A Sticky Situation | Ep. 306

Summary

Podcast Summary: Circle Round – "A Sticky Situation" (Ep. 306)

Podcast: Circle Round
Host: Rebecca Scheer (WBUR)
Episode Title: A Sticky Situation
Date: November 25, 2025
Episode Length: ~21 min

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Main Theme

This episode, performed live at the Dale F. Halton Theater in Charlotte, NC, features the folktale "A Sticky Situation," inspired by Japanese stories. The narrative explores themes of kindness, respecting nature, greed, and poetic justice, cleverly intertwined with playful and musical storytelling for young audiences.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Introduction to Poetic Justice (00:10–01:30)

• Rebecca Scheer introduces the concept of poetic justice: “Poetic justice is when at the end of a story, goodness gets rewarded and misdeeds get punished, often in a very fitting way...”
• Sets up audience expectations, noting that this story’s main character receives poetic justice from none other than a poet.

2. Meet the Characters: Rao & Wren (02:21–03:41)

• Rao: Humble villager, earns a living by gathering dead branches as firewood, emphasizing respect for living trees.
• Wren: New neighbor, focused on profit, chops living pine branches for the market with little concern for the trees.
  • Memorable exchange:
    • Wren (03:20): “How else would I chop it? With my pinky finger?”
    • Rao (03:23): “But the pine trees on this mountain are alive, just like you and me. Why would you chop off their limbs?”

3. The Crying, Rhyming Pine Tree (04:27–06:20)

• Rao encounters a majestic pine tree crying from wounds where branches were cut—branches Wren had taken.
• The pine tree speaks in rhyme, sharing her sorrow:
  • Pine Tree (05:10): “Yes, trees can cry. If, like me, they’re cursed. I’m doomed and done for unless my fate is reversed.”

4. Rao’s Act of Kindness (06:45–07:10)

• Rao tears his own clothes to create makeshift bandages for the tree, tenderly tending to its sappy wounds.
  • Rao (07:02): “I’m so sorry this happened, pine tree, but I think the bandages are sealing the wounds. Do you feel any better?”

5. A Magical Reward (08:50–10:19)

• The pine tree, in gratitude, showers Rao with silver coins.
  • Pine Tree (10:09): “The coins are yours. Oh yes indeed. For helping out a tree in need.”

6. Wren’s Envy and Greed (10:46–12:27)

• Wren, seeing Rao’s newfound wealth, queries where Rao got it. Rao honestly explains the pine tree rewarded him.
  • Wren (11:26): “A pine tree gave you money? You have got to be joking. You know the old saying, right? Money doesn’t grow on trees.”
  • Rao (11:34): “Yes, I know the old saying. But a pine tree did give me this money. Every single coin.”

7. Wren’s Foolish Attempt (12:56–14:09)

• Blinded by greed, Wren rushes to the same tree, demanding a reward.
• The pine tree responds with poetic justice: instead of coins, Wren receives a sticky, sappy flood.
  • Pine Tree (13:16): “You’re the man I met today. The one who took my branches away. Sticky, sticky is my blood. So give me a pat and get a flood.”
  • Wren (13:47): “…Now bring it on, tree. Have at it. Unleash that flood.”
  • Pine Tree (14:16): “It was a flood you wanted so. A flood you shall know as I drip and dribble, gush and flow.”

8. Sticky Consequences and Lesson Learned (15:06–16:00)

• Wren becomes stuck in the pine sap overnight, finally escaping with a resolve to never chop living wood again.
  • Wren (15:43): “I will never chop wood from a living tree again. I’ll only gather fallen wood, just like Rao. My neighbor’s tender heart may be sappy, but better a sappy heart than a sappy head and face and body.”

9. Interactive Activity & Story Reflection (16:00–17:00)

• Rebecca invites listeners to try writing their own four-line poem about any topic, using the story’s ABAB rhyme scheme.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pine Tree’s Lament (05:10):
  • “Yes, trees can cry. If, like me, they’re cursed. I’m doomed and done for unless my fate is reversed.” — Pine Tree
• Wren Mocks Rao (11:26):
  • “A pine tree gave you money? You have got to be joking. You know the old saying, right? Money doesn’t grow on trees.” — Wren
• Poetic Justice Delivered (14:16):
  • “It was a flood you wanted so. A flood you shall know as I drip and dribble, gush and flow.” — Pine Tree
• Resolution (15:43):
  • “Better a sappy heart than a sappy head and face and body.” — Wren

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Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | | ----------- | -------------------------------------- | | 00:10 | Introduction, theme of poetic justice | | 02:21 | Introduction to Rao and Wren | | 04:27 | Rao finds the crying pine tree | | 05:10 | Pine tree speaks in rhyme | | 06:45 | Rao bandages the tree with his shirt | | 10:09 | Pine tree rewards Rao with coins | | 11:26 | Wren’s disbelief and questioning | | 12:56 | Wren runs to seek his own reward | | 13:16 | Pine tree sets up Wren’s poetic justice| | 14:16 | Flood of sticky sap for Wren | | 15:43 | Wren’s promise to change his ways | | 16:00 | Invitation: write a poem with ABAB rhyme|

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Tone & Language

The language is playful, gentle, and rhyming, well-suited to young listeners but layered with lessons for all ages. The tone is warm and engaging, encouraging both reflection and creativity.

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Conclusion & Activity

The episode concludes with a creative invitation for listeners to write their own poem, connecting storytelling to personal expression and deepening the episode's central lessons on kindness and accountability.

Activity Prompt (16:00):
“Pick a topic, then write a short poem about it. Just four lines. If you’d like, you can use our pine tree’s rhyming scheme of ABAB… Once you’re done, share your poem with someone you love. Then share it with us…”

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Additional Notes

• Episode performed live, featuring various actors and live music accompaniment for a rich, theatrical experience.
• Encourages family conversation, creativity, and positive environmental values.
• Listeners’ favorite stories are featured at the end, with audience participation highlighting Circle Round’s community focus.

Transcript

[Wren]

Wsbur podcasts boston.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

This Circle Round episode was recorded live at the Dale F. Halton Theater in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can learn more about our live events and about all things Circle Round, including our Picture Books Swag newsletter and Circle round [e-mail] Circle Circle Round. Ever heard the term poetic justice? Poetic justice is when at the end of a story, goodness gets rewarded and misdeeds get punished, often in a very fitting way. Spoiler alert. That's exactly what happens in the story we're about to hear. But our misbehaving character doesn't just receive poetic justice, he receives it from an actual poet. I'm Rebecca Scheer, and welcome to Circle Round Live at the Dalef Halton theatre in Charlotte, N.C. today. Our story is called A Circle Sticky Situation. It was inspired by tales from the East Asian island nation of Japan. Joining me on stage is a trio of talented actors, Frank Dominguez, Caroline Lee, and Phil Vavra. Providing musical accompaniment is the one and only Eric Shimalonis. So circle around everyone for A Sticky Situation. Rao lived in a humble hut in a quiet village beneath a tall mountain. Rao earned his living by collecting wood from the pine trees that covered the mountain slopes, then selling the wood at the market.

[Audience Member / Listener]

Firewood.

[Rao]

Get your firewood here.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Rao was not technically a wood cutter or a wood chopper because he never cut or chopped any of the wood he sold. Instead, as he trekked up and down the mountainside, he gathered up dead branches that had fallen to the ground. One day, while out collecting fallen wood, Rao met a fellow D named Wren.

[Wren]

Hi, Arroyo. I'm your new next door neighbor. I just moved to the village yesterday, and I have to say, the pine trees on this mountain are amazing. I mean, look at all this beautiful wood I collected. It's gonna fetch a pretty penny at the market.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Rao glanced at the thick limbs of wood in Wren's wagon. Then he glanced at the shiny steel axe on Wren's bed.

[Rao]

Ren, did you actually chop this wood with your axe?

[Wren]

How else would I chop it? With my pinky finger?

[Rao]

But the pine trees on this mountain are alive, just like you and me. Why would you chop off their limbs?

[Wren]

It's called making a living, Rao. Something you clearly know nothing about, judging by that ramshackle hovel you call home.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Rao ignored the dig.

[Rao]

Ren, don't you realize what happens when you hack a branch off a living pine tree? The SAP of the tree, its rich, sticky lifeblood, will drip and drip. And if it drips too much, the tree could die.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Ren rolled his Eyes, you are way.

[Wren]

Too tender hearted, Reo. If you want to succeed in this world, you better toughen up.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

And with that, Rao's new neighbor gripped the handle of his wagon and marched away. Rao sighed and continued up the slope, gathering fallen sticks in his sack. He was about to reach the mountain's summit when he suddenly heard crying.

[Rao]

Somebody's in distress. I must find them and help them out.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Rael wound his way to the top of the mountain. And there, standing tall and proud, was the most majestic pine tree he had ever seen. It was so tall and lofty, it looked like a bright green steeple with its crown reaching up to the sky. Its delicate needles sparkled like emeralds, and each and every one of those needles shuddered and shook. Has the tree let out sob after sob?

[Rao]

Pine Tree, are you crying? Can trees actually cry?

[Pine Tree]

Yes, trees can cry. If, like me, they're cursed. I'm doomed and done for unless my fate is reversed.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Rao froze.

[Rao]

Uh, hang on a sec. Pine Tree, are you actually talking?

[Audience Member / Listener]

Yes.

[Pine Tree]

How'd you guess?

[Rao]

I don't know, because you just spoke.

[Pine Tree]

I was being coy.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Boy, oh boy.

[Rao]

Oh, and you're a poet.

[Pine Tree]

Don't you know it?

[Rao]

I should have seen that coming.

[Pine Tree]

Listen, friend, what I said was true. I'm done for and cursed. I know not what to do. I used to be splendid, but I'm not anymore. Thanks to these wounds, I am at death's door.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Rao cocked his head as he took in the tree's words.

[Rao]

Wounds? What wounds are you talking about?

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

The tree bent one of her branches toward her trunk as if pointing. And that's when Rao saw them. A series of wide, gaping gashes and cuts where thick, sturdy limbs used to grow. And now those gashes and cuts were dripping with sticky SAP.

[Rao]

Oh, pine Tree, did somebody come and chop off your branches?

[Pine Tree]

You bet they did. Earlier today. One look at my limbs and their axe had its way. Now. Sticky, sticky is my SAP where my tender branches were snapped.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

It didn't take long for Rao to figure out who had done the deed.

[Rao]

Ren. Hang in there, Pine Tree. I'm going to help you.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Without missing a beat, Rao yanked off his jacket, tore off his shirt, and ripped them into strips. Long, thin strips like bandages. Then he wrapped the bandages around the tree's oozing trunk and held them gently in place.

[Rao]

I'm so sorry this happened, pine Tree, But I think the bandages are sealing the wounds. Do you feel any better?

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Rao expected the tree to respond with more poetry. But instead of producing a rhyming couplet, it produced a real curveball, an utter surprise that seemed to defy all rhyme and reason. What do you think the tree did after Rao bandaged its wounds? We'll find out after a quick break. Support for Circle Round comes from Audible. Get ready for Harry Potter like you've never heard it before in a captivating new audio production that brings the wizarding world magically to life. You'll hear footsteps echoing down the halls of Hogwarts and the whoosh of a gold as it zips past your ear. With a new musical score and an A list cast of voices, it's a delightful way to introduce the Harry Potter stories to a new generation. Harry potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is available now. Listen on [e-mail] HP1 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.

[Audience Member / Listener]

What I like about the Circle Round Club is that Rebecca here sends extra messages and it supports the show and there are no ads.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Grown ups support public radio and sign up [e-mail] CircleRoundClub. I'm rebecca scheer. Welcome back to circle round live at the dlf halton theatre in charlotte, north carolina. Tonight, today, our story is called a sticky situation. Before the break, kind hearted Rao tended to the sticky, sappy wounds of a rhyming pine tree. Once the makeshift bandages were in place, the tree did not let out another round of verse. Instead, there was a tinkling jingling sound and all of a sudden, what should come cascading down from the treetop but a shower of tinkling, jingling coins. That's right. Bright shiny silver coins were dropping from the tree and pooling on the ground and sparkling piles.

[Rao]

Pine tree, are you really giving me all these coins?

[Pine Tree]

The coins are yours. Oh yes indeed. For helping out a tree in need. So take the coins and thank you friend for saving me from a sad, sad end.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Rao wrapped his arms around the tree and gave it a hug. Then he gathered up the coins into his sack and headed home. On the way, he passed the house of his new neighbor. Ren was just getting back from the market. His wagon was now empty, but thanks to the pine tree's wood, his wallet was full. Still, when he spied the coins glittering in Rao's sack, he turned green with envy.

[Wren]

Rao, I thought you went up the mountainside to collect dead fallen wood, not cold hard cash. Where'd you get the loot?

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Rao paused. He was hesitant to tell his new greedy neighbor. The truth. But he was also too honest to tell a lie.

[Rao]

Well, Wren, if you really must know, these coins were given to me by a pine tree.

[Wren]

A pine tree?

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

At first Ren kept a straight face, but then he doubled over with laughter.

[Wren]

A pine tree gave you money? You have got to be joking. You know the old saying, right? Money doesn't grow on trees.

[Rao]

Yes, I know the old saying. But a pine tree did give me this money. Every single coin.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Wren stopped laughing and stared into Rao's eyes.

[Wren]

Okay, wait a minute. You're actually being serious, aren't you? You actually got these coins from a pine tree?

[Rao]

Yes, I did.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Wren paused. Then he tilted his head and tried to act casual.

[Wren]

So, just out of curiosity, which pine tree was it? As you know, the mountainside is covered with them.

[Rao]

It was a tree way up at the summit. The one so tall it looks like a bright green steeple.

[Wren]

A bright green steeple?

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Wren's eyes lit up.

[Wren]

Oh, you mean the really big one? The one with all the thick, sturdy branches?

[Rao]

Yep. And speaking of those thick, sturdy branches, you really should have thought twice before you took your axe and.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

But that's as far as Rael got. Ren had already taken off for the mountain, eager for the pine tree to give him a sack of money, too. When he reached the summit, his heart was pounding. From exertion, of course, but also from excitement. After all, he was moments away from swimming in silver.

[Wren]

Hey there, tree. Now that you've given Rao his prize, it's my turn to be showered with coins. So what do you say you do your thing and show me the money?

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Wren closed his eyes, waiting for the tree to unleash a torrent of coins. But instead, it spoke.

[Pine Tree]

You're the man I met today. The one who took my branches away. Sticky, sticky is my blood. So give me a pat and get a flood.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Wren felt a surge of excitement. A flood? The pine tree must be talking about a flood of coins.

[Wren]

All right, tree, I'll give you a pat. A nice big one.

[Pine Tree]

Here.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

He stuck out his palm and smacked the tree's trunk as if giving it a high five.

[Wren]

Now bring it on, tree. Have at it. Unleash that flood.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

And wouldn't you know it, that's exactly what the pine tree did. Only it wasn't a flood of coins. Instead.

[Pine Tree]

Ew.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

It was a flood of SAP. Sticky, syrupy tree SAP, slooshing and sluicing all over the place.

[Wren]

Yuck. This is not the flood I was talking about. Tree. Stop it. Stop it.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

But the tree did not stop it.

[Pine Tree]

It was a flood you wanted so. A flood you shall know as I drip and dribble, gush and flow.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

The SAP kept coming like an ooey, gooey waterfall, sticking all over Wren's hair and face and clothes.

[Wren]

Cut it out. Leave me be. Lay off the SAP, you silly tree.

[Pine Tree]

Oh, so you're rhyming now.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Isn't that great?

[Pine Tree]

But thanks to your greed, this is your fate.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

The SAP oozed down Wren's body. It began to pool around his feet, a thick puddle of gloppy, gluey syrup rising past his ankles, past his knees.

[Wren]

Yuck.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

And when it rose past Wren's waist, he was stuck, trapped, fixed to the spot.

[Wren]

I can't move. Somebody help me. Help me.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

But nobody came to help, and Ren was stuck in his gluey prison for the rest of the day and all through the night. Come morning, the SAP softened enough for him to break free. He let out a sigh of relief and remorse. Then he scrambled down the mountainside, scurrying as fast as his gummy, squishy feet could carry him. By the time he got home, he had made himself a promise.

[Wren]

I will never chop wood from a living tree again. I'll only gather fallen wood, just like Rao. My neighbor's tender heart may be sappy, but better a sappy heart than a sappy head and face and body.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

It took days for Wren to wash off all the SAP, but it didn't wash away his resolve. Because after the poetic justice he got from the rhyming pine tree, he refused to be in another sticky situation again. Now it's your turn. Just like our rhyming pine tree, you too can write poetic verse. Pick a topic, then write a short poem about it. Just four lines. If you'd like, you can use our pine trees rhyming scheme of A B, A B. So the first and third lines will rhyme, as will the second and fourth. Once you're done, share your poem with someone you love. Then share it with us. With your permission, we may feature it in your monthly Circle Round newsletter. The Lion's Roar Ask a grown up to help you. Email your rhyming verse to circleroundbur.org. This week's story, A Sticky Situation, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear. It was edited by Amarie Sivertson and performed by Frank Dominguez, Caroline Lee and Phil Vavra. Eric Shyamalanis composed our original music and played it live on the Taisho Goto. You can learn more about this Japanese stringed instrument and see a photo of Eric playing one on our website WBUR.org CircleRound. Circle Round's artist is Sabina Hahn. Sabina has created a black and white coloring page for all of our Circle Round stories and you can print them out and color them in while you listen. Grown Ups, Visit our website WBUR.org CircleRound and click on coloring pages. And while you're at WBUR.org circle round, you can also check out our Circle Round picture books, live events and sign up for your Circle Round newsletter. The Lion's Roar. Again, it's [e-mail] circle round and if you're looking for even more ways to Circle Round with us, please join the Circle Round Club and you'll support your favorite public media podcast while getting all sorts of cool stuff including ad free episodes, bonus bedtime stories, exclusive swag, and the chance to add on goodies like our Snuggly Lion Stuffy and a personalized birthday message from me. Grown ups, visit WBUR.org CircleRound and click on Circle Round Club. One more thing Grown Ups, if you enjoy Circle Round, please leave us a five star rating or review on your favorite podcast app. Every rating and review will help us keep Circling Round with you for years to come. Circle Round is a production of WBUR Boston's npr. I'm Rebecca Scheer. Thanks for Circling Round with us. Now that you've made it to the end of this Circle Round episode, we want to know what's your favorite Circle Round story. Thousands of fans just like you have been telling us about the Circle Round stories they like best. Take a listen. Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours too.

[Audience Member / Listener]

Hi, my name is Sophie, I'm from Ethiopia and my favorite Circular round is Strong Mind and Kind Hearts. My favorite part is when the old Crickety house turned into a jade Palace. My name is Kenley, I live in Fort Wayne, Indiana and my favorite Circle Round story is the Lion's Whisker. My name is Rio and I'm from Ryan, New York. My favorite Circle Round story is Ms. Tilda. I like the part when the mayor says I could have sworn her name was Ms. Tanya. My name is Kira, I live in Miami, New York. My favorite circle Round story is called in the Willow Tree. I like the part when Wood pigeon saves Ant's life. My name is Jasmine. My favorite program stories and friends. I love the part. Wednesday Going to Eating the Magic Herbs. Going to see Hyena. I thought we were best friends. My name is Rowan and I am at Nashville, Tennessee and my favorite story is Princess Pearl and the Scramble Day and my favorite part is when Princess Pearl goes to court. My name is Harry and I'm from Oakland, California. My favorite so ground story is Granny's Snowstorm and my favorite part is when Granny Snowstorm sees Boris. Hi, I'm George. I'm from Oakland, California. And my favorite circle round episode is Home Sweet Home. I like the part when Leopard says that scrawny little hair is mighty enough to hunt an elephant. My name is Ethan, I live in Seattle, Washington. My favorite story is Trail of Trix. My favorite part is when Mousie tricks Python Hawk Tiger. It makes him say Mouse deer.

[Narrator / Rebecca Scheer]

Did someone mention a story you've missed? Not to worry grown ups. You can find all of our circle round stories plus links to the stories, Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages and oh so much more on our website WBUR.org CircleRound.