Encore: The Cleverest Person in the Room
Circle Round
A clever mayor who believes he is the smartest person in town sets out to find a deputy as brilliant as himself. After being stumped by a mysterious
Key takeaways
- True intelligence often lies in recognizing that collaboration is more powerful than solitary brilliance.
Main topics
- Cleverness vs. collaboration
Notable quotes
"How many fish swim in the sea?" – Nina's response to the mayor's question about basil leaves.
Conclusion
The story ends on a note of mystery and emotional depth, suggesting th
Transcript preview
Speaker 1 (0:02) Hey there, listeners. I'm Erica Henningsen, your tour guide down Circle Round memory lane. We've been listening back to the best Circle Round stories together. Today, we have another classic story for you, perfect for all you kids out there going back to school, because it's about smarts and using that noggin. So Circle Round, friends, for the cleverest person in the room. Speaker 3 (0:33) WBUR Podcasts, Boston. Think Speaker 2 (0:41) about a time you had a problem and somebody stepped in to help you solve it. In today's tale, we'll meet a man who believes he can solve every problem on his own. And that, it turns out, is the root of the problem. Speaker 2 (0:59) I'm Rebecca Shear, and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time. Today, our story is called The Cleverest Person in the Room. We found versions of this tale from Puerto Rico, an island in the Caribbean Sea, and Chile, a country on the western edge of South America. Speaker 2 (1:20) Some really great people came together to bring you our adaptation of this tale, including Vanessa Aspiaga, whom you kids might recognize as the witch in Dora Saves the Snow Princess. You grown-ups may know Vanessa from Only Murders in the Building on Hulu and Leave the World Behind on Netflix. So circle around, everyone, for the cleverest person in the room. Speaker 2 (1:56) Once upon a time, there was a town by the sea. The town was run by a mayor who spent his days creating laws, writing speeches, and balancing budgets. He also acted as the town judge, hearing cases and settling disputes brought forth by his constituents, the people he represented and served. The mayor was a busy man. So busy that he often didn't leave his office in town hall until well into the evening. Sometimes he even conked out at his desk and wound up spending the night. Ugh, I Speaker 6 (2:33) can't keep working myself to the bone like this. I need someone who can assist me with my duties. A dependable second-in-command who can help me get all the jobs done. I think I'll hire a deputy. Speaker 2 (2:50) But here's the thing. All his life, the mayor had fancied himself to be the cleverest person in the room. The brightest baby in the nursery, the sharpest student in school, the savviest citizen in town. So he decided that whoever he hired as deputy must also be clever. Speaker 6 (3:09) My deputy must be able to solve any problem, answer any question, no matter how impossible it may seem. Speaker 2 (3:19) The first day of the mayor's search, he woke up at dawn, put on his suit, knotted his tie, and set off toward town hall. It was still early, and the streets were empty. The only other person up and about was a woman, hard at work in a garden outside a red brick house. She was kneeling by a patch of newly sprouted basil plants and was giving the tiny shoots a drink from a watering can. All at once, a thought flashed through the mayor's mind. If he was going to spend the day posing impossible questions to possible deputies, why not start now? He paused by the woman's gate, then cleared his throat and called out. Speaker 6 (4:01) Hardworking gardener, it's good to see young plants cared for so tenderly. I wonder if you could please advise how many leaves they'll have once they've Speaker 2 (4:12) grown full size? The woman didn't respond. She just kept watering her basil. But after a moment, she lifted her gaze and fixed the mayor with glittering eyes. You ask Speaker 5 (4:27) how many leaves my basil will grow? Is that what you're really hoping to know? I'll tell you, Mr. Mayor, if you tell me. How many fish swim in the Speaker 2 (4:39) sea? And with that, she grinned a mischievous grin, sprang to her feet, and flounced into the red brick house. Speaker 2 (4:50) The mayor stood stock still, his mouth and eyes open wide. Who was this witty woman who had answered his impossible question with an impossible question of her own? He was tempted to knock on the door and ask, but he was expected at the office. So he took one last look at the red brick house, then hurried to town hall. He spent the rest of the day doing the usual, creating laws, writing speeches. balancing budgets, settling disputes. He even interviewed some potential deputies, none of whom were nearly clever Speaker 1 (5:24) enough for his liking. But Speaker 2 (5:26) all the while, he couldn't get his mind off the woman in the garden. He must see her again. So the next morning, on his way to work, he made sure to pass by the red brick house. To his delight, the woman was once again outside, weeding her baby basil plants in the garden. The mayor drew in a breath and called out. Speaker 6 (5:50) Hard-working gardener, it's good to see young plants cared for so tenderly. I wonder if you could please advise how many leaves they'll Speaker 2 (5:59) have once they've grown full size. His heart raced as he awaited the woman's response. When at last she spoke, her eyes sparkled like the sun. Again Speaker 5 (6:12) you inquire about my little sprouts and how many leaves will come popping out. But first tell me, oh mayor so sly, how many stars shine in the sky? Speaker 2 (6:27) Then she tossed back her head and laughed, before jumping to her feet and prancing into the red brick house. The mayor felt his heart gallop. Another impossible question. He must find out who this woman was. Of course, he must also be on time for work. As usual, he had a