Encore: Three Clever Brothers

Summary

Circle Round Podcast Summary: "Encore: Three Clever Brothers"

Introduction

In the December 31, 2024 episode of WBUR's Circle Round, titled "Encore: Three Clever Brothers," host Rebecca Shear brings to life a captivating folktale that underscores the value of observation, critical thinking, and wisdom. Designed for children and families, this episode blends storytelling with rich soundscapes, featuring a star-studded cast including Alexandra Billings from Transparent and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Story Overview

A Father's Legacy of Learning

The narrative begins in a quaint village where a dedicated teacher raises three sons—Adam, Aziz, and Amir. Although not wealthy, their father instills in them a profound love for learning and the importance of keen observation. As he grows older and retires, he imparts a lasting legacy:

Father [04:17]: "All right, then. I ask that each and every day you work on building up those wonderful minds of yours. Because cleverness, curiosity, wisdom, those are the true riches. And armed with such riches, you will never, ever be at a loss."

The Brothers' Journey

Honoring their father's wishes, the brothers embark on a journey to the bustling capital city, traversing diverse landscapes while meticulously observing their surroundings. Their keen senses are soon put to the test when they encounter a distressed merchant on the outskirts of the city:

Merchant [06:26]: "Thanks for asking, but I'm afraid I'm not okay at all. You see, I'm a traveling merchant, and today I lost my best friend in the whole entire world."

The merchant laments the disappearance of his camel, providing intricate details about its appearance and ailments. Impressed and perplexed by the brothers' accurate recollections—despite their claims of never having seen the camel—they accuse them of theft, leading to an unexpected court showdown.

The Courtroom Confrontation

In the courthouse, the tension escalates as the merchant confronts the brothers with their precise descriptions of his missing camel:

Merchant [08:19]: "But somehow you knew I was missing a camel. And you described him so perfectly... Wait a minute. You've stolen my camel, haven't you?"

Faced with these accusations, Adam, Aziz, and Amir present their case, demonstrating how their observational skills allowed them to deduce the camel's characteristics without direct knowledge. The judge, intrigued by their reasoning, proposes a test to determine their innocence.

The Test of Observation

The judge introduces a seemingly unrelated object into the courtroom, challenging the brothers to describe something they've never seen before. United in their analytical prowess, the brothers analyze the object—a small, round, green item—and correctly identify it as an unripe pomegranate:

Adam [15:00]: "Therefore, it must be none other than an unripe pomegranate."

Their accurate deduction impresses the court, leading to the dismissal of the case. Subsequently, the merchant discovers his wandering camel, realizing the brothers' innocence and his own misjudgment.

A Legacy Continued

With the false accusations behind them, Adam, Aziz, and Amir choose to remain in the capital, embracing their father's legacy by becoming teachers. They dedicate their lives to nurturing the minds of their students, perpetuating the true riches their father valued.

Themes and Lessons

"Three Clever Brothers" emphasizes several core themes:

• The Power of Observation: The brothers' ability to notice subtle details allows them to solve problems and defend their integrity.

• Wisdom Over Wealth: The story champions intellectual wealth and wisdom as the true sources of richness, aligning with their father's teachings.

• Critical Thinking: The narrative showcases the importance of reasoning and evidence-based conclusions in resolving conflicts.

Notable Quotes

• Father [04:17]: "Cleverness, curiosity, wisdom, those are the true riches."

• Adam [12:01]: "From the way your clerks carried the chest, we could tell it wasn't very heavy."

• Judge [15:21]: "I hereby declare this case dismissed."

Activity for Listeners

As inspired by the brothers' exemplary observational skills, Rebecca Shear invites listeners to engage in a Sherlock Holmes-style activity:

Rebecca Shear [17:16]: "Look around you right now and pick one object you can see. But don't tell anyone what it is. Instead, brainstorm three clues that will help someone else figure out what your object is."

This activity encourages children and families to practice descriptive skills and critical thinking, fostering deeper engagement and conversation.

Conclusion

Three Clever Brothers is a heartwarming tale that not only entertains but also imparts valuable life lessons about the importance of intelligence, observation, and integrity. Through its engaging storytelling and thoughtful themes, the episode reinforces the notion that true wealth lies in the mind and spirit.

For more stories, coloring pages, and educational activities, visit WBUR's Circle Round website. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your preferred platform to never miss an episode, and join the Circle Round Club to support the podcast and receive exclusive perks.

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Credits:

• Story Adaptation: Rebecca Shear
• Executive Producer: Jessica Alpert
• Music and Sound Design: Eric Shimalonis
• Artwork: Sabina Hahn
• Voice Cast: Evan Casey James, James Konicek, Adam Mastroianni, Maurice Emanuel Parent, Jeffrey Song, Alexandra Billings

Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR News Station.

Transcript

[Advertiser]

Support for the Circle Round podcast comes from Indeed. Are you hiring with Indeed? Your search is over. Indeed doesn't just help you hire faster. 93% of employers agree that Indeed delivers the highest quality matches compared to other job sites and listeners get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility@ Indeed.com CircleRound that's Indeed.com CircleRound terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? You need Indeed.

[Rebecca Shear]

Hi Rebecca Shear here with some really Fun News. On February 8th, Circle Round LIVE is coming to Symphony hall in Boston and you're invited Join us for a live recording of two new episodes featuring me, composer Eric Shyamalonis, plus Boston Symphony Orchestra players and a star studded cast. Get your Tickets [e-mail] CircleRound.

[WBUR]

WBUR podcasts Boston.

[Rebecca Shear]

With the holidays in full swing, the Circle Round team is taking time off to celebrate and to gear up for a bunch of live shows in Boston, Massachusetts, including a live recording of.

[Narrator]

Two new episodes at Symphony hall on February 8th.

[Rebecca Shear]

To get your tickets for this live taping featuring me, Rebecca Scheer, composer Eric.

[Narrator]

Shyamalonis and members of the Boston Symphony.

[Rebecca Shear]

Orchestra, visit WBUR.org CircleRound and click on Events. For now, enjoy this favorite episode from the Circle Round archives.

[Narrator]

It's an oldie but goodie.

[Rebecca Shear]

We'll be back with a brand new episode soon. Till then, enjoy the story have you ever heard of Sherlock Holmes? He's a fictional detective created by the British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes solved mysteries by noticing things.

[Narrator]

He'd find all sorts of teeny tiny.

[Rebecca Shear]

Clues, then put them all together to.

[Narrator]

Figure out who done it.

[Rebecca Shear]

The characters in today's story are a lot like Sherlock Holmes, but when they.

[Narrator]

Use their powers of observation in a.

[Rebecca Shear]

Particular case, they become the suspects. I'm Rebecca Scheer and welcome to Circle Round, where story time happens all the time Today. Our story is called Three Clever Brothers. Versions of this tale come from a.

[Narrator]

Number of places, including Tunisia in North.

[Rebecca Shear]

Africa, Uzbekistan in Central Asia, plus India, Iraq and Siberia. Some really great people came together to bring you our telling of this folktale, including Alexandra Billings. Grown ups. You may recognize Alexandra from Transparent on Amazon Video. She also has a new movie out, Paddleton, co starring Mark Duplass and Ray Romano. So circle around everyone for Three Clever Bro. In a small village, there lived a teacher.

[Narrator]

The teacher was never rich, but he made enough money at the local school to keep his three sons comfortable. There was the oldest son, Adam.

[Adam]

Hello there.

[Narrator]

The middle son, Aziz.

[Aziz]

Nice to meet you.

[Narrator]

And the youngest son, Amir.

[Amir]

Spoiler alert. You're gonna love this story.

[Narrator]

Thanks to their father, the one thing Adam, Aziz, and Amir treasured above all else was learning. Their dad taught them to pay close attention to everything, to observe the world.

[Rebecca Shear]

Carefully, let nothing escape their notice, and.

[Narrator]

See what they could learn. Eventually, the teacher grew too old and weak to stand in front of the classroom all day, so he retired. Soon after, he called his sons to his side.

[Father]

Adam, Aziz, Amir, you three are the lights of my life. But as you know, I'm drawing closer to the end of that life. And when I go, there isn't much I can leave you in the way of worldly riches. No acres of farmland, no herds of cows, no piles of gold. That's why I ask you to promise me one thing.

[Adam]

Anything, Father.

[Aziz]

You name it, we'll do it.

[Narrator]

The old man's eyes twinkled.

[Father]

All right, then. I ask that each and every day you work on building up those wonderful minds of yours. Because cleverness, curiosity, wisdom, those are the true riches. And armed with such riches, you will never, ever be at a loss.

[Narrator]

The three brothers gladly made their promise, and after their father breathed his last breath, they set off for the capital city to see what their future might bring. Adam, Aziz, and Amir trekked through fields and valleys, climbed over hills and mountains, and observed the world around them all the while. Every little detail. At last they drew near to the capital city. On the outskirts of the bustling metropolis, along a dusty dirt road, they encountered a man. He had curly black hair and was.

[Rebecca Shear]

Wearing a long black cloak.

[Narrator]

He was kneeling down in the grass and crying. Adam reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief.

[Adam]

Excuse me, sir.

[WBUR]

Are you okay?

[Narrator]

The man took the handkerchief, blew his nose, then looked at the brothers with swollen red eyes.

[WBUR]

Thanks for asking, but I'm afraid I'm not okay at all. You see, I'm a traveling merchant, and today I lost my best friend in the whole entire world. Last night we set up camp here at the side of the road, and when I woke up this morning, he was gone.

[Narrator]

Aziz and Amir frowned.

[Aziz]

We're so sorry.

[Amir]

That sounds rough.

[WBUR]

It is. I've known my friends since I was a little boy, and we've been inseparable ever since. Well, until now.

[Narrator]

Adam placed a hand on the merchant's shoulder.

[Adam]

This might sound crazy, but by any chance, is your friend a camel? A beige colored camel.

[Narrator]

Immediately, the merchant stopped crying.

[WBUR]

How did you know? Yes, yes, he's a camel. As beige as the desert sand.

[Narrator]

The three brothers exchanged a look.

[Aziz]

And this beige colored camel of yours, is he? Lame in his right hind leg? Walks with a bit of a limp?

[Narrator]

The merchant raised his eyebrows at his ease.

[WBUR]

Actually, yes. My camel is lame in his right hind leg. He's quite old now, and his legs aren't what they once were.

[Amir]

And is your camel blind in one eye? The left one.

[Rebecca Shear]

The merchant beamed at Amir.

[WBUR]

Correct again. He is blind in the left eye. Like I said, he's very old. You three clearly know so much about him. Can you tell me where he is?

[Narrator]

The brothers shrugged.

[Aziz]

Sorry, sir, I'm afraid we can't.

[Amir]

We've never even seen your camel before.

[Narrator]

The merchant was taken aback.

[WBUR]

But. But somehow you knew I was missing a camel. And you described him so perfectly. His beige color, his lame leg, his blind eye. How would you know all that if you've never laid eyes on him? Wait a minute. You've stolen my camel, haven't you? And now you're adding insult to injury by making fun of me?

[Rebecca Shear]

The brothers threw up their hands.

[Adam]

No, good sir.

[Aziz]

That's not the case at all.

[Amir]

You see, it just so happens that my brothers and I, we.

[WBUR]

No, no, no. I don't want to hear your excuses. In fact, I don't want to hear another word from the three of you until we're standing before the judge. I'm taking you to court.

[Rebecca Shear]

What will happen when they stand before the judge? And how did the brothers know so.

[Narrator]

Much about the merchant's missing camel?

[Rebecca Shear]

We'll find out after a quick break. If you're a Circle Round superfan, we've got a super fun opportunity for you. Join the Circle Round Club and you'll support our public radio podcast. And as this happy member raves get cool stuff too.

[Angela]

My grandfather bought me a Circle Round membership last Christmas. I really like it because we get a stuffed lion and a reusable bag, which we use all the time for library books. I also enjoy the birthday message from Rebecca Shear.

[Rebecca Shear]

Grown Ups. Sign up your superfan [e-mail] CircleRoundClub welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Scheer. Today our story is called Three Clever Brothers.

[Narrator]

When we left off, a merchant was taking three brothers to court. He believed Adam, Aziz and Amir had stolen his lifelong friend, an old camel. The judge took careful notes as the merchant told his side of the story.

[Judge]

All right, so based on what you told me, you were missing one camel. He's beige in color, lame in his right hind leg, and blind in his left eye. Is that correct?

[Narrator]

The merchant smiled.

[WBUR]

That's correct, you, Honor.

[Judge]

And further, based on what you've told me, these gentlemen were able to list every one of those details. Yet they claim they've never seen your camel before.

[Narrator]

The merchant glared.

[WBUR]

That's correct, you, Honor.

[Judge]

I see. So, Adam, Aziz, Emir, what do you have to say for yourselves?

[Narrator]

The oldest brother, Adam, approached the judge's bench.

[Adam]

We stand by our claim, your Honor. You see, our father, he was a teacher, and ever since we were little, Father taught us to observe and learn to let nothing go unnoticed. That's why we knew the merchant was missing a camel and what it looked like.

[Judge]

Interesting. So let's start with the camel itself. How did you know the merchant was missing a camel? And a beige one at that.

[Rebecca Shear]

Adam's eyes sparkled.

[Adam]

That's easy, your Honor, when we encountered the merchant this morning, we noticed the grass next to him was all squashed down, as if a sleeping camel had been lying there. Plus, the merchant's black cloak was covered in beige colored hairs, all of them straight as an arrow. But as you can see, the merchant's own hair is black and curly as a fiddlehead. So the beige hairs must have belonged to the camel.

[Judge]

How about the lame right hind leg, then? How did you know about that one?

[Narrator]

Now Aziz approached the bench.

[Aziz]

One word, you, Honor. Footprints. As we walked along the dusty dirt road, we noticed the most intriguing set of tracks. They looked like they should have been made by a creature with four hooves. But we only saw footprints from three hooves. The fourth hoof, the one on the back right side. It looked like it had been dragged across the ground as the animal made its way along the road. So that leg must have been lame.

[Judge]

And what about the blind left eye? What led you to that conclusion?

[Narrator]

Emir joined his older brothers at the bench.

[Amir]

You see, your Honor, lush grass and leafy trees lined both sides of the road we were on. But on the right side, every now and again, we noticed that the grass had been eaten clear away, and the trees were bare, like they'd been nibbled by an animal. Meanwhile, the grass and trees on the left side of the road hadn't been touched. Almost like the animal hadn't seen them.

[Narrator]

The judge gazed down at the three brothers. She was about to say something when the merchant piped up, with all due.

[WBUR]

Respect, your honor, none of this proves that the brothers are innocent. They still might have stolen my camel. I say put these three fellows to the test right here, right now. Have them describe something they've definitely never seen.

[Narrator]

The judge mulled over the merchant's suggestion.

[Judge]

All right then. Let there be A test.

[Narrator]

The judge leaned over and whispered something to her two court clerks.

[Rebecca Shear]

Immediately, the pair rushed out of the room.

[Narrator]

When they returned, they were carrying a large chest.

[Rebecca Shear]

They set it down on the floor.

[Narrator]

Right in front of the three brothers.

[Judge]

Adam, Aziz, Amir. Inside this chest is one object, a very particular object, which I'd like you to describe to me right now.

[Narrator]

The brothers went into a huddle. When they came out a moment later, they were grinning from ear to ear.

[Adam]

Well, you, Honor, by our observations, the.

[Aziz]

Object is small and round and green.

[Adam]

Therefore, it must be none other than an unripe pomegranate.

[Narrator]

The judge motioned for her clerks to open the chest. The lid swung open, and indeed, at the very bottom was one unripe pomegranate. The judge clapped her hands with delight.

[Judge]

Well done, gentlemen. Please tell us how you figured that out.

[Adam]

Well, you, Honor, from the way your clerks carried the chest, we could tell it wasn't very heavy. Neither of them was struggling or straining at all. And when they set the chest down on the floor, we heard the sound of something rolling from one end to the other.

[Aziz]

We also noticed that the clerk's shoes were covered in fresh grass clippings. As we entered the courthouse today, we observed a pomegranate orchard beside the building. And the grass had just been mowed.

[Amir]

Furthermore, at this time of year, pomegranates aren't yet ripe. So instead of being big and red, the fruits are small and green. And so what else could it be.

[Judge]

But an unripe pomegranate? Of course. I hereby declare this case dismissed.

[Narrator]

After the trial, the merchant apologized to the brothers.

[Rebecca Shear]

He definitely saw the error of his ways. And when he left the courthouse and returned to his campsite. Can you guess what he found there? Or who, rather? That's right. His camel.

[Narrator]

Turns out the old creature had wandered off in search of more water.

[Rebecca Shear]

By the time the animal had limped back, his best friend in the whole.

[Narrator]

Entire world had leapt to some very false conclusions and zipped off to court. Now, as for Adam, Aziz and Amir.

[Rebecca Shear]

They decided to settle down in the capital city. They became teachers, just like their father.

[Narrator]

And each and every day, the three clever brothers helped their students build up the greatest riches of all their minds.

[Rebecca Shear]

Now it's your turn.

[Narrator]

Look around you right now and pick one object you can see.

[Rebecca Shear]

But.

[Narrator]

But don't tell anyone what it is. Instead, brainstorm three clues that will help.

[Rebecca Shear]

Someone else figure out what your object is.

[Narrator]

Three hints to help guide their way. Once you have your three clues, share.

[Rebecca Shear]

Them with a family member or friend. Then see if they can use their.

[Narrator]

Sherlock Holmes skills to name your object.

[Rebecca Shear]

This week's story, three Clever Brothers, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear and edited by Circle Round's executive producer, Jessica Alpert. Eric Shimalonis creates our original music and sound design. Our artist is Sabina Hahn. Sabina's made a black and white picture for every Circle Round story and you can color them in. Visit our website WBUR.org CircleRound and click on coloring pages. Special thanks to this week's actors, Evan Casey James, James Konicek, Adam Mastroianni, Maurice Emanuel Parent, Jeffrey Song and Alexandra Billings. Alexandra stars on Transparent on Amazon video. Season 5 comes out later this year. You can also see Alexandra in the new feature film Paddleton, co starring Mark Duplass and Ray Romano. The featured instrument in today's story was the Rhodes piano. You can learn more about this along electric piano and see a picture on our website. Again, that's WBUR.org CircleRound and if you haven't yet subscribed to Circle Round, find us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts. And please write us a review. We'd love to hear what you think of the show. Circle Round is a production of wbur, Boston's NPR News Station. Rebecca 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.

[Angela]

My name is Angela and I live in Spain. And my favorite cigar store is Death Note Eater. And my favorite part is when Bear Trip to catch Magpie. My name is Una, I live in Chicago, Illinois. And my favorite Circle Round episode is the Blizzard Wizard. And I like the part where the Blizzard Wizards is like I'm a Houthin. My name is Deacon. I live in Aurora, Colorado. My favorite Circle Round story is Stella and the Dragon. My favorite part was when Stella stood up to the dragon. My name is Photo. I live in a rural Colorado. My favorite story is the Freeway Pot. My favorite part is when it says Skip. Skip. My name My name is Molly and I live in Nashville, Tennessee. My favorite Circle Round story is Home sweet Home. My favorite part is when Harry is a hunt leopard and he ran his way forever and ever and ever and ever. My name is Remy and I live in Philadelphia. My favorite story is Misery loves company. My name is Rowan, I live in Philadelphia, and my favorite Circle Rounds story Mystery Love. My name is Annie and my favorite Circle Round story is Granny Snowstorm. My favorite part is when Boris's heart melts and he becomes nicer.

[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 circleround.