The Bureau of Dreams to be Continued by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

The Bureau of Dreams to be Continued

Page 104

Once upon a time, a little red hen lived in a cozy farmyard with her chicks. One day, she found a grain of wheat.

“Who will help me plant this wheat?” she asked.

“Not I,” said the cat. “Not I,” said the dog. “Not I,” said the pig.

“Then I will plant it myself,” said the little red hen. And she did.

The wheat grew tall and golden. When it was ready, she asked:

“Who will help me cut the wheat?”

“Not I,” said the cat. “Not I,” said the dog. “Not I,” said the pig.

“Then I will cut it myself,” said the little red hen. And she did.

She continued the work alone; threshing the wheat, taking it to the mill, and finally baking it into a warm, fragrant loaf of bread. At each step, she asked for help, and each time the answer was the same: “Not I.”

At last, the bread was ready. The little red hen asked:

“Who will help me eat the bread?”