
Efren Ramirez (Napoleon Dynamite, Lightyear) portrays a beloved trickster who lives by his wits, and uses them to outwit others, in this folktale from the Spanish-speaking world.
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Rebecca Shear
Hi, Rebecca Shear here. Before we get to our story, a humble invitation. Circle Round is a public media podcast. As public media faces serious federal funding cuts, I invite you to help keep us going strong by joining the Circle Round Club. As thanks for your donation, you'll get ad free episodes, bonus bedtime stories, exclusive swag, early access to Circle Round, live tickets and more. Sign up@wbur.org CircleRoundClub thanks for circling Round with us and thanks for your support.
Banker
WBUR Podcasts, Boston.
Rebecca Shear
Hi, Rebecca Scheer here. We're taking some time off this summer as we gear up for Circle Round's ninth season of our WBUR podcast, featuring dozens of folktales from around the world and an exciting lineup of live episode recordings across the United States. In the meantime, this week, please enjoy a special encore edition of Circle Round, a really fun story you may have missed the first time around. Here we go. Ever heard the phrase live by your wits? If you live by your wits, then you're surviving your getting by by using your cleverness, your cunning. We're about to meet a character who doesn't just live by his wits. He uses them to outwit a not very nice guy.
Banker
Rebecca Round.
Rebecca Shear
I'm Rebecca Scheer and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time. Today, our story is called Of Beans and Bunnies. Versions of this tale come from much of the Spanish speaking world, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico and Spain. Some really great people came together to bring you our adaptation of this folktale, including Efren Ramirez, whom you grown ups may recognize from Napoleon Dynamite. Efren stars in the animated adventure film Lightyear, coming out this summer. So circle around everyone for Of Beans and Bunnies. Long, long ago, if you lived in a certain small town in a certain faraway land and you ran into money trouble, you needed cash to buy food, say, or pay a bill, then you would go to the town banker to ask for a loan.
Townspeople
Please, sir, my crop didn't do well this season and my family is hungry. May I borrow some gold coins?
Rebecca Shear
The banker was always happy to grant such requests.
Banker
Why, of course you can borrow some gold coins.
Rebecca Shear
There was just one catch. If you were the least bit late in paying back the money you owed.
Townspeople
I'm sorry, sir, but I'm going to be late with the money I owe.
Rebecca Shear
Then the banker would get his revenge.
Banker
You're going to be late, you say? Unacceptable. For every day you're late in paying me back, I will double the amount you owe me. Double.
Rebecca Shear
So let's say you owed the banker 20 gold coins. The first day you were late with your payment, you would owe him 40 gold coins. The second day, you would owe him 80, then 160, and so on. So, as you can imagine, the townspeople lived in fear of the banker. Who showed no mercy when somebody fell on hard times.
Banker
You owe me double. And you, and you, and you.
Rebecca Shear
Now, it just so happens that one day. A traveler made his way to the banker's town. His name was Pedro. And though Pedro carried not much more than the clothes on his back and the brains in his head, those brains were remarkable. For Pedro, you see, was as sharp and clever as they come. So even though he rarely had more than one coin in his pocket, he always had his wits. When Pedro got to town, he happened to overhear the banker talking with one of the townspeople who owed him money.
Banker
I'm sorry, Mr. Banker, but I can't pay back your loan. You can't pay back my loan, you say? Then tomorrow, first thing in the morning, I'll be back, and you'll owe me double. Did you hear me? Double.
Rebecca Shear
Pedro was aghast at the banker's words. And at the way those words left the townsperson in tears.
Banker
What the hell will I ever be?
Pedro
Gosh, that banker is awful. I should do something to teach him a lesson. The question is, what?
Rebecca Shear
Pedro's clever mind mulled over the various tricks he could play. And at last, Aha. He came upon a brilliant idea. As the sun began to set, he rummaged through his satchel and fished out his coin purse. He loosened the drawstrings and peered inside.
Pedro
Ah, just as I thought. I'm down to my last gold coin. But no matter. I've got something more valuable than that. My wits.
Rebecca Shear
Pedro put away his coin purse, hoisted his satchel over his shoulder. And raced over to the grocer's shop.
Grocer
Greetings, sir. How may I help you?
Pedro
If you please, madam grocer, I'd like one clay pot, one cup of dry black beans and one wooden spoon. Oh, and some charcoal. A whole bag, if you have it. I'll give you one gold coin for it. I'm afraid it's all I have.
Grocer
One gold coin.
Rebecca Shear
The grocer scratched her chin.
Grocer
Well, times have been hard, and I owe a certain banker a boatload of money. So one gold coin is better than no gold coins. You may have your one clay pot, your one cup of dry black beans, your wooden spoon and your charcoal.
Pedro
Thank you. Thank you very much.
Rebecca Shear
Pedro dropped the clay pot, dry black beans, wooden spoon and Charcoal into his satchel, then made his way to the banker's big coat grand house. It was nighttime by now, so no one was about. And right there, beneath a tree on the side of the road, Pedro rolled out a blanket and went to sleep. A few hours later, just before daybreak, Pedro woke back up again.
Pedro
Okay, come sunrise, that stingy banker will be striding out of his house to collect his debts. I'd better act fast.
Rebecca Shear
Working quickly and quietly, Pedro took the dry black beans he purchased the night before and tossed them into the clay pot he'd purchased the night before. Then he filled the pot with water from his canteen. After that, he laid the charcoal on the side of the road and lit a fire. Beside the fire, he dug a small hole. Once the fire died down a bit, Pedro shoveled the glowing coals into the hole. Then he placed the pot of beans over the coals so that you couldn't see them. It looked like the pot was just resting on the ground. As the water began to boil and the beans began to cook, Pedro used his wooden spoon to stir the pot as he recited a little rhyme.
Pedro
Magic pot, make some heat. Give me something good to eat. Magic pot, make some heat. Give me something good to eat. Magic pot, make some heat.
Banker
Excuse me, sir.
Rebecca Shear
Pedro looked up. Standing before him in a fancy suit and shiny shoes was the banker.
Banker
I heard you saying your little poem as I walked out of my house just now. Given that you are on my property, I demand to know who. Who are you and what are you doing?
Rebecca Shear
Pedro gave his steaming pot a stir, then gave the banker a smile.
Pedro
My name is Pedro, sir. And can't you see I'm cooking breakfast.
Banker
But how? There's no fire. The water in that pot is boiling, and I can smell the aroma of black beans cooking, Yet I don't see so much as a flame.
Pedro
That's because it's a magic pot, sir. It doesn't need any fire or flames. You just put your food in, you place the pot on the ground. You see the magic words. Magic pot, make some heat. Give me something good to eat, and it begins to cook. Just like that.
Banker
Well, butter me up and call me a biscuit. That is amazing.
Rebecca Shear
As the banker watched the pot bubble and boil, his eyes grew wider and wider. And Pedro knew exactly what the greedy man was thinking. He was envisioning all the delicious foods he could make if this magic pot were his. Or all the money he could make if he sold such a treasure.
Banker
Listen, Pedro, was it.
Pedro
Yep. Pedro.
Banker
Pedro. This magic pot of yours, how much do you want for it?
Rebecca Shear
Pedro's heart skipped a beat. Just as he'd hoped, the banker was falling for his trick.
Pedro
I'm sorry sir, but my pot isn't for sale. There's not another pot like it in the whole wide world.
Banker
I'll give you 100 gold coins for it.
Pedro
100 gold coins? That's it for an extraordinary pot like this one. Frankly, sir, I am insulted.
Banker
200 then.
Pedro
Nope.
Banker
How about we raise it to 500?
Pedro
Nuh.
Banker
Double it to a thousand. 1000 gold coins for your magic pot.
Pedro
What do you say?
Rebecca Shear
Pedro pretended to sigh.
Pedro
Alright, fine. You win. 1,000 gold coins it is.
Banker
Splendid. I'll just go inside and collect my money. Stay right where you are. I'll be back in a flash.
Rebecca Shear
As the banker disappeared into his house, Pedro ate some beans from his so called magic pot.
Pedro
M I have to say, this banker fellow might be made of money, but he certainly isn't made of brains. He's totally fallen for my trick.
Rebecca Shear
Moments later, the banker came back holding a big silk purse.
Banker
Here you go, Pedro. 1,000 gold coins in exchange for your magic pot.
Pedro
Thank you, sir. Something tells me my pot is in just the right hands.
Rebecca Shear
And with that, Pedro ran off down the road, 1,000 gold coins in hand. The banker meanwhile, began gobbling up the black beans in the clay pot. Before long, the pot was empty.
Banker
That hit the spot. Those beans were scrumptious. But I have a hankering for some more.
Rebecca Shear
So the banker raced into his house, grabbed a fistful of dry beans, then dashed out and plunked them into the pot.
Banker
Okay. What were those magic words again? Magic pot, make some heat. Give me something good to eat. Nothing's happening. Let me try again. Magic pot, make some heat. Give me something good to eat. Still nothing.
Rebecca Shear
The banker spent the next hours reciting the magic words again.
Banker
Magic pot, make some heat. Give me something good to eat.
Rebecca Shear
And again.
Banker
Magic pot, make some heat. Give me something good to eat.
Rebecca Shear
But the pot refused to cook. At last, the banker reached down and lifted the pot off the ground. And the moment he did.
Banker
Well. Fry me in butter and call me a catfish. There are coals underneath this pot and they're black and cold as can be.
Rebecca Shear
The banker felt his stomach clench his jaw too. And all at once he realized the magic pot wasn't magic at all.
Banker
That's settles it. I will get revenge on this Pedro fellow. And oh, victory will be sweet.
Rebecca Shear
What do you think the banker will do next? And will Pedro get away scot free? Or will he have to pay the Piper or Banker? We'll find out after a quick break.
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Rebecca Shear
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Indeed
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Rebecca Shear
What are Circle Round listeners saying about the Circle Round Club, the newest membership opportunity for super fans like you? Here's a taste.
Listeners
I love being in the Circle Round Club because the snuggle times are perfect for when you want to listen to Circle Round but you don't have that much time.
Rebecca Shear
Grown ups get your Circle Round super fan signed up today@wbur.org CircleRoundClub welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Shear. Today Today our story is called Of Beans and Bunnies. Before the break, a hard hearted banker gave mischievous, quick witted Pedro 1000 gold coins for a magic pot. Which as it turned out wasn't magic at all. Pedro took the gold coins and handed them out to all the townspeople who couldn't afford to pay back the bankers loans.
Townspeople
Thank you Pedro.
Banker
Thank you Pedro.
Grocer
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Rebecca Shear
Pedro knew the banker would be furious once he learned the magic pot wasn't really magic. So the clever fellow decided to cook up another scheme. Keeping a handful of coins for himself. He visited a farm on the edge of town and told the farmer he'd like to buy two bunnies.
Pedro
Oh, those twins over there. They the little gray ones that look exactly alike. I'll take them both.
Rebecca Shear
Pedro brought the twin bunnies to a nearby boarding house and rented a room. Then he asked the owner of the boarding house if she could do a certain favor.
Pedro
Dear lady, I wonder if for dinner tonight you can prepare a feast in the dining room. The finest meal you can muster. Roasted meat, luscious stew, perhaps a nice fried fish. Say five o'. Clock. I'll give you several gold coins for your trouble.
Rebecca Shear
The woman agreed. So Pedro left one of his new bunnies at the boarding house, then tucked the other identical bunny into his satchel and made his way into town. Just as he expected. As he wandered down the road, he came face to face Pedro with the banker.
Banker
I've been searching all over for you. You Scoundrel. You told me that clay pot of yours was magic, and yet it was nothing of the sort.
Pedro
I'm sorry, sir.
Rebecca Shear
Pedro hung his head.
Pedro
What I did was wrong. So wrong. So please, allow me to make it up to you.
Banker
Make it up to me? And how do you propose doing that?
Pedro
By having you over for dinner. I'll serve you the finest foods. You do like fine foods, don't you? Roasted meat, luscious stew, nice fried fish.
Rebecca Shear
In fact, the banker did like fine foods, and he couldn't resist Pedro's offer.
Banker
All right, fine. I'll join you for dinner.
Pedro
Wonderful. Just hang on a sec.
Rebecca Shear
Pedro reached into his satchel and took out the little gray butter. He stroked its ears as he leaned in close to its furry face.
Pedro
Okay, little helper, here's what you must do. Run back to the boarding house and tell the proprietor we're having company. Tell her to prepare plenty of roasted meat, luscious stew, and nice fried fish. Now, off you go.
Rebecca Shear
The banker watched as the spry little creature hopped off down the road.
Pedro
Ah.
Banker
I'm sorry, Pedro, but will that little gray bunny actually convey your message?
Pedro
Come on over and find out. Dinner starts at five.
Rebecca Shear
Several hours later, as the clock struck five on the nose, who should come knocking at the boarding house door but the banker. Pedro was thrilled.
Pedro
Welcome, Mr. Banker. I was hoping you would come. And you're just in time. The food is ready.
Rebecca Shear
Pedro gestured toward a table loaded with roasted meat, luscious stew and fried fish.
Pedro
Lucky for us my little helper sent the message on time. Otherwise dinner would be running ever so late.
Rebecca Shear
Pedro gestured toward a little gray bunny nibbling lettuce in the corner.
Pedro
There's not another bunny like him in the whole wide world.
Rebecca Shear
Now, this little gray bunny in the corner, as you may have guessed, it was not the same little gray bunny Pedro had pulled from his satchel out on the road. That bunny didn't know its way back to the boarding house, so it was probably in a forest or field somewhere, nibbling grass and clover to its heart's content. So who was this bunny, then? The other bunny's twin, of course, because Pedro had bought two bunnies from the farmer. Right? So this bunny was the one Pedro had left at the boarding house before heading out toward town. But the baker didn't know any of that, so his dinner was served. The greedy man kept sneaking glances at the little gray bunny, wondering how he might make this supposedly miraculous creature his own.
Banker
Pedro, if you sell me that little gray bunny of yours, I'll let Bygones be bygones. And I'll forgive you for that stunt you pulled with that so called magic pot. So, how much do you want for it?
Rebecca Shear
Pedro smiled to himself. This was just what he hoped would happen.
Pedro
I'm sorry, sir, but my little gray bunny isn't for sale. That said, I could consider parting with it on one condition.
Banker
Oh, and what might that one condition be?
Pedro
That you forgive all all of the townspeople's debts. Everyone who owes you money. You consider their loans null and void.
Banker
Forgive all the townspeople's debts? I couldn't possibly.
Pedro
No deal. No bunny.
Rebecca Shear
The banker gritted his teeth.
Banker
All right, fine. You win. I'll forgive all the townspeople's debts. Every last one of them. Just give me that bunny.
Rebecca Shear
So after dinner, once the dishes were cleared, Pedro gave the banker the bunny. The next day, the banker invited the mayor, the judge and the schoolmistress, the three most important people in town, to go riding with him. As they galloped along on horseback, the baker took the little gray bunny out from his grand.
Banker
Behold this little gray bunny, friends. There's not another bunny like him in the whole wide world.
Rebecca Shear
The banker stroked the bunny's ears and leaned in close.
Banker
Okay, little helper, here is what you must do. Run back to my house and tell the cook we're having company. Tell him to prepare a big lunch of smoked sausages, roasted meat pies and chocolate truffles for dessert. Now, off you go.
Rebecca Shear
The banker let the gray bunny go, and the mayor, judge and schoolmistress watched as the nimble creature hopped off into the forest.
Grocer
Mr. Banker, is that bunny really going to deliver a message to your cook?
Pedro
Hmm?
Banker
Surely such a thing is not possible.
Townspeople
It's just a bunny, after all.
Banker
So you say, friends. But come on over and find out. We'll ride for another hour, then we'll head back to my house for a real feast.
Rebecca Shear
An hour later, when the banker led his friends into his dining room.
Banker
Well, here we are.
Rebecca Shear
He received a big surprise.
Banker
Wait a minute. Where's lunch? Cook, where is our food? The table is bare.
Rebecca Shear
The cook came running out of the kitchen.
Pedro
Of course, it's Bear, Sir. I never received instructions about what you wanted to eat. And I didn't know you were expecting company.
Banker
But the little gray bunny. Didn't it tell you?
Pedro
The little gray what, sir?
Rebecca Shear
The banker's eyes swept across the room. Indeed, there was no little gray bunny to be seen anywhere. And that's when he realized, Pedro, he had been duped again. And now the banker had no debts to collect, no bunny to do his bidding. And much to his grumbling stomach's dismay, no lunch to eat. As for Pedro, well, the clever and mischievous traveler was long gone off to another town or country where there were wrongs to be righted and tricks to be played. Now it's your turn. Across the planet, many, many people are working to right the wrongs they see in this world. What's one thing you can do to join them? Maybe you can clean up litter in your favorite park. You can donate clothing, books or toys to children in need. Or you can just spread kindness and love wherever you go. Find a grown up and talk with them about how you can do your part to improve our world. This week's story of beans and bunnies was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear. It was edited by Circle Rounds supervising producer Amarie Sivertson. Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shimalonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn. Sabina has drawn a black and white picture for every Circle Round story and you can color them grown ups. You can print out more than 160 coloring pages on our website, WBUR.org CircleRound Special thanks to this week's Kevin Corbett, Rishikesh Irue, Edward Hong, Nick Sholly, Amari Sivertson, Mike Smith, Alexia Trainor, Dawn Ursula and Efren Ramirez. Listen for Efren in the animated feature film Lightyear coming out in June 2022. The featured instrument in today's story was the Charongo. You can read about this stringed instrument and see a picture on our website. Again, that's WBUR.org CircleRound Love the stories you hear on Circle Round. It would make our day if you gave us a five star review on your favorite podcast app. And please tell your friends to follow us wherever they get their podcasts. Circle Round is a production of wbur, Boston's NPR News station. I'm Rebecca Scheer. Thanks for circling around 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.
Listeners
Hi, my name is Zoe and I I'm from Hawaii and my favorite episode is the Bright Yellow Hat and I like the part where she talks to the tree and the tree says.
Pedro
Hi.
Listeners
I'm Coral and I live on Maui. My favorite Circle Round story is the Bright Yellow Hat. I like the part where Flora talks the wildflowers in the wildflowers talking. My name is Neura and I live in Westchester, Pennsylvania. My favorite story is the Uncommon Commoner. My favorite part is when the man says cock a doo doo doo. My name is Milo, I live in Richardson, Texas and my favorite Circle Round is the most fabulous fur. My favorite part is when the rabbit came takes the otter's coat. I'm Charlotte. And I'm Lucy and we're from Syracuse, New York. And our favorite story is the well of Honor. We like the part when the donkey jumps over the well. My name is Nir. My favorite story was the World of Music and my favorite part was When Wind God Leads the Musicians to Earth. Hi, my name is Lily. I live in Park City, Utah. My favorite Circle Round story is Granny Snowstorm and I like the whole thing.
Rebecca Shear
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 Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages, and oh so much more on our website, WBUR.org circle circle round.
Circle Round Podcast Summary: "Encore: Of Beans and Bunnies"
Podcast Information
In this special encore edition of Circle Round, host Rebecca Shear presents the enchanting folktale "Of Beans and Bunnies." This episode reintroduces listeners to a clever protagonist, Pedro, whose wit is put to the test against a heartless banker in a small, troubled town.
The story unfolds in a quaint, distant town plagued by financial hardships. The townspeople rely heavily on a strict local banker who provides loans with a daunting interest policy: any delay in repayment results in the debt doubling each day. This oppressive practice keeps the community in constant fear and under the banker's merciless control.
Notable Quote:
Banker (03:02): "You're going to be late, you say? Unacceptable. For every day you're late in paying me back, I will double the amount you owe me. Double."
Enter Pedro, a resourceful traveler known for his sharp intellect and quick thinking. Unlike the stressed townspeople, Pedro carries little more than his clothes and his wits, which he uses to navigate challenges effectively.
Upon arriving in town, Pedro witnesses the banker's ruthless behavior firsthand. Disturbed by the overheard conversation where the banker threatens to double a poor man's debt, Pedro resolves to teach the banker a lesson.
Notable Quote:
Pedro (04:36): "Gosh, that banker is awful. I should do something to teach him a lesson. The question is, what?"
Pedro devises a clever plan involving everyday items:
Notable Quotes:
Pedro (07:36): "Magic pot, make some heat. Give me something good to eat."
Banker (09:14): "Listen, Pedro, was it."
Believing he has acquired a genuine magical artifact, the banker attempts to use the pot but discovers it lacks true magic. Frustrated and hungry, he realizes he has been deceived by Pedro's ingenuity.
Notable Quote:
Banker (12:18): "There are coals underneath this pot and they're black and cold as can be."
Undeterred by his initial success, Pedro introduces a second ruse involving twin bunnies:
During dinner, Pedro leverages the absence of the magical capabilities of the bunny to negotiate the forgiveness of all the townspeople's debts in exchange for the bunny. Faced with Pedro's clever negotiation, the banker begrudgingly agrees, releasing the town from his oppressive loans.
Notable Quotes:
Pedro (19:39): "That said, I could consider parting with it on one condition."
Banker (20:19): "All right, fine. You win. I'll forgive all the townspeople's debts. Every last one of them. Just give me that bunny."
With the townspeople's debts forgiven, the banker is left without leverage, and Pedro’s actions bring relief and freedom to the community. The story emphasizes the power of wit and kindness over greed and oppression, showcasing how one individual's intelligence and compassion can effect meaningful change.
Closing Message: Rebecca Shear concludes the story by encouraging listeners to take action in their own communities, whether through small acts of kindness or larger initiatives to address injustices.
Notable Quote:
Pedro (23:00): "I'm sorry, sir, but my little gray bunny isn't for sale."
The episode concludes with listeners sharing their favorite Circle Round stories, highlighting the show's impact and the cherished memories it creates for families worldwide.
Example Listener Comments:
"Of Beans and Bunnies" serves as a delightful reminder of the value of intelligence and benevolence. Pedro's adventures not only entertain but also inspire listeners to stand up against unfairness and to use their own skills to make the world a better place.
For more stories, coloring pages, and activities, visit WBUR.org/CircleRound.