The Sweet Spot | Ep. 202

Ever heard the saying, “Good things come to those who wait”?

Well, there’s another saying that goes: “Good things come to those who wait… but better things come to those who work for them.”

In today’s story, we’ll find out how hard work can bring some very sweet rewards!

Our story is called “The Sweet Spot.” It was inspired by legends told by the Wabanaki, the People of the Dawn Land, who have lived in what is now Maine and Eastern Canada for more than 11,000 years.

Voices in this episode include Feodor Chin, Ryan Dalusung, Jessica Rau, Erika Rose, Tantoo Cardinal, and Jonathan Joss.

Tantoo Cardinal has appeared in numerous movies, plays, and TV shows, including Dances with Wolves, Legends of the Fall, Longmire, Westworld, and Amazon’s hit mystery series Three Pines . Grown-ups, watch for her in Killers of the Flower Moon , coming to theaters this fall.

Jonathan Joss has starred in numerous TV shows and films, including Parks and Recreation, King of the Hill, and the Paramount+ series Tulsa King. Jonathan has also appeared on Circle Round! Listen for him in the title role of our season-three finale, “Grandfather Stone.”

This episode was adapted for Circle Round by Rebecca Sheir. It was edited by Nora Saks. Original music and sound design is by Eric Shimelonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn.

Coloring Page

ADULTS! PRINT THIS so everyone can color while listening. We’re also keeping an album so share your picture on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and tag it with #CircleRound. We'd love to see it! To access all the coloring pages for past episodes, click HERE . Our resident artist is Sabina Hahn and you can learn more about her HERE .

Things To Think About After Listening

You can remember and honor the gifts you receive by creating a Gratitude Board!

Get a piece of posterboard – or tape a bunch of blank papers together – and then once each day, write or draw one thing you’re grateful for. Ask your family members to do the same.

At the end of the week, you can look at your gratitude board and talk about what’s up there, to honor and – appreciate – the wonderful things in your lives.

Musical Spotlight: Native American Drone Flute

In a way, playing the Native American drone flute is like having your own choir: because of its two wooden tubes, the flute plays two notes at the same time! One side of the flute plays the melody, while the other plays a constant note (or “drone”). Traditionally, Native American peoples have played the flute as accompaniment in spiritual rituals and meditation. In our episode, we use it to accompany action and adventure!

Script:

NARRATOR: Long, long ago… in the earliest of days… Great Spirit created all things.

He created water.

GREAT SPIRIT: May there be water!

NARRATOR: He created sky.

GREAT SPIRIT: May there be sky!

NARRATOR: And he created earth.

GREAT SPIRIT: May there be earth!

NARRATOR: To inhabit the earth, Great Spirit created people.

GREAT SPIRIT: May there be people!

NARRATOR: And right off the bat, the people were happy – very happy – because Great Spirit gave them so many gifts to enjoy. He created fertile soil so they could grow vegetables.

PERSON 1: Our corn and squash are so abundant this year!

PERSON 2: Thank you, Great Spirit!

NARRATOR: He created rushing rivers so they could catch fish.

PERSON 3: The trout we’ve caught in our traps today will make for a fine meal!

PERSON 4: Thank you, Great Spirit!

NARRATOR: He created animals so they could hunt for food and fur.

PERSON 1: Thank you, Great Spirit!

PERSON 2: Thank you!

NARRATOR: There was one other thing Great Spirit created for the people – something that would make their lives especially sweet.

Outside the people’s village, on the other side of a tall, steep hill, Great Spirit planted a wide, sweeping stand of sugar-maple trees – each one filled with delicious, sticky maple syrup.

In modern times, maple syrup comes from the maple tree’s sap: a watery substance which you tap and boil down at a specific time of year. But in the early days, all you had to do was grab a branch, snap off the end, and the thick, sugary syrup came oozing right out – any time you wanted!

And as you can imagine, the people loved it!

PERSON 3: Oh! This maple syrup is so golden and sweet!

PERSON 4: Thank you, Great Spirit!

NARRATOR: Now that the people had all their gifts – the soil, the rivers, the animals, the syrup – Great Spirit summoned his helper: the wise, gentle giant known as Gluskabe.

GREAT SPIRIT: Gluskabe!

GLUSKABE: Yes, Great Spirit?

GREAT SPIRIT: Have you seen my latest creation? All those people running about?

GLUSKABE: Oh yes, Great Spirit! I’ve seen them planting and fishing and hunting. You’ve given them such marvelous gifts!

GREAT SPIRIT: Thank you. But I want to make sure they appreciate those gifts, and use them wisely and well. I have many creations to keep track of, so I want you to watch over my people.

GLUSKABE: Me?

GREAT SPIRIT: Yes! I want you to make sure they don’t misuse or mishandle or waste a thing.

GLUSKABE: It would be my honor, Great Spirit! You can count on me.

NARRATOR: When Gluskabe made her first visit, the people were overjoyed.

PERSON 1: Gluskabe!

PERSON 2: We’re so delighted to see you!

GLUSKABE: And I am delighted to see you ! Tell me, friends. How are things?

PERSON 3: Oh! Things couldn't be better, Gluskabe!

PERSON 4: That’s right! Our crops are flourishing…

PERSON 1: We’re catching wonderful fish in our traps!

PERSON 2: And we have plenty of game to hunt for clothing and food!

PERSON 3: Not only that, but we have the sweet golden syrup that oozes from the sugar-maple trees!

PERSON 4: Oh yes! My family has one spoonful each night for dessert!

PERSON 1: We have one with breakfast!

PERSON 2: And we have one after lunch!

NARRATOR: After each visit, Gluskabe would return to Great Spirit to deliver her report.

GREAT SPIRIT: Well, Gluskabe? How are my people doing? How do they fare?

GLUSKABE: I am happy to report, Great Spirit, that the people are thriving! They are using all of your gifts responsibly. Conscientiously. They never misuse or mishandle or waste a thing.

GREAT SPIRIT: Splendid! Although I’ve given the people many gifts to make their lives comfortable, I’m glad they aren’t getting too comfortable. They still work hard.

GLUSKABE: Indeed they do, Great Spirit! Very hard! But I’ll keep visiting, and I’ll let you know if anything changes.

NARRATOR: Well, the day eventually came when something did change. On one of Gluskabe’s visits to the people’s village, it appeared to be deserted!

GLUSKABE: Hmmm. Where is everyone?!?

NARRATOR: One by one, Gluskabe walked up to the houses and peered inside.

GLUSKABE: Look at these houses – they’re a mess! Everything is dusty and in disarray. Perhaps it’s because the people are hard at work in the fields!

NARRATOR: So Gluskabe ran on her long, strong legs to the fields. But when she got there…

GLUSKABE: Goodness me! There’s no one around. And look at those weeds! The field is riddled with them! Hasn’t anyone been taking care of the crops?

NARRATOR: Gluskabe was befuddled. If the people weren’t at home, and they weren’t in the fields, then where else could they be?

GLUSKABE: Oh, I know! The river! Perhaps they’ve gone fishing!

NARRATOR: But when Gluskabe raced down to the water…

GLUSKABE: Hmmm. Not a soul to be seen! And look at those fish traps! They’re filled with mud and muck – as if nobody has cleaned them out in a while!

NARRATOR: As Gluskabe pondered the situation, she began to grow concerned.

GLUSKABE: The people must be in trouble if they abandoned their village like this! And not just their village, but their fields! And their river! I must find them! I must!

NARRATOR: So Gluskabe set off toward the only other place she could think of: the stand of sugar maples over the tall, steep hill.

But when she reached the top of the hill, she froze right in her giant tracks. Because at the bottom of the hill, she saw something that made her giant jaw drop, her giant heart pound, and her giant eyes grow so wide, they were bigger than dinner plates.

GLUSKABE: It can’t be. It can’t! And yet… I fear it is . Great Spirit will not be happy about this!!!!

NARRATOR: What do you think Gluskabe spotted at the bottom of the hill?

And why will Great Spirit be so displeased?

We’ll find out, after a quick break.

[SPONSOR BREAK]

NARRATOR: I’m Rebecca Sheir. Welcome back to Circle Round. Today our story is called “The Sweet Spot.”

Before the break, Great Spirit gave the people many gifts – including a stand of sugar maple trees that produced thick, sweet syrup all year round.

Great Spirit asked Gluskabe to make sure the people used their gifts wisely and well. But one day, Gluskabe couldn’t find the people anywhere – until she stood at the top of the tall, steep hill and looked down at the stand of sugar maples.

GLUSKABE: Look at the people! They’re all lying on their backs beneath the trees! With their mouths open wide so they can guzzle the thick, sweet syrup that’s dripping from the branches!

NARRATOR: Gluskabe put on a burst of speed as she took off down the hill.

GLUSKABE: People! Why are you lying and lazing around when you should be planting together? And fishing together? And hunting together? You have work to do and lives to lead! Great Spirit has given you so many marvelous gifts! You must use them wisely and well!

NARRATOR: But the people didn’t respond. They just went on slurping the ooey-gooey golden syrup, and licking their lips with sugar-coated tongues.

Gluskabe didn’t know what to do. So she went to Great Spirit and told the powerful creator everything she had seen.

GREAT SPIRIT: Hmm… This news is very disappointing, Gluskabe. I fear that life has become too easy for the people.

GLUSKABE: I’m afraid it’s true, Great Spirit. What will we do?

GREAT SPIRIT: Well… I believe I have a plan that will wake the people up and turn them around – but I will need your help.

GLUSKABE: I’ll do anything, Great Spirit! As always, I am at your service.

GREAT SPIRIT: Thank you, Gluskabe. Here is what I want you to do… First, I want you to go to the forest where the birch trees grow, and collect a whole bunch of bark...

NARRATOR: As Great Spirit laid out his grand plan, Gluskabe listened carefully. Then she jumped into action.

First, she bounded off to the forest and collected bark from the birch trees.

GLUSKABE: Look at this bark, so sturdy and thick! It will do quite nicely!

NARRATOR: Next, she used the birch bark to weave an enormous bucket.

GLUSKABE: Under over, under over, nice and tight!

NARRATOR: After that, she plunged the bucket into the river. Once the bucket was filled with water, she carried it to the stand of sugar maple trees.

GLUSKABE: Alright. With all these lazy people lying around, I have to be careful not to step on any fingers or toes… but here goes!

NARRATOR: Gluskabe approached a tall sugar maple. She held the bucket high, then poured water into the top of the tree. After that, she poured water into the top of another tree. And another. Until every single tree was full.

Within moments, the people began to murmur and grumble. One by one, they sat up, staggered to their feet, and glanced around. When they caught sight of Gluskabe, they called out in confusion – and frustration.

PERSON 1: Gluskabe! What has happened to our maple syrup?!?

PERSON 2: All that’s dripping from the trees is a thin, watery liquid!

PERSON 3: And it’s hardly sweet at all!

PERSON 4: Our trees’ thick, golden goodness is gone!

GLUSKABE: Actually friends… I wouldn’t say it’s “gone.”

NARRATOR: Gluskabe strode over to a tree and wrapped her hand around its trunk.

GLUSKABE: My friends… The days of thick, sweet, golden syrup freely dripping from these sugar maples are over.

PERSON 1: What?!?

PERSON 2: But you just said –

GLUSKABE: I know what I said. Now hear me out! While you were lying flat on your backs, lapping up your thick, golden syrup, I did as Great Spirit asked: I filled the sugar-maple trees with water from the river. The water diluted the syrup – made it more liquidy. So now, instead of sweet, golden syrup, the trees will produce a thin, clear sap – with barely a hint of sweetness.

PERSON 3: But what good will thin, clear sap do us?

PERSON 4: Especially if it isn’t sweet or golden?

GLUSKABE: Well… this thin, clear sap can become sweet and golden – provided you work for it. First, you will make a small hole in the trees, and collect the thin, clear sap in buckets. This process is called “tapping” the trees.

PERSON 1: “Tapping” the trees…?

GLUSKABE: Yes! Then you will gather wood to make fires so you can boil the sap down.

PERSON 2: Boil the sap down…?

GLUSKABE: Yes! But you must collect a whole lot of sap, and boil it for a very long time, to make enough sweet, golden syrup for all of you. You will have to work hard – and work together .

PERSON 3: We can do that, Gluskabe!

PERSON 4: We will work hard, together, all year long!

GLUSKABE: Actually, my friends… that will not be possible. You see, Great Spirit has declared that the sugar-maple trees will only produce sap for a short time each year – just before the coming of spring! That way, you will appreciate and honor it more – and you won’t forsake your other work. You will plant and fish and hunt and do all the things that people must do. This is how it will be.

NARRATOR: And so… it was – and is ! Once a year… in certain parts of the world… just before the coming of spring the sugar maples begin to flow with sap. People work hard to collect the sap, and boil it down, until eventually it becomes maple syrup.

It’s a precious yearly reminder to remember our gifts, and honor them, and work together to use them wisely and well. Because when we do, life is that much sweeter!