Hey, Circle Round fans, we've added stops to our 2025, 2025, 26 Circle Round Live tour, and you're invited.

Join us for live episode recordings in Los Angeles on January 18th, Boston on February 7th, and Cleveland on March 14th.

We can't wait to Circle Round with you live. Get your tickets at WBUR.org slash circle round.

WBUR Podcasts, Boston.

Think about a time you complained. We've all done it, griping about something or someone we're annoyed with.

Sometimes our complaints are well-founded. It makes sense that we're irked. But as we'll hear in

today's tale, there can be an awfully fine line between sense and nonsense.

I'm Rebecca Shear, and welcome to Circle Round,

where story time happens all the time.

Today, our story is called The Fourth Post.

It's inspired by tales told in a number of places,

including Great Britain, Italy, Russia, and the Philippines.

Some really great people came together to bring you our version of this spoke tale, including Jeff Meacham, known for playing Josh in the ABC comedy Blackish and Principal Bradford in the Nickelodeon series The Thundermans.

He's currently starring as Vampire Dad Boris Hauntley in the Disney Jr. series Vampirina.

So, circle around, everyone. For the fourth post.

Alfie was a substitute teacher.

For years he had been stepping in for full-time instructors when they needed time off. Elthie adored teaching, but he yearned for a class of his own. So you can imagine his delight when he

applied for a full-time job at a faraway school and got it. This is so great. I'll move to my new town.

I'll rent an apartment.

Then once I start my job, I can save up enough money to buy a house.

It seemed like a great plan.

But when Alfie arrived in his new town, he made an unexpected discovery.

...