nauton, and

Scotland.

My name is Mina, I live in Portland.

“My favorite story is all that little, my favorite part is when the lady says "You pass”

your test."

My name is Laura, I'm from Delhi, and I'm walking to my favorite CircleRound story in

all of them.

“Did someone mention a story you've missed?”

Not to worry.

Throw nups, you can find all of our CircleRound stories, plus links to the CircleRound

club, picture books, coloring pages, and owe so much more on our website, WBUR.org/ CircleRound.