During a FaceTime chat today with our granddaughter (6) and grandson (4), my granddaughter suggested I tell a regular story, like “Jack and the Beanstalk,” but using stuff from around our house for the characters and scenery. I’m in!
Here we have Jack and his mother:
Having been told to go sell the cow for money to buy food, Jack ended up selling it to a peddler for 5 magic beans.
She ended up riding the cow after the purchase.
Jack’s mother wasn’t too happy about the beans and threw them out the window onto the ground. She harangued Jack for a bit and went to bed in a huff.
As you know, a beanstalk grew from those beans (you’ll see that later). Jack went up the beanstalk. He fell from halfway up which was unfortunate, but he clambered back up and again and found the goose who laid the golden egg.
The elements of the story were getting somewhat hazy to me, but I managed to remember the “Fe Fi Fo Fum” bit and employed that a couple times with the accompanying line, “I smell the blood of an Englishman!” My granddaughter laughed and said, “That’s just what my Dad used to say!”
I asked for help from the audience, having forgotten how Jack got out of his predicament, but no help was forthcoming. It occurred to me that a hatchet was involved. I had no hatchet, so the goose had to donate her nest to play the part of the hatchet. Jack climbed back down with the golden egg and cut the beanstalk down just in time. The giant fell with it and was killed. I’m not sure what happened to the goose, but I like to think she came down with Jack.
Jack’s mother, who had originally been quite upset about the purchase of the magic beans, was thrilled to get the golden egg. We decided that Jack’s father was at work and missed the whole thing.
THE END.
That’s how our lamp ended up on the floor. I guess I should pick it up, along with the beans.
I’ll probably hack this post down with a fake hatchet in the morning.
Lynniebeemuseoday 
that was hilarious and creative, Lynn. I’m sure the grandkids loved it. I know I did. I’m in Winona now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Lynnie! Glad to know that your grandchildren are enjoying the classic and indispensable Children’s stories! Those are the kind of stories that spark the imagination. And you did a terrific job of bringing Jack and the Beanstalk to life. Nowadays that adventurous tale would be seen as “too violent and/or not “inclusive” enough…yikes.
P.S. At first I thought that Jack was represented by the green bean-like ceramic (salt shaker?)..!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The green thing is indeed a salt shaker. It’s called a Schmoo and was my mom’s. I always loved using those (there’s a little gray pepper schmoo, too). Schmoo’s were cartoon characters before our time.
Yes, I thought about how that story would probably not pass muster with some people today. But most fairy tales are like that.
LikeLike