Jack's Controversie: A Narrative Fiction

Once upon a time, in a village far from others, where the grass was the greenest you’ll ever see, there was a house with four people taking up residence, there breathed an old widow with her triplets; a boy named Jack, and a girl named Josie, and another girl named Jill. In the afternoons, as always, Jack would be found in the meager field with Milky-White, his prized cow, Josie would be helping her mother with indoor chores, and Jill would be doing the outside chores. One afternoon, Jack came in the house with his milking pail, but it was unfilled.
“Milky-White isn't milkin’ anymore.” He stated, clearly upset.
“Well, then go to the market with your sisters and sell ‘er,”Their mom spoke, plainly.
“For how much?
She isn't worth much now that she won't milk,” Jack asked, curious for an answer.
“Sell ‘er for 20 silver pieces, but don't tell ‘em that she won't milk. Then they won't want her,” She answered promptly. She set her pail of soapy water down. “Go now. The market closes in 2 hours.”
The triplets left the house silently and made their way to the market. On the way to the market, Josie tried to lighten the mood.
“Hey Jack? How did mom know how much silver Milky-White was for?” She asked, bubbling with laughter. Jack shrugged unenthusiastic.
“She used her COWculater!” She and Jill burst into laughter. They giggled for a good three minutes before they all spotted a dark shadow and suddenly stopped. It got closer and spoke with a dry voice.
“Good day, children.” The stranger spoke. “Well! That’s a mighty fine cow you got there!”
“Yep. Just going to sell ‘er for some silver pieces,” Jack said plainly.
“Well, how much silver?” The stranger questioned fiercely.
“20 silver pieces,” Jack continued.
“I’ll take her off your hands for 5 magical beans!” The stranger offered. Jack’s smile turned into a real one.
“Don’t do it, Jack,” Josie whispered. “Momma won’t be very happy!”
“What kind of magic are they?” Jack asked the stranger, ignoring his two sisters.
“They will grow up to the sky by tomorrow!” The stranger yelled and pointed to the sky, exaggerating.
“So high, you touch the heavens,” The stranger smiled so evilly, it shook Jill.
“I’ll take all five,” Jack bellowed, handing Milky-White’s rope out for the stranger’s hand to take. The stranger thrust the 5 beans into Jack’s hand,.
“You have a good day now!” The stranger smiled as he hobbled away with Milky-White.
“Jack!” Josie yelled after the man was nowhere in sight, “Mom’s going to have a cow!”
“But what if these beans actually work? We’d make millions by having people climb up, it would be a once in a lifetime experience!” Jack tried to persuade. They thought it over.
“Fine,” Jill huffed. “But then you can take the blame if mom pins it on us!”
The journey home was as hushed as a photograph. They returned home and Jack went straight towards his mother.
“Mom! Mom! I have magical beans! We’re going to be rich!” He stopped beaming when he saw his mom frowning.
“What were you thinking?!” His mom raged, infuriated. “I gave you one job today and you blew it!”
“I thought we could become rich and we could live in a superior house and we could have all the food we wish!” Jack tried to reason.
“Go to your room! Because of your foolishness, you will get no supper tonight!” Their mother plucked the 5 magic beans out of Jack’s hand and threw them out the window, where they settled in the soil. Jack sprinted up the stairs to his room; the attic. An hour later, Josie and Jill came wandering up and went to bed, their bellies full. “Jack! Wake up!” Jill screamed in his ear, the next morning, “Your beans grew!”
“Stop mocking me Jill, I wanna sleep,” Jack groaned and pulled his quilt back over his head. Jill snatched his quilt and yanked it off his sleepy body. Jack sat up, groggily.
“Come see!” Jill screeched as she dragged her brother out their bedroom door.
“I don’t want to be mocked, Jill. It’s not ni-” He cut himself off as he glanced up at the lanky, broad, fresh beanstalk that shot up to the sky. “It’s beautiful!” Jack exclaimed, examining it. After exchanging an “I told you so” from Jill, Jack flung a foot on the beanstalk.
“It looks sturdy,” he gripped one of the vines that wrapped around the trunk and hoisted himself up.
“What are you doing, Jack?” Jill questioned confused.
“Climbing,” He simply answered.
“What if you fall?” Jill asked, curious for her brother’s safety.
“I won’t,” was all Jack said before taking another step, then another, then another, and so on. Jack was so far up the beanstalk, Jill looked like a speck! He took a life-threatening leap and landed on a yard; a humongous yard! The blades of grass were huge, sharp, knifes ready for something to slice. The mushroom placed by Jack was bigger than any umbrella he ever had. Jack looked up at the house, which could fit a giant through the front door!
Wait a minute! Jack thought. If that door could fit a giant through it, it must be a giant’s house! They must have food! If I'm not their food. With his heart hammering in his rib cage, he scrambled to the door. He knocked twice. An ogress opened up the door.
“Hello?” She called.
“Down here!” Jack yelled. The ogre lady looked down on him. She squinted and then smiled.
“Hello there. What are you doing up here?” She asked.
“Please let me inside ma’am. I haven't had anything to eat. I found your beanstalk and I climbed it. Please, I'm starving!” Jack
begged.
“Alright,” the ogre lady said. She opened the door all the way and Jack hopped in. The ogre lady lead him to the kitchen. “Here’s a piece of pie your size.” She handed him a plate that was 112 times bigger than the slice of pie that rest upon it. Jack didn’t even wait for a fork. He dug into the slice and only stopped to take breathes. A knock on the giant door was quiet and Jack could almost not hear it.
“I think we have a visitor,” The ogre lady spoke as she strutted to the door, leaving Jack to stuff his face. She opened the door a peek and then all the way. “Hello?” The ogre lady called. Then two girly screams echoed through Jack’s ears as it rang out.
“Josie? Jill?” He called, his mouth full.
“Jack?! Jack, where are you?” Jill called frantically. Little footsteps clicked through the kitchen. Jill came into Jack’s view. “Why on earth are you here?” They were out of breath. “And what are you eating?!”
“I'm eating pie. This nice ogress gave me a slice of pie, because mom didn't let me eat.” He explained, “Aren't you hungry?” Jack winked. They nodded and scrambled up to where Jack was sitting. They each took a little bit of Jack’s pie.
“I saw some treasures in the den, we should steal some.” Jack said when the ogress turned away. “You can steal bags of gold and i’ll steal a goose.” Jack licked his fingers free of pie.
“Why a goose?” Josie asked.
“We need a farm animal.” Jack simply stated. “When the ogres falls asleep we’ll come back.”
Suddenly a “THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!” shook the ground.
“Goodness me! My man is back already.” The ogress shook. “He would be very pleased I kept you alive. You all have to hide. He likes to eat little children, it’s his favorite meal.” The ogress collected the triplets in her giant hand and set them down in the oven (not on). She closed the door slightly and whispered. “When my man falls asleep, you escape and never come back.” The triplets nodded their heads fast, thinking of their plan. “Yes, ma’am.” They said in unison. The door of the house swum open so fast, you didn't know it opened until it banged against the wall and the house shook.
“Hello dear!” The ogress smiled. “Did you catch anything?” She said as she eyed
The ogre sniffed the air, then looked around. “Fee! Fi! Fo! Fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman! He be alive! Or he be dead! I’ll have his bones to grind on my bread!” The ogre recited, sniffing around.
“Nonsense, dear. It’s the little boy’s bones you had yesterday. That is what you smell.” The ogress defended. “Go rest in your bed and I’ll be along to feed you.” The ogre stomped off. His footsteps like huge, banging drums. The ogre followed behind with a tray of food. Jack helped Jill and Josie out of the oven. They scampered towards the den. Jack thrust a finger toward the piles of gold and a bunch of sacks next to them. Josie and Jill got the message and raced to the mountain of riches. Jack jogged to where a little patch of hay and grass was, that’s where the goose laid. He snuck up behind the goose and saw three golden eggs laying next to it. His eyes went as wide as two huge quarters. He grabbed a little rope from a lamp next to him and rapidly wrapped it around the goose’s beak. He tied it tight in record time. He placed the goose in between his feet and grabbed more string, with it he tied the goose’s wings down. He hurried to his sisters and saw their progress. They had managed to fill 2 bags of gold each and Jill had snatched a golden harp, that was playing the most beautiful music. . . by itself!
“It’s beautiful! And elegant!” Jack spoke, stunned. Suddenly the music stopped.
The harp yelled, “Master! Master!” It screeched. A thump sounded through the house. The ogre was up.
“Quick! Get down the beanstalk!” Jack commanded his sisters. They sprinted to the door as fast as someone would run with coals in their shoes! “Climb down now!” He commanded again. Jill started down the beanstalk, Josie right after. They had the bags strapped to their hips as well as the harp.
“Throw the gold down, mom will take them!” Josie yelled to Jill. They multitasked by holding on and still climbing down a step just a little bit. Suddenly, Jill’s bags of gold fell fast like water off a duck’s back. Josie's followed just as fast, missing Jill by a needle prick.
“Fee! Fi! Foo! Fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman!” The giant started to roar. “He be alive! Or he be dead! I’ll have his bones to grind on my bread!” Jack started down the beanstalk and went twice as fast as Jill and Josie.
He caught up to them in no time.
“Quick! It’s only a ten foot drop! Climb down fast and drop the last 4 feet!” Jack yelled as the wind picked up. The beanstalk started to shake. “Go now!” He yelled. They climbed down even faster. Once they were close enough, Jill dropped onto the ground, fell on her rear, and scurried away. Josie did the same. Once Jack got close enough, he dropped onto the ground.
“Get me an axe!” He yelled at his sisters. They ran off and came back with Jack’s rusty axe in their hands. Jack took a swing and the blade sliced through only half a foot. The ogre roared above. Jack swung again and again, using all his muscles. He swung one final swing and the beanstalk quaked, shaker, and started to topple over. The ogre started to howl. The ogre started to fall and the beanstalk came down after it. It had passed, Jack was certain. After a year, Jack’s family became the richest family in their village and the surrounding villages!
Jill and Josie both married wealthy, young princes, their mother married again and was happy, and Jack married a princess and soon became a king. They all lived happily ever
after.