
An old proverb from Africa says: “Truth is like oil. No matter how much water you pour on it, it will always float.”
In other words: no matter how much you try to hide the truth, it’ll eventually reveal itself. And as we’ll hear in today’s story, when one tricky character tries covering up the truth, an even trickier character blows his cover!
Our story is called “Hot Potatoes.” It was inspired by tales from the Thonga: a Bantu ethnic group who are part of the Tsonga people of South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
Voices in this episode include Ryan Dalusung, Jessica Rau, Erika Rose and Arlen Escarpeta, who stars as Zeke Wallace on the NBC series, “Found.”
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!
Turtle may be a slow mover, but she has the superpower ability to think fast.
What’s one of your superpowers: an ability that helps you in the world? It could be as simple as the ability to tolerate really spicy foods or stay super-calm at the dentist. Perhaps your superpower is your sense of humor or your ability to practice patience.
Find a grown-up and tell them about your superpower. Then ask them to share one of theirs. After you talk, you’re both bound to feel super!
Musical Spotlight: Balafon

This tuned percussion instrument usually has 16 to 27 keys made of very hard wood. Beneath the keys are small gourds which vibrate and buzz to create a distinctive sound that’s both percussive and melodic when you strike the instrument with mallets or padded sticks.
The balafon is the ancestor of the marimba, xylophone and vibraphone. The instrument’s oral history dates back to at least the 12th century, when the Mali Empire was on the rise.
The Manding name for the balafon is bala, but variations exist across West Africa, including the balangi of the Susu in Sierra Leone; the balo of the Mandinka people in the Gambia; and the gyil of the Dagara, Lobi, and Gurunsi in Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast. Experts believe the name balafon is likely a European creation that merges bala with the Greek root phono, meaning “sound” or “voice.”
In ancient Africa, the balafon was a popular instrument among the storytellers/musicians known as griots. Other common griot instruments include the harp-like kora and the lute known as the ngoni.
You can hear Eric Shimelonis playing the balafon in other Circle Round stories including “Friends in High Places,” “The Chattering Clams,” “Chameleon’s Contest” and “Rhyming Rhino.”
Story Transcript:
NARRATOR: It was a blisteringly hot day on the savanna, and Hare was desperate for a drink.
HARE: Uch! I’m so thirsty! If I don’t find water soon, I’ll dry up into a husk! From the tips of my long pointy ears to the back of my short bushy tail!
NARRATOR: Under a blazing sun, Hare bounded across the grasslands in search of a water hole. When he finally found one, who should he find standing beside it, her horned brown head raised high and alert, but Antelope.
HARE: Hey there, Antelope! Whatcha doin’?
NARRATOR: Antelope narrowed her eyes. She knew Hare was a tricky one, with a notorious reputation for pulling pranks.
ANTELOPE: What am I doing, you ask…? What does it LOOK like I’m doing, Hare? I’m guarding over this water hole I found! I spent hours looking for it. And in this sweltering weather, I’m not letting one drop go to waste!
HARE: I see…
NARRATOR: Hare put on his most winning grin.
HARE: Tell me something, Antelope. What do you think of… melons?
ANTELOPE: Melons?
NARRATOR: Antelope’s face lit up.
ANTELOPE: I LOVE melons! They’re so sweet, so juicy… they’d be especially refreshing in this heat. Why do you ask?
HARE: Well, I’m with you: melons WOULD be refreshing in this heat. And that’s why I was going to GROW some!
ANTELOPE: Grow some…?
HARE: Sure! Care to help me do some farming? We can split the melons fifty-fifty!
NARRATOR: At the thought of chomping down a sweet, juicy melon, Antelope lowered her guard.
ANTELOPE: You can count me in, Hare! What do we do first?
HARE: First we have to plow. Plowing loosens up the earth, and makes it ready for planting seeds! (beat) See THAT?
NARRATOR: Hare motioned toward a fallen tree branch.
HARE: That hefty branch will make for an ideal plow. So how about I go grab some melon seeds while you drag the branch across the ground? You’re so big and strong, we’ll be ready for planting in no time!
NARRATOR: Antelope’s face tightened with worry.
ANTELOPE: But that branch is much too big to hold in my mouth, Hare! And I can’t exactly grasp it with my hooves! I won’t be able to balance!
NARRATOR: Hare was well aware of this fact. But he pretended to think.
HARE: Gosh Antelope! You’re right! So I’ll tell you what. How about if I TIE the stick to your MIDDLE? Then you’ll have no problem plowing!
NARRATOR: Quick as a wink, Hare grabbed a long vine, wrapped it around Antelope’s belly, and tied it to the branch. He jammed one end of the branch deep into the earth and Antelope immediately began to struggle.
ANTELOPE: Hare!!! Now I can’t move! The branch is stuck in the ground!
HARE: Is it?
NARRATOR: Hare shrugged.
HARE: That’s YOUR problem, Antelope. Not MINE! And now… this is MY water hole, not YOURS!
NARRATOR: And with that, he drank up every last drop in the water hole… and bounded away.
ANTELOPE: You’ll pay for this, Hare! One of these days, you’ll pay for this! You hear????
NARRATOR: But Hare did NOT hear. He had already hopped over to another water hole… this one watched over by Lizard.
HARE: Hey there, Lizard! Whatcha doin’?
NARRATOR: Lizard gave Hare a sideways glance. He, too, was well aware of Hare’s reputation as a trickster.
LIZARD: Don’t even try it, Hare! This is my water hole. You can’t dupe me into sparing a drop!
HARE: I see…
NARRATOR: Hare gave his whiskers a wiggle.
HARE: Actually, to tell you the truth, I wasn’t even interested in your water, Lizard. I was looking for someone to help me do some farming! And plant some luscious, succulent melons! We would split the harvest, of course…
NARRATOR: At the thought of biting into a luscious, succulent melon, Lizard forgot all about Hare’s schemes.
LIZARD: It just so happens I ADORE melons! You can count me in, Hare! What do we do first?
HARE: First we have to plow! (beat) See that big stick over there? How about I go grab some melon seeds while you drag the stick across the ground? You’re so nimble and quick, we’ll be ready for planting in no time!
NARRATOR: Lizard’s forehead creased with concern.
LIZARD: My legs are too short to hold that stick, Hare! And my mouth is too small to clamp it in my teeth!
NARRATOR: Hare, of course, was well aware of this fact. But again, he pretended to think.
HARE: Gee Lizard! You’re right! So I’ll tell you what. How about if I TIE the stick to your strong TAIL? Then you’ll have no problem plowing!
NARRATOR: Quick as a wink, Hare seized another long vine and tied the stick to Lizard’s tail. Then he lodged one end of the stick deep into the ground.
LIZARD: But Hare! Now I can’t move! The stick is stuck!
HARE: Is it?
NARRATOR: Hare laughed.
HARE: (little laugh) That’s YOUR problem, Lizard. Not MINE! And now… this is MY water hole, not YOURS!
NARRATOR: And with that, he guzzled down every last drop in the water hole… and scampered away.
LIZARD: You’re gonna get what’s coming to you, Hare! Any time now, you’re gonna get what’s coming! You hear????
NARRATOR: But Hare did NOT hear. He had already sprung over to another water hole… this one guarded by Tortoise.
But when Hare came sauntering over, offering to split his melon harvest with her…
TORTOISE: I think I’ll pass, Hare. Much as I’d love to do some farming with you, I’ll just sit here and drink my water.
HARE: I see…
NARRATOR: Now. You might assume that Hare was disappointed by Tortoise’s answer. But let’s just say the crafty fellow had more than one trick up his sleeve.
HARE: Fine, Tortoise! Fine. I get it. Farming is hard work, and who wants to work hard in this weather? So I’ll tell you what. Boar has been doing some farming of his own. He’s been growing a big patch of sweet potatoes. Whaddya say you and I go steal some?
TORTOISE: “Steal some”?
NARRATOR: Tortoise shot Hare a disapproving look.
TORTOISE: Stealing is wrong, Hare.
HARE: Not when you’re stealing from a bully like Boar! (beat) Come on, Tortoise. You know how mean and blustery that wild pig can be!
NARRATOR: It was true. Boar WAS a bully, always pushing the other animals around. But Tortoise still had doubts.
TORTOISE: Look. Even if we DID try and steal Boar’s sweet potatoes, aren’t you worried about getting caught?
HARE: “Getting caught”?!!!???
NARRATOR: Hare rolled his eyes.
HARE: Come now, Tortoise. A smooth, sly fella like me is NEVER worried about “getting caught.” After all, you know what everyone says: I am, by far, the cleverest critter on the savanna!
NARRATOR: Tortoise felt a wave of annoyance. Because she had a reputation for cleverness as well – and she knew she could outwit and outsmart Hare any day. So now, she decided to prove it.
TORTOISE: (hatching her own scheme) You know what, Hare? Since you’re certain your wily ways will keep us safe… then sure! Count me in! We’ll steal some sweet potatoes from Boar.
HARE: That’s the spirit!
NARRATOR: Hare flashed Tortoise a triumphant grin, then took off for the sweet potato patch. Tortoise followed, a smile growing across her face with each shuffling step.
TORTOISE: My round, stubby feet may not be as quick as Hare’s, but my sharp, shrewd MIND is even quicker. And if my plan works, Hare will NOT be eating sweet potatoes at the end of the day. He’ll be eating HUMBLE PIE!
[theme music in]
NARRATOR: What do you think our sharp, shrewd, shell-wearing friend is plotting?
We’ll find out, after a quick break.
[theme music out]
[BREAK]
[theme music in]
NARRATOR: Welcome back to Circle Round. I’m Rebecca Sheir. Today our story is called “Hot Potatoes.”
[theme music out]
NARRATOR: Before the break, Hare tricked Antelope and Lizard and drank up all their water. But Tortoise wasn’t so easily deceived. The slow, steady creature knew she could outwit a trickster like Hare. So, when he suggested the two of them steal from Boar’s sweet potato patch, Tortoise agreed.
HARE: Alright, Tortoise. Boar’s sweet potato patch is right over there. I’m pretty sure he takes his afternoon nap right around this time. So while he’s snoozing away, let’s scurry on over and swipe some spuds!
NARRATOR: Tortoise and Hare dug up dozens and dozens of potatoes from the patch: enough to fill two large sacks. Then they lit a small fire behind a nearby tree and emptied their sacks into the flames. Before long the air was filled with the irresistible aroma of roasting tubers.
HARE: Mm mm MMM! These sweet potatoes smell GOOD!
TORTOISE: They sure DO! Whaddya say we eat some right now?
HARE: Right now?
NARRATOR: Hare shook his head.
HARE: Nahh. We JUST roasted them. Have you ever had the roof of your mouth burned by a hot potato? It is NO fun. (beat) I say we DIVIDE the potatoes first, then we eat them LATER.
NARRATOR: Hare began picking up the hot potatoes and dividing them into the two sacks.
HARE: Okay. One for you… one for me. One for you… one for me. One for you… one for me…
NARRATOR: But the moment he was done…
HARE: (GASP!) What was THAT?
NARRATOR: Hare’s body went stiff. His long pointy ears swiveled this way and that.
HARE: (totally faking it) Is that a GRUNTING sound I hear…? Kind of a… kind of a SNUFFLE?
NARRATOR: Tortoise cocked her head to the side.
TORTOISE: I dunno, Hare. I’m not hearing a grunt OR a snuffle.
HARE: (totally faking it) I think I AM! And grunts and snuffles are precisely the kinds of sounds that BOAR makes! Especially when he’s ANGRY! Like, say, when he’s been rudely awakened from a nap…?
TORTOISE: Wait. Are you saying that we woke Boar up?
HARE: Maybe! And if we did, it won’t be long before he comes after us! (beat) Listen, Tortoise. How about I watch over the potatoes while YOU go see if Boar is sleeping or not?
NARRATOR: Tortoise paused. She knew full well that Hare hadn’t heard a thing. It was all a ruse! He was hoping that while Tortoise went to check on Boar, he could sneak off with both sacks of potatoes, leaving none for her!
TORTOISE: (playing along) Hmmmmm. I don’t know, Hare. If I leave you alone, and Boar IS awake, that brutish bully might sneak up on you from behind! And I won’t be here to protect you! (beat) Better for us BOTH to go see what’s up. You go left, I’ll go right, and we’ll meet behind this tree when the coast is clear!
HARE: (playing along) SURE, Tortoise! Whatever you say!
NARRATOR: Hare smiled to himself. He knew how slow Tortoise was, so he figured he’d give it a few minutes, then he’d go back and pilfer the potatoes once Little Miss Slowpoke was out of sight.
But Tortoise had a plan of her own. The moment Hare leaped off to the left, she started to shuffle to the right. But then… she stopped, turned around, and crawled inside Hare’s sack of stolen sweet potatoes. Once she was all comfy and cozy, she opened her mouth and began sucking the potatoes right out of their skins!
TORTOISE: (as she eats) Mmm! Delicious! And not too hot at all!
NARRATOR: Moments later, Hare came hurrying back. When he caught neither hide nor hair (heh heh) of his rival, he did exactly what Tortoise had predicted: he dumped all the potatoes from HER sack into HIS.
HARE: Ha ha ha! Now I can get all the bounty. And Little Miss Slowpoke can get all the blame!
NARRATOR: Hare took a breath, then cupped his paws around his mouth and called out.
HARE: (extra loud; laying it on thick) You’d better stop stealing those sweet potatoes, Tortoise! Boar is bound to catch you! And you know how big and strong he is!
NARRATOR: And with that, he hoisted his sack over his shoulder…
HARE: (ad-lib hoisting efforting sound)
NARRATOR: … and took off, running as fast and as far as he could. But he realized he was quickly losing steam.
HARE: (exhausted) Gosh! This sack is heavier than I expected! And all this running has made me so hungry. I think I’ll stop for a snack.
NARRATOR: Hare paused beside a thicket of bushes. Then he stuck a paw into the sack and pulled out… a potato skin!
HARE: That’s odd! The skin must have slipped off one of the potatoes somehow!
NARRATOR: So Hare tried again. He stuck his paw back into the sack and pulled out… ANOTHER potato skin!
HARE: What’s going on? This sack is so heavy, there have got to be some actual POTATOES in here!
NARRATOR: So Hare tried again.
HARE: ANOTHER potato skin?
NARRATOR: And again.
HARE: ANOTHER potato skin?
NARRATOR: And AGAIN!
HARE: ANOTHER potato skin?
NARRATOR: This happened over and over. Until finally, Hare stuck his paw into the sack and did NOT pull out another potato skin. Instead, his furry paw struck something hard… and rough… and when he yanked open the sack and peeked inside…
TORTOISE: SURPRISE!!!!
NARRATOR: …there was Tortoise, her hard, rough shell strewn with empty potato skins!
TORTOISE: Thanks for the ride, Hare. AND for the meal. Oh! AND thanks for reminding me who “the cleverest critter on the savanna” REALLY is!
NARRATOR: And with that, she shimmied out of the sack and crawled away, with a stomach full of potatoes and a smile on her face.