The Storyteller

Summary

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Circle Round – “The Storyteller”

Release Date: May 26, 2026
Podcast: WBUR’s Circle Round
Host: Rebecca Sheir
Episode Theme: The power of storytelling, change, and the true treasure shared between people

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Episode Overview

In this special and bittersweet episode of Circle Round, longtime host Rebecca Sheir and composer Eric Shimelonis celebrate their final episode before passing the storytelling torch. The theme centers on the magic of stories: how they bring people together, teach important lessons, and can even heal sadness. “The Storyteller”—based on a folktale from the Azores—follows a grieving princess, a magical journey, and a community brought to joy through imagination and empathy.

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Key Discussion Points and Story Highlights

1. Setting the Stage: Saying ‘See You Soon’ with Stories [00:09–01:00]

• Rebecca Sheir opens the episode, noting this is her and Eric’s farewell but “not so much a goodbye as a see you soon.”
• Quotes Tahir Shah:

  “Stories are a communal currency of humanity.”

2. Princess Cecilia’s Grief and a Mysterious Loss [01:00–04:34]

• Princess Cecilia, after her mother’s passing, cherishes her mother’s rings, kept in an opal box.
• A surprise visit by a “fluffy, fuzzy, chocolate brown bunny” results in the sudden disappearance of the rings.
• Cecilia vows to keep the loss secret, deepening her sadness.

3. A Kingdom’s Solution: Stories for Healing [05:05–06:12]

• The King, noticing Cecilia’s melancholy, seeks help from the chief advisor.
• The advisor suggests:

  “We invite all the kingdom's storytellers to the palace... Surely one of their tales will make her smile.” [05:57]

• The call for storytellers sets the main journey in motion.

4. The Storyteller’s Adventure: Gathering Tales [06:12–19:31]

• First Tale: Amos and the Ogre [06:34–09:31]
  • The storyteller witnesses Amos the cheese maker cleverly trick an ogre in a strength contest by releasing a bird, making the ogre believe he threw a stone into space.
  • Rebecca Sheir admires the cleverness:

    “That clever cheese maker, Amos, challenged the ogre to a strength contest. Then he tricked her into believing she is nowhere near as mighty as he.” [09:31]

• Second Tale: The Rainbow Horse and Valentina [10:14–15:20]
  • A woman, Valentina, catches a rainbow-colored horse in her cornfield; the horse offers her three wishes in gratitude for being set free rather than sold or caged.
  • Quote:

    “If most people found a talking rainbow-colored horse, they wouldn’t set it free… But you’re not like most people, are you?” [14:42]

• Third Tale: The Three-Legged Pot [15:48–18:34]
  • The storyteller follows a skipping pot that redistributes grain from a wealthy estate to a needy family—a magical twist on “steal from the rich, give to the poor.”
  • Quote:

    “A skipping pot that steals from the rich and gives to the poor. How marvelous.” [18:19]

• Fourth Observation: The Weeping Bunny [18:48–19:51]
  • The storyteller discovers the chocolate brown bunny—from earlier—with the opal box, weeping, saying:

    “I thought these rings would undo the spell, but I was wrong. So wrong.” [19:19]

5. Bringing Stories to the Princess [20:15–22:37]

• The storyteller recounts each of the three tales to Princess Cecilia, who momentarily brightens but falls back into sadness.
• She offers a fourth, incomplete story—of the weeping bunny—to catch Cecilia's true attention.

6. The Bunny’s Revelation & Forgiveness [23:44–27:45]

• Guided by the storyteller, Cecilia finds the bunny and confronts it, demanding an explanation.
• The bunny confesses:

  “Once upon a time, I was a person just like you… I was dishonest and selfish, arrogant and rude... Then I met the magician… The only way I could undo the spell, he said, was if I found the greatest treasure in the world.” [24:56–26:13]

• Cecilia forgives the bunny:

  “What you did was wrong and rash and hurtful. But I understand why you did what you did. And now that you've told me your story… I can find it in my heart to forgive you.” [27:26]

7. The Spell Breaks: Treasure Revealed [27:45–29:13]

• With forgiveness and the sharing of stories, the bunny transforms back into a person.
• The storyteller explains:

  “Seems to me that you found the greatest treasure in the world.” [28:36]
  “The greatest treasure in the world is a story… and what’s more, it’s a story you share with someone you care about and who cares about you.” [28:49–29:13]

• The story ends with joy, understanding, and new friends embracing.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the power of storytelling:

  “Stories are a communal currency of humanity.” —Narrator (quoting Tahir Shah) [00:09]

• Magic of sharing stories:

  “The greatest treasure in the world is a story… and what’s more, it’s a story you share with someone you care about.” —Storyteller/Rebecca Sheir [29:01]

• Forgiveness and friendship:

  “Can you find it in your heart to forgive me? Please.” —Chocolate brown bunny [27:16]
  “I can find it in my heart to forgive you.” —Princess Cecilia [27:45]

• On letting go:

  “Not all stories end happily ever after. But she was glad to see that this one did.” —Narrator [29:18]

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Important Timestamps

• [00:09] – Farewell introduction, storytelling reflections
• [02:32] – Princess Cecilia’s ritual with her mother’s rings
• [03:51] – The bunny and the missing rings
• [05:57] – The Chief Advisor’s plan for a storytelling cure
• [09:31] – The cheese maker’s clever victory
• [13:24] – Valentina frees the rainbow horse
• [18:19] – The magical three-legged pot’s good deeds
• [19:19] – The bunny’s sorrowful admission
• [22:37] – The storyteller’s fourth, unfinished story
• [24:56] – The bunny’s confession and curse
• [27:26] – Princess Cecilia’s forgiveness
• [28:49] – The treasure revealed: sharing a story
• [29:13] – Resolution and new friendship

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Closing and Listener Engagement

Rebecca Sheir and Eric Shimelonis say goodbye (for now), encouraging families to keep the magic going with a “story box” activity:

• Gather random objects or words, take turns using them as prompts to make your own round-robin tales.

A parade of young listeners shares their favorite Circle Round episodes, reinforcing the enduring communal joy of storytelling.

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Tone and Language

The episode is:

• Warm, imaginative, and welcoming
• Playful with magical elements; wise and gentle in the treatment of themes like grief, forgiveness, and friendship
• Encouraging of active engagement and creativity in its young audience

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Summary

This farewell Circle Round episode celebrates the transformative, uniting nature of stories for both children and adults. Through clever, colorful tales collected by a wise storyteller and the deeply human journey of a grieving princess, the show demonstrates that the greatest treasure is not gold or jewels, but the stories shared in caring company.

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Memorable closing lines:

“The greatest treasure in the world is a story… and what’s more, it’s a story you share with someone you care about and who cares about you.” —Storyteller/Rebecca Sheir [29:01–29:13]

Transcript

[Rebecca Sheer]

Wbur podcasts. Boston.

[Narrator]

Documentary filmmaker, explorer and author Tahir Shah once said stories are a communal currency of humanity. In other words, storytelling, sharing tales. It's something we all have in common and something I've been honored to do with you these past nine years. This week marks my and Eric Shyamalanis last episode of Circle Round. The world of Circle Round will continue to live on here at wbur, but Eric and I are starting a new chapter with some exciting things in the works. So today's tale isn't so much a goodbye as a see you soon. It's a story about stories and the magical ways they bring us together. I'm Rebecca Scheer, and welcome to Circle Round, where story time happens all the time. Our story is called the Storyteller. Versions of this tale come from the Azores, a chain of volcanic islands in the north atlantic Sea over 900 miles off the coast of Portugal. Some really great people came together to bring you our version of this folktale, including award winning film, television and theater actress Maria Christina Oliveras, whom you grown ups can see in the Tony Award nominated Broadway comedy, the Ballisters. So circle round, everyone, for the Storyteller. Princess Cecilia lived with her father, the king, in a resplendent palace by the sea. The princess wore the most fabulous clothes, ate the most sumptuous foods and attended the most lavish parties, banquets and balls. She also owned the most beautiful jewels, an extravagant set of rings. She had inherited the rings from her mother, a wise, benevolent queen whose recent passing left Cecilia and her father all alone. The princess kept her mother's rings in an opal box. And each morning before breakfast, Cecilia would go out to her balcony, open the box and admire the treasures inside.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Ah.

[Princess Cecilia]

See how Mother's sapphire ring sparkles in the sun and how her diamond ring dazzles. The ruby ring is radiant, the gold ring is glistening. And that twinkle in the topaz, it reminds me of the twinkle in Mother's eyes.

[Narrator]

One morning when Princess Cecilia went out to her balcony, she found she had a surprise visitor. Crouched in a flower box on the railing was a fluffy, fuzzy, chocolate brown bunny.

[Princess Cecilia]

Good morning, my pointy eared friend. How did you get all the way up to my balcony? Since when do bunnies fly?

[Narrator]

The bunny sprang off its hind legs and onto Cecilia's lap.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Oh, my goodness.

[Narrator]

Aren't you adorable?

[Princess Cecilia]

I wonder, are you hungry, bunny? Would you like something to eat?

[Narrator]

The bunny gave its whiskers a wiggle.

[Princess Cecilia]

I'll take that as a yes. Wait here, bunny. I'll fetch some Food. And then maybe you and I could play tag. Might be fun. Or hide and go seek. Anyway, I'll be right back.

[Narrator]

Cecilia put the bunny down, then hurried to the kitchen to grab some greens. But when she returned, the chocolate brown bunny was gone. And so was her opal. Box of rings.

[Princess Cecilia]

Oh, no. Did that bunny steal my rings? It can't be.

[Narrator]

She raced to the railing and peered down at the garden. But there was no bunny or box to be seen.

[Princess Cecilia]

I can't believe this. That bunny betrayed me. I'll never forgive myself for losing Mother's rings, and neither will Father. I promised him I'd keep the rings safe, and I've broken my promise.

[Narrator]

Princess Cecelia felt her heart plunge. A lump formed in her throat.

[Princess Cecilia]

I mustn't tell anyone. The rings are gone. From this day forward, I'll keep Mother's missing rings a secret. I shan't breathe a word.

[Narrator]

The princess stayed true to her vow. But the longer she stayed silent, the sadder she became. She was already grieving the loss of her mother. Now she was grieving the loss of her mother's rings, too. The King noticed a change in his daughter's demeanor. Though she insisted nothing was wrong, he knew better. So he called for his chief advisor, his most trusted counselor, and asked for advice.

[King]

Chief advisor? Surely you've noticed how melancholy Cecilia has been lately. How do you think we might cheer her up?

[Chief Advisor]

That's a good question, you, Majesty. Tell me, the Princess has always loved stories, has she not?

[King]

Indeed she has. When her mother was alive, she told Cecilia a different story every night. The Queen had a real knack for spinning yarns. Unlike me, I'm more likely to tangle up a yarn than spin one.

[Chief Advisor]

Well, then, I propose we invite all

[Narrator]

the kingdom's storytellers to the palace.

[Chief Advisor]

We ask each one to tell the Princess a story.

[Narrator]

Surely one of their tales will make her smile.

[King]

What a fine idea. We shall summon the kingdom's storytellers at once.

[Narrator]

It so happens that among the kingdom's storytellers was an aged woman. Swirling inside her snowy white head were the most enchanting stories you ever did hear. But now that she was older, her memory was fading, and she found it harder and harder to remember her tales. Perhaps I can come up with a

[Rebecca Sheer]

new tale and bring that to the Princess. It's a long trip from my village to the palace. Surely I can weave a new yarn along the way.

[Narrator]

The storyteller took up her walking stick and set out on her journey. The trip was pleasant. As she hobbled past rushing Rivers and across fields lush with grass. But she didn't find anything story worthy until she climbed to the top of a tree covered hill. For there, lurking outside a dark, stony cave, was an ogre.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Oh my.

[Narrator]

The storyteller clutched her walking stick and scooted behind a tree. Just then, a man came bounding up the hill. He was dressed in a tunic, work boots, and an apron that said Amos the cheese Maker. He approached the cave where the hulking ogre fixed him with beady eyes.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Welcome back, little human. Ready to have your butt kicked?

[Narrator]

I'm ready to compete, if that's what you mean. The first contest is stone throwing. Would you like to go first?

[Rebecca Sheer]

Absolutely.

[Chief Advisor]

Watch this.

[Narrator]

The ogre bent down and lifted up a stone the size of a pumpkin. She clutched it in her hand, cocked back her arm, then hurled the stone into the air. It whizzed over the trees and past the village before landing in a distant river. The river was so far off, the storyteller couldn't even hear the splash.

[Princess Cecilia]

Ha.

[Rebecca Sheer]

That stone must have traveled miles and miles. There's no way you can throw a stone farther than that little human.

[Narrator]

Amos didn't say a word. He just knelt down as if reaching for another stone on the ground. But instead, do you know what he actually did? Secretly? He took a little gray bird out of his coat sleeve.

[King]

Okay, little friend, let's see what you can do.

[Narrator]

Amos wrapped his fingers around the bird. Then he pulled back his arm and flung it forward as if tossing a stone into the air. As Amos made his throw, he opened his fingers and released the bird. The surprised creature flapped its wings and took off toward the sky. It flew higher and higher before vanishing above the clouds. The ogre was thunderstruck after all. As far as her beady eyes could see, Amos had just lofted an actual stone all the way to space.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Human, you threw that stone so far, it might never come back down again.

[Narrator]

Perhaps. Perhaps. The storyteller couldn't help but giggle from behind her tree.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Oh, goodness me. From what I can tell, that clever cheese maker, Amos challenged the ogre to a strength contest. Then he tricked her into believing that she is nowhere near as mighty as he. This will make a remarkable strength story to tell the princess.

[Narrator]

The storyteller waited until Amos and the ogre were gone. Then she leaned on her walking stick and clambered down the hill. She journeyed well into the night. As she neared the outskirts of a bustling town, she saw another sight that stopped her short.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Oh, my word. Look there in the middle of that cornfield stomping on stalk after stalk and devouring cob after cob, is the most remarkable horse I have ever seen.

[Narrator]

The horse was remarkable. Its head was as red as a ruby, its mane was bright orange, its neck was sunshine yellow, and its body was glittering green. Its legs were sapphire blue and deep indigo and. And its tail was vibrant violet.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Good heavens. Something tells me I have found a second story to tell the princess. And I dare say this one will be very colorful indeed.

[Narrator]

What will happen with the storyteller and her horse of a different color? We'll find out after a quick break.

[Podcast Promo Voice]

100 years from now in a land far, far away. Hang on. It's not so far away at all, actually. Hey, Circle Round families. We're here to share a new listening experience from wbur, the Midnight Rebellion. It's a climate podcast adventure for kids agents 8 and up. Time traveling, problem solving, laughs in danger. It's here. Follow the feed to listen. Oh, and bring your goggles and boots. That's the Midnight Rebellion in your feed or wherever you get podcasts.

[Narrator]

Welcome back to Circle Round. I'm Rebecca Shear. Today our story is called the Storyteller. Before the break, an old storyteller was heading to the palace in hopes of cheering up Princess Cecilia with a tale. Unbeknownst to the world, the princess was grieving the loss of her mother's rings, which had been stolen by a chocolate brown bunny. The aged storyteller could no longer remember the stories she had known in her younger days. So during her journey across the kingdom, she sought out a new tale to tell. The first story she stumbled upon involved a challenge between a cheese maker named Amos and an ogre. The second story unfolded in a cornfield where a rainbow colored horse was gobbling up all the corn. Near the horse stood a woman holding a lasso of rope. The storyteller watched as the woman tossed the rope through the air, looping it around the horse's bright orange neck. To the storyteller's surprise, the horse didn't buck or rear or flare its nostrils. Instead, it stood perfectly still and the woman flashed it a sheepish grin. Well, hello there.

[Chief Advisor]

Sorry we had to meet like this, but I couldn't let you keep ruining our field. My family needs this corn to survive. I'm sorry, Valentina.

[Narrator]

The woman holding the rope froze.

[Chief Advisor]

What was that? You talk and you know my name? I do. And I'm sorry for devouring so much of your family's corn, Valentina. It's just that it's the best corn I've ever tasted, and I simply couldn't resist. But if I promise never to eat it again, will you set me free?

[Narrator]

Valentina thought for a moment.

[Chief Advisor]

Well, if I truly have your word that you'll leave our corn alone, then yes, I will set you free.

[Narrator]

The horse whinnied with delight.

[Chief Advisor]

Thank you, Valentina. You know, if most people found a talking rainbow colored horse, they wouldn't set it free. They would take it to the market and sell it for pots and pots of money. Or they would lock it in a cage and sell tickets for everyone to come and gawk at it.

[Narrator]

The horse looked Valentina up and down.

[Chief Advisor]

But you're not like most people, are you? So in exchange for what you've done for me, I will do something for you. I will grant you three wishes, Valentina. All you have to do is call out, rainbow Horse, Rainbow Horse, I set you free. Now it's your turn to come and help me, and I will come and grant your wish.

[Narrator]

Then, before Valentina could even say things, thank you, the horse whirled around and galloped away. The storyteller's mind was spinning.

[Rebecca Sheer]

My, my, my. A rainbow steed who speaks and grants wishes. This will make another terrific tale for the princess. But now the hour is late and these old bones need rest.

[Narrator]

She pulled a quilt from her satchel and settled on a patch of moss. After sleeping all night, something unexpected woke her up.

[Chocolate Brown Bunny / Transformed Person]

Time to skip and skip wee.

[Narrator]

The storyteller struggled to sit up as she squinted her bleary eyes. What should she spy skipping past her but a little black cooking pot with an elegant curved handle and three short, sturdy legs?

[Rebecca Sheer]

What in tarnation.

[Narrator]

She scrambled to her feet, grabbed her walking stick, and hobbled after the pot. It skipped all the way across town before stopping at a grand estate. According to a sign by the road, the fancy property belonged to a man named Felix. The storyteller stayed outside as the pot scarlet into a big red barn. As the old woman peered through a hole in the wall, she saw a pair of farm hands threshing wheat, separating the grains, the part you eat from the stalks, then storing the grain in bags.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Uh oh, we're all out of bags and we've got bushels more wheat to thresh. Hundreds of bushels more like. Sheesh.

[Narrator]

Why does Felix need all this grain anyway?

[Rebecca Sheer]

Beats me. I mean, can the guy really eat that much bread? I'll bet he ends up throwing most of this stuff away. Yeah, what a waste.

[Narrator]

The farmhands didn't notice the three legged pot standing beside them until hey, where'd

[Rebecca Sheer]

that pot come from? I don't know, but I'll bet it could fit a whole lot of grain. Let's try it.

[Narrator]

The farm hands poured bushel after bushel of wheat into the pot. Once it was filled to the brim, its three short legs began to twitch.

[Chocolate Brown Bunny / Transformed Person]

Time to skip and skip. Wee.

[Narrator]

The farmhands watched with astonishment and amusement as the pot, clickety clacked to the door and dashed away. The storyteller struggled to keep up as the pot scurried across town. When it reached a tiny, ramshackle cottage, it delivered its contents to a man and woman wearing tattered patched clothing and broad, grateful grins.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Wow. With so much grain, we'll be baking bread all winter.

[Princess Cecilia]

And all spring, summer, and fall, too. Thank you, pot.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Thank you.

[Narrator]

The storyteller stared at the scene, her mouth wide open.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Heavens to Betsy. A skipping part that steals from the rich and gives to the poor. How marvelous. Now I have three stories to bring the princess.

[Narrator]

The storyteller had nearly reached the palace when she halted yet again because as she passed a snug, thatched roof house, she suddenly heard someone crying.

[Chocolate Brown Bunny / Transformed Person]

Oh, woe is me. Woe is me.

[Narrator]

The storyteller tiptoed to the window and peeked inside. And that's when her jaw dropped. Inside a cozy living room, shedding tear after tear, was a fluffy, fuzzy, chocolate brown bunny. Beside the bunny was an opal box. Inside the box was an extravagant collection of rings.

[Chocolate Brown Bunny / Transformed Person]

I thought these rings would undo the spell, but I was wrong. So wrong.

[Narrator]

The storyteller staggered back from the window.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Good gracious. There's another extraordinary sight. A chocolate brown bunny. Who? But what is this spell of which it speaks? No matter. I must get to the palace before I forget all my stories.

[Narrator]

The old woman took off. By the time she reached her destination, hundreds of storytellers had already regaled Princess Cecilia with their tales. But judging from the young woman's puffy face and stooped shoulders, clearly her melancholy continued. The storyteller stepped forward and offered a creaky curtsy.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Your Royal Highness, I can only imagine how many stories you've been told so far. You must have received an earful. But if you please, I'd like to spin some yarns of my own. I call this one Amy and the Ogre.

[Narrator]

She leaned both hands on her walking stick, working her gnarled fingers together as she described the clever cheese maker and his challenge with the ogre. At first, Cecilia seemed intrigued. Her back straightened, her eyes brightened. A faint smile played at the corners of her lips. But then as if a sad memory had suddenly rushed to her mind, her face clouded with despair and she slumped back with a sigh.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Well, I see that tale didn't lift your gloom, so here's another. I call it the Horse of a Different Color.

[Narrator]

The old woman launched into her story about the rainbow horse in the cornfield and the promise it made to Valentina. Once more the princess seemed engaged, but then it was like another shadow passed over her.

[Rebecca Sheer]

I guess that one didn't do the trick either. But perhaps this one will. I call it the Three Legged Pot.

[Narrator]

The tale about the rambunctious pot who sat, skipped and skipped grabbed Cecilia's attention from the get go. But just as quickly as her eyes lit up, they went dull again.

[Princess Cecilia]

I'm sorry, Storyteller. These are all wonderful tales worthy of being told again and again. I'm just not a very good audience today.

[Rebecca Sheer]

I understand, ma'.

[Princess Cecilia]

Am.

[Rebecca Sheer]

But if I may, could I trouble you with a fourth tale? It isn't yet complete and it doesn't yet have a title, but I believe it's worth a shot.

[Narrator]

The storyteller took a breath, then recounted her adventure outside the snug thatched roof house. When she got to the part about the weeping chocolate brown bunny and its opal box of rings, Cecilia leaped to her feet.

[Princess Cecilia]

What happened next, Storyteller, after you saw the chocolate brown bunny and the box of rings?

[Narrator]

The storyteller beamed with delight.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Well, ma', am, what happened next was that the bunny spoke.

[Princess Cecilia]

It spoke.

[Narrator]

Cecilia's jaw practically hit the floor.

[Princess Cecilia]

I can't believe it. What did it say?

[Rebecca Sheer]

It was hard to hear through the tears, but I believe it said something like, I thought these rings would undo the spell, but I was wrong. So wrong.

[Narrator]

The princess looked down at her feet. When she looked up again, her face was gleaming as bright as her mother's rings.

[Princess Cecilia]

Storyteller, you must take me to this chocolate brown bunny. Please.

[Narrator]

The storyteller nodded, then led the princess to the snug thatched roof house. The princess marched right up to the door and threw it open.

[Princess Cecilia]

Bunny, I know you're in here.

[Narrator]

Show yourself. At first she was met with silence, but then there was a scuttling sound, and out from under a table crept the fluffy, fuzzy chocolate brown bunny.

[Princess Cecilia]

I can't believe what you did, Bunny. I was so kind to you that morning on the balcony and you went and stole my rings. Bring them to me now.

[Narrator]

The bunny hung its head and crept back under the table. When it popped out again, it had the opal box of rings in its Paws.

[Princess Cecilia]

You have a lot of explaining to do, bunny. And don't try and play dumb with me. I know you can talk. This storyteller heard you. She told me all about the rings, the spell, everything.

[Narrator]

The bunny slumped its furry shoulders. Then it flattened its pointy ears against its head and spoke.

[Chocolate Brown Bunny / Transformed Person]

You're right, Princess. I have a lot of explaining to do. And the best way, I think, is with a story. You see, once upon a time, I was a person just like you. Only I was nothing like you. I'm not proud of it, but I was dishonest and selfish, arrogant and rude. I didn't have any friends. Nobody trusted me or wanted to be near me. Then I met the magician.

[Princess Cecilia]

The magician?

[Narrator]

The princess cocked her head.

[Princess Cecilia]

Is that who put the spell on you?

[Chocolate Brown Bunny / Transformed Person]

It was. He wanted to teach me a lesson. So he used his magic to transform me from a person into a bunny. And the only way I could undo the spell he said, was if I found the greatest treasure in the world.

[Princess Cecilia]

The greatest treasure in the world?

[Chocolate Brown Bunny / Transformed Person]

That's what he said. So when I saw those beautiful rings of yours and how much you treasured them, I thought they might be the greatest treasure in the world.

[Princess Cecilia]

To me, they are the greatest treasure in the world. They're from my mother. When I lost them, I was devastated.

[Chocolate Brown Bunny / Transformed Person]

But when I stole them, I was still a bunny. They didn't undo the spell.

[Narrator]

A tear slipped down the bunny's cheek.

[Chocolate Brown Bunny / Transformed Person]

I am sorry, Princess. You were kind to me that morning on the balcony. You offered me food, you asked to play tag. You treated me like a friend, something I've never had before. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me? Please.

[Narrator]

The princess grew quiet. Then she got down on one knee and looked the bunny right in the eye.

[Princess Cecilia]

What you did was wrong and rash and hurtful. But I understand why you did what you did. And now that you've told me your story and everything that happened, I can find it in my heart to forgive you.

[Narrator]

She held out a hand as if to shake the bunny's paw. But the moment she did, there was a big puff of smoke. When the air cleared, the bunny with the chocolate brown fur was gone. In its place was a person. A young person about Cecilia's age with chocolate brown hair.

[Chocolate Brown Bunny / Transformed Person]

Look at me. I'm a person again. I undid the spell. But how?

[Narrator]

The princess gave a speechless shrug. The storyteller gave a knowing nod.

[Rebecca Sheer]

I believe I know how the spell was undone.

[Narrator]

She grasped her stick and took a shuffling step forward.

[Rebecca Sheer]

Seems to me that you found the greatest treasure in the world.

[Chocolate Brown Bunny / Transformed Person]

I did.

[Narrator]

What is it? The old woman gave a grin.

[Rebecca Sheer]

My darling dear sister, don't you know? The greatest treasure in the world is a story?

[Chocolate Brown Bunny / Transformed Person]

A story?

[Rebecca Sheer]

Yes, and what's more, it's a story you share with someone you care about

[Narrator]

and who cares about you.

[Rebecca Sheer]

That is the greatest treasure.

[Narrator]

The Princess and former bunny paused and exchanged a look. Then they exchanged a hug. The storyteller beamed with delight. After all her years telling tales, she knew that not all of them end happily ever after. But she was glad to see that this one did. And as she turned tottered away from the two new friends in the snug thatched roof house, her snowy white head was once again swirling with stories. Exciting, enchanting, action filled stories. And though her job here was done, she could hardly wait to travel elsewhere and share her many, many, many tales with the world. World. Now it's your turn. Telling stories is a blast. Eric Shyamallonis and I have loved telling you stories these past nine years. To give you ideas for your own story, you can use a story box. First, gather a handful of random objects or write some random words on slips of paper and put them in a box. Next, Circle Round with family or friends. Then pick one person to pull an object or word from the box and use it to start telling a story. After a sentence or two, they should pass the box to the next person who draws a new prompt and adds their own couple of sentences. Keep going in this fashion until the box is empty and all the objects and words have helped you create your very own original tale. This week's episode, the Storyteller, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear. It was edited by Dean Russell. Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shimalonis, whose featured instrument this week is the Portuguese guitar. You can learn more about this plucked instrument with 12 steel strings and see a photo of Eric playing one on the Circle Round 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 color them in while you listen. Grown ups. Download Sabina's 300 coloring pages at WBUR.org CircleRound Special thanks to this week's supporting cast of actors Ryan Dallasung, Joe Hernandez, Dawn Ursula and me, Rebecca Scheer. You also heard former Circle Round guest stars Fortune Feimster and Tom papa from our 2023 episode Amos and the Ogre, Christina Anthony and Lindsay MENDez from our 2021 episode the Horse of a Different Color and Aparna Nancherla from one of our most beloved Circle Round stories of all time, our 2019 episode, the Three Legged Pot. Our special guest star in this week's episode was Maria Christina Oliveris, an award winning film, television and theater actress who stars in the Tony Award nominated comedy the Ballisters. Currently playing at New York City's Samuel J. Friedman Theater. Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's npr. I'm Rebecca Scheer. Thanks so very much for circling Round with us. For years it's been Eric's and my pleasure to close our Circle Round episodes with you and your enthusiastic messages. Here's one more super duper sampling of Circle Round fans talking about their favorite episodes. Perhaps one of their favorites is one of yours too.

[Listener]

My name is Lachlan, I live in Superior, Colorado. My favorite Circle Round story is the Patched Up Coat. Thanks for all the great stories, Rebecca Sheer and all the great music. Eric super known as. My name is Tamara and I live in Seattle, Washington. And my favorite Circle Round story is the Peach of Life. We love you Rebecca Scheer. Hi Rebecca Scheer. My name is Maya. I live in Virgin America. My favorite story is the Basilisk Stare. I love you Rebecca. Bye. Hi Rebecca Shearer. My name is Sierra, I live in Vermont. My favorite story is out of Time. My favorite part is when she finds out the suspects. Hi, my name is James. I live in Nashville, Tennessee. And my favorite Circle around the story is the Three Legged Pup. Thank God. Rebecca Sheer hi, this is Cole from Portland, Maine. My favorite episode of Circle Round is the Bolt of Silk. Thank you. Love you Rebecca Shear hi, my name is Isabella, I'm from North Carolina. And my favorite Circle Round story is the palace of Cats. I love you Rebecca Shear. Thank you. Hi Rebecca Shearer, I'm Jamila and I live from Portland, Oregon. And my favorite story is the Farmer and the Cow. Hi, my name is Deb, I live in California and my favorite soak around episode is the Woman in the Moon and my sister Rami likes that also. My name is Ethan, I live in Boston, Massachusetts. My favorite song Circle Round story was Stone Horse. My name is Josephine and I live in Austin, Texas. And my favorite Circle Round is a Three Legged Pot.

[Chocolate Brown Bunny / Transformed Person]

Whee.

[Listener]

I love you Rebecca Shearer. My name is Sophie and I'm from Norwich, Vermont. My favorite episode is the Big Round Mossy Stone. Goodbye Rebecca Zia.

[Narrator]

Even if we didn't get to feature your message in an episode, please know that we listened to your recording and will always appreciate your love and support. It's been an honor to circle round with you.