The Fruits of Labor | Ep. 289

Have you ever heard the phrase “planning for posterity”?

“Posterity” is another word for future generations. So“planning for posterity” means taking actions and making choices that will benefit the generations to come.

We’re about to meet a wise old woman who doesn’t just plan for posterity… she plants for it!

Our story is called “The Fruits of Labor.” It’s inspired by Jewish tales written in the Middle East more than 1,000 years ago.

Voices in this episode include Evan Casey, Susannah Mars, Dawn Ursula and Jeffrey Donovan. Grown-ups, you can enjoy Jeffrey Donovan in a bunch of television shows, including “Burn Notice,” “Law and Order,” “Invincible” and “Fargo.” His recent films include “Surrounded” and “Wrath of Man.”

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

GROWN-UPS! PRINT THIS so everyone can color while listening. We’re also keeping an album so please share your picture on Facebook and Instagram, and tag it with #CircleRoundPodcast. 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.

Now it’s your turn!

What are some simple things you can do to plan for posterity?

Perhaps, like the old woman, you could plant a tree, or a garden. You could reduce waste by recycling. You could take part in a town cleanup or gather up stuff you don’t use anymore and donate it. You could also make a point to practice acts of kindness. Because one kind act today could have a ripple effect that lasts for years!

Musical Spotlight: Clarinet

This member of the woodwind family makes its sound with help from a thin piece of bamboo called a reed. Like the saxophone, the clarinet is a single-reed instrument. To produce sound, you blow into the narrow gap between the reed and the mouthpiece, which causes the reed to vibrate. The modern clarinet uses a system of rings and keys to allow the player to create a wide range of notes.

The clarinet has its own family, with members ranging from the contrabass, which plays the lowest range of notes, to the piccolo clarinet, which plays the highest. The clarinet’s warm tone and expressive potential suits a variety of musical styles, from classical to klezmer to jazz to rock!

About clarinet player Ben Redwine:

In addition to his virtuosic performance in our Circle Round theme song, Ben Redwine is an accomplished teacher, film-score composer and jazz-ensemble leader in New Orleans, LA. He also plays classical music and performs with the Louisiana Philharmonic and Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestras.

Story Transcript:

NARRATOR: Early one morning, a prince was riding his horse through the countryside.

It was just after sunrise, and the world was quiet and still as the prince galloped across meadows and fields. He didn’t see any other people up and about… until he approached a village in a valley. For it was there… outside a crumbly brick cottage… that he spied a woman. Just one woman, hard at work in her garden.

PRINCE: …And she looks to be ancient! Her hair is white… her back is stooped... and her hands are as gnarled as the apple tree in her garden. Yet in those hands she’s holding a SHOVEL! And planting a TREE! (beat) I must investigate!

NARRATOR: The woman didn’t seem to hear the approaching hoofbeats… until they shuffled to a stop on the road. When she looked up and saw the prince, she wiped the dirt off her wrinkly hands and gave a slow and creaky bow.

WOMAN: Good morning, Your Royal Highness! Fancy seeing the prince in my very own village!

PRINCE: Good morning, madam! (beat) It’s a fine day for planting, isn’t it?

WOMAN: Indeed! It IS a fine day for planting. Even if, at my age, it’ll take me hours to get this sapling in the ground!

NARRATOR: The prince glanced at the sapling. It was a fig tree, so young and small it stood no higher than his horse’s hoof.

PRINCE: Madam. You mentioned your age… If I may be so bold: how old ARE you?

NARRATOR: A crinkly smile stretched across the woman’s face.

WOMAN: As of last week, I am officially one-hundred years old! It took all five of my children, all ten of my grandchildren, and all twenty of my great-grandchildren to help me blow out the candles on my birthday cake!

PRINCE: (little laugh at her joke) Well! Happy belated birthday, madam! (beat) But… if I may be so bold yet again… why would you plant this young fig tree at your age? Do you expect to enjoy its fruit? After all, it will be years before this sapling produces figs! And you already have one-hundred years to your name!

WOMAN: That IS a fair point, sir. But the truth is… I’m not planting this tree for ME.

PRINCE: You’re NOT? Then who are you planting it for?

WOMAN: For my five children! And my ten grandchildren! And my twenty great-grandchildren! And however many generations come after that! (beat) Tell me, sir. Do you see that apple tree over there?

PRINCE: I do!

WOMAN: Well. That apple tree is even older than I am! My ancestors planted it long before I walked – or even crawled – this earth! Thanks to their hard work, I have been enjoying that tree’s fruit my entire life. And thanks to MY hard work, I hope my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and ALL generations to come will enjoy this tree’s fruit their entire lives.

NARRATOR: The woman’s wise, thoughtful words brought a grin to the prince’s lips.

PRINCE: Madam. You have a good and generous heart. Your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are lucky to have you. (beat) I wonder. If, perchance, you ARE able to enjoy this tree’s fruit some day – and I certainly hope you are – will you let me know?

WOMAN: Of course I will! I promise I’ll bring you a basket of the very first crop!

PRINCE: And I shall hold you to that promise! Farewell!

NARRATOR: Within a month of this curious encounter, the prince’s father passed away… and next thing the young man knew, he was the new king.

Suddenly, he was too busy for early-morning horse rides through the countryside. He had his hands full writing decrees, hosting banquets, and working with neighboring kingdoms to ensure peace and order. And as the years went by, thoughts of the old woman and her fig tree all but faded away.

One day, the king was sitting in his throne room when his head guard came rushing in.

GUARD: Your Majesty! You have a most remarkable visitor! Unbelievable, really!

KING: Is that so? Well, bring them in! I must see who this “remarkable visitor” is!

NARRATOR: The guard hurried out. When she returned, she had a steadying arm around the frail shoulders of an old woman. A very familiar old woman!

KING: My my my! If it isn’t my favorite fig-tree planter! (beat) Good madam! If memory serves, last time we met I believe you had just celebrated your one-hundredth birthday!

WOMAN: You remember correctly, Your Majesty! You may also recall that I made you a promise during our encounter. And I’m here to make good on it.

NARRATOR: The old woman held up a wicker basket. She removed the cloth cover, and the king’s eyes lit up with recognition.

KING: FIGS! (beat) (remembering) You brought me a basket of your first crop of figs!

NARRATOR: The figs were beautiful: round and ripe and a brilliant purple, streaked with crimson stripes. The king plucked one from the basket and took a bite.

KING: (as he eats the fig) Oh my! This fig is exquisite! And the purple and red coloring is gorgeous! Like nothing I’ve ever seen.

WOMAN: I’m glad it’s to your liking, sir.

KING: “Liking”? I am LOVING it! (beat) Madam. It is clear that fortune has smiled on you – no doubt rewarding you for your kind, generous, and selfless heart. And I would like to reward you, too. (beat) Guard?

GUARD: Yes sir?

KING: Please take this basket of figs to the kitchen so I may enjoy them later. After that, here is what I want you to do.

NARRATOR: The king leaned over and whispered in the guard’s ear. She nodded, then grabbed the basket and left the room.

When she returned, she had the basket in hand. But when the old woman saw it, she let out a gasp. Because it was filled with the most surprising thing the old woman had ever laid eyes on – in all of her one-hundred-plus years!

What do you think is in the woman’s basket?

We’ll find out what it is, after a quick break.

[BREAK]

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

Before the break, an aged woman fulfilled a promise by bringing the king a basket of figs from her fig tree. She had planted the tree when she was one-hundred years old, so that future generations could enjoy its fruits.

The king wished to honor the woman’s generosity and foresight. So he had his guard empty out the basket and fill it with a reward. When the old woman saw what it was, her snowy white eyebrows shot all the way up to her snowy white hairline!

WOMAN: Sir! My basket of figs is now brimming with gold coins! What can an old white-hair like me do with such wealth?

KING: The same thing you’re doing with your fig tree, madam! You can share it with your children, your grandchildren, your great-grandchildren, and the generations to come. You are an inspiration. Now and forever.

NARRATOR: As you can imagine, the woman’s sudden wealth became the talk of her village. And everyone was happy for her.

Well… almost everyone.

Next-door to the woman lived a conniving, lazy fellow who was always seeking ways to make a quick buck. So when he learned of the woman’s newfound riches, he seethed with envy.

NEIGHBOR: Good golly! Apparently the king is crazy about figs! Or just plain CRAZY! (beat) No matter. If that old geezer can get a basket of gold in exchange for a basket of figs, then so can I!

NARRATOR: The neighbor didn’t have a fig tree. Nor did he have any figs. He considered buying some, but the village was nestled so deep in the valley, reaching the nearest marketplace would take forever.

NEIGHBOR: Well… if I can’t BUY figs… I’ll have to get my hands on them some other way. (beat) And I know just how I’ll do it!

NARRATOR: Later that night, under a full, silvery moon, the neighbor tiptoed outside. He crept to the old woman’s yard, then made a beeline for her fig tree.

NEIGHBOR: (stage-whisper) Wow! This tree has so many figs on it, its branches are bending under the weight! There’s no way that geezer will notice if a few pieces of fruit are missing…

NARRATOR: He darted around the tree, yanking purple and crimson figs from the branches and tossing them into a basket.

NEIGHBOR: (stage-whisper) Tee hee hee! Ho ho ho! This is going to be GREAT!

NARRATOR: The next morning, he covered the basket with a cloth and carried it to the palace. When he entered the king’s throne room, he dropped to his knees, bowing so low his nose squished against the floor.

NEIGHBOR: Your Excellency! Your Eminence! I come bearing a special gift. One I am certain you will appreciate.

NARRATOR: He sprang to his feet and held out the basket. Then, with a grand flourish…

NEIGHBOR: Ta-daaa!

NARRATOR: …he removed the cloth, revealing the round, ripe, purple and crimson figs within.

NEIGHBOR: I've heard how much you adore figs, my liege. (greedy, grasping) In fact, I’ve heard you adore them so much that you’ll offer a very rich reward for them!

NARRATOR: The king stared at the neighbor, noting the eager, shifty look in his eyes. Then the king stared at the figs, noting how oddly familiar they seemed…

KING: My dear man. I appreciate this gift. But tell me: who told you that I offer rich rewards… for figs?

NEIGHBOR: Everyone in my village! They’re all talking about how my dotty old neighbor – I’m sorry, my DELIGHTFUL old neighbor – brought you some figs. And even though she’s like a million years old, you sent her home with gold coins!

NARRATOR: The king’s heart lurched. So this fawning fellow was the old woman’s neighbor! Clearly he had plotted to swipe figs from her tree, then come to the palace and get rich. So, the king began hatching a plot of his own. He gave the neighbor a solemn, serious nod.

KING: (plotting/planning) You are correct, sir. I DID send your neighbor home with gold coins. And do you know why?

NARRATOR: The neighbor sighed and rolled his eyes.

NEIGHBOR: (impatient) You sent her home with gold coins because you love figs so much! I thought we already covered that! (beat) So, Your Grace…? How about you give me my reward and I’ll be off!

NARRATOR: The king fixed the neighbor with a hard stare. Then he signaled to his guard and whispered something in her ear. Right away, she took the neighbor's basket and left the room.

The neighbor’s stomach filled with butterflies as he eagerly awaited her return. But when she come back, his stomach dropped down to his toes. Because sitting in his basket was not a pile of gold coins. Instead, it was a parchment scroll, carefully tied closed with a ribbon.

GUARD: Here you go, sir! Your reward for your figs!

NARRATOR: The neighbor gaped at the scroll. Then he gaped at the king.

NEIGHBOR: Ummm… My Lord…??? With all due respect… where is my gold?

NARRATOR: The king didn’t say a word. Instead, he looked at his guard, who lifted the scroll, untied it, and thrust it into the neighbor’s hands.

GUARD: Here. Read it!

NARRATOR: The neighbor swallowed hard, cleared his throat, then began to read.

NEIGHBOR: (reading) “This document officially declares that one basket of gold shall hereby be rewarded to… (gasp) MY GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN”?

NARRATOR: He looked at the king in shock.

NEIGHBOR: Your Majesty! Tell me that isn’t right!

KING: Oh but it IS right! One basket of gold shall officially be rewarded to your great-grandchildren.

NEIGHBOR: But, what about ME?

KING: What ABOUT you? (beat) It is painfully apparent that you haven’t a clue about the real reason I gave a basket of gold coins to your neighbor. You see, ten years ago she planted a fig tree. The SAME fig tree, by the way, from which you STOLE!

NARRATOR: The king took a breath, then carried on.

KING: At the ripe old age of one-hundred, your neighbor planted a fig tree because she was planning for the future… hoping to leave a reward for her children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren. (beat) Therefore, it’s only fitting that your reward should be for YOUR great-grandchildren! They and only they may come to the palace to claim their gold.

NEIGHBOR: But I don’t have any great-grandchildren! I don’t even have CHILDREN!

KING: I’m sorry, sir. This reward is for posterity. Not for you. (beat) Good day!

NARRATOR: As the neighbor turned and stomped off in a huff, the king made a decision. He would ask his royal gardeners to acquire as many young fruit trees as possible, then plant them around the palace grounds. Not for his enjoyment, but for the enjoyment of generations to come.

Because thanks to the old woman’s noble example, the king now understood that if you want to set up a brighter future, there’s no time like the present to do it.