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Jack and the Beanstalk

Once upon a time there was a poor widow who lived with her son Jack in a little house. Their wealth consisted solely of a milking cow. When the cow had grown too old, the mother sent Jack to sell it. On his way to the market, the boy met a stranger.

"Ahh... here comes the boy!" The stranger chuckled to himself. "Boy! BOY!" Jack looked towards the stranger. "Come here, boy. Have I got a bargain for you!" Jack approached with the cow. This cow is perfect for my collection! "I will give you five magic beans for your cow." "What do they do?" asked Jack. "Oh I can't tell you that," replied the stranger. "But I can tell you that they are magic. Here, look. Don't they LOOK magic?" He held out his hand. Jack looked at the beans and considered the offer for a minute. The beans were a translucent green, sparkling like emeralds. Jack thought "jeez, if these are magic beans, they would be much more valuable than some dumb cow. Mom could be rich! Then she'd be happy again!" "Ok!" Jack said excitedly. The stranger grinned widely and handed over the beans. Jack ran off with them, leaving the cow behind.

Mom! MOM!!; he yelled as he ran into the house.. Oh no. He can't be back already! He couldn't have sold the cow that fast! Why was I ever put on this planet?

"What is it Jack? Why are you back already?"

"I traded Gateway! You'll never believe what I got!"

"You TRADED Gateway? You couldn't have made it to the market this fast! You better have gotton something good!"

"I got these, Mom!" Jack held out five brown, shriveled up beans. "Hey!" Jack said with sadness in his voice. "They looked like emeralds a few minutes ago!" Jack scowled for a second, then smiled. "These are supposed to be magic beans, mom! They may not look like it, but I know they are!"

"Magic beans? You traded our only worldly posession for magic beans?" Jack's mother grew furious. "I am going to KILL you! You are as stupid as your father! Don't you have any BRAINS? Don't you have any COMMON SENSE?!? GIVE ME THOSE BEANS!!" Jack cringed as she swiped the beans from his hand. She stomped over to the window and threw them out into the yard. "I don't want to SEE or HEAR you for the rest of the year! GO TO YOUR ROOM!!"

Jack sniffled and walked towards his room. His mother flopped into her chair and sobbed. Oh, miserable life! I wish I was never born!

Overnight, the magic beans grew into a huge beanstalk that reached up beyond the clouds. As dawn broke, Jack came outside intending to run away. His jaw dropped at the sight of the enormous plant in his back yard.

"Oh... my... God!" cried Jack. "They really were magic beans! I can't believe it!" I've gotta see what's up there!

Jack began climbing up the beanstalk. He climbed for what seemed like hours until he reached the top of the clouds. There he saw a huge castle made of grey stone. I wonder who lives there. Cautiously, Jack stepped onto the cloud. Once he saw that it held his weight, he began walking towards the structure.

This is SO amazing! I could sell tickets to let people climb the beanstalk! I could make a lot of money and give it to mom so she'll be happy again! Jack reached the gigantic door. He knocked, but nobody came to open it. I wonder if it's open. Jack pushed on the door with all his might. It opened.

"What are you doing here?" a thunderous voice asked. Startled, Jack looked up to find the biggest woman he ever saw scowling at him.

"What are you doing here?"

Startled, the child looked up and said, "I am lost. May I have something to eat? I am very hungry." The child looked around nervously.

Awww.... poor dear. I wish that I had children. "Come in, quick. I will give you a bowl of milk. But be careful because my husband, the ogre, eats children. If you hear him coming, hide at once."

The child was shaking with fear, but went inside. The ogre's wife gave him a bowl of milk. The boy had almost finished it when they heard a tremendous noise. The ogre was home.

"Fee fi fo fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman!" the ogre shouted.

"Hide, quick!" the woman whispered, pushing Jack into the oven.

"Do I smell a child in this room?" the ogre asked suspiciously, sniffing and looking around.

I know I smell a child!

"A child?" the woman repeated. "You see and hear children everywhere. That's all you ever think about. Sit down and I'll make your dinner."

The ogre, still grumbling, filled a jug of wine and drank it all with his dinner.

I think I will count all of the gold pieces in my treasure. The ogre did so, again and again, until he fell asleep with his feet propped up on the table. After a little while, his thundering snouring echoed throughout the castle.

The ogre's wife went to prepare the ogre's bed. Jack had sneaked out of the oven and saw the gold piceces on the table.

Jack could hear the ogre snoring and the wife walk out of the room. Well, they didn't cook me. I'd better get out of here before they change their mind. Jack slowly opened the oven door. Woah! Look at all the gold! Jack's heart began to beat faster, not just because he feared the ogre, but because he was very excited. If I can grab some of those coins we'll be rich! Mom will love me again!

Jack snuck towards the table and filled a little bag with coins. He tiptoed away from the sleeping ogre towards the door. As soon as he was out of the castle he ran to the beanstalk and climbed down where he found his mother waiting.

"Jack! I've been worried sick about you! Do you want me to die worrying? Where did this plant come from? What kind of plant is this? What..." Jack cheerfully interrupted her, emptying the contents of the bag before her.

Jack dumped the gold coins out before her. "You see, mom, I did the right thing by exchanging that cow for the beans. They really were magic! This beanstalk reaches up above the clouds to a castle with a giant ogre and..." Jack proceeded to tell his mother the whole story.

In the days that followed, Jack and his mother's house was made into a comfortable home. The gold pieces were spent to buy a lot of things Jack and his mother never had before. They were both very happy.