Good evening, children.

It's Granny Madduff, ready with a story.

So make yourselves comfy, and I'll begin.

Once upon a time, in a lovely little village,

there lived a man and his wife.

They were called Frederick and Leesel. Though they lived in the village, they were not respected by their neighbours, though they did not know this.

Frederick rarely worked, and Leesel did not work at all. In fact, they were both quite lazy.

But Frederick was fine with this.

Leesel, however, complained all the time.

She did not want to work, yet hated being bored.

So her husband tried everything to help her find something she loved doing.

But there was nothing.

One day, he grew quite frustrated and decided she should take up spinning,

for that at least would give her something to do. But she never finished anything she started.

And when she did spin, she would not wind the yarn,

but leave it in a pile next to her.

How idle you are, and look, you cannot even spin properly,

leaving the yarn in such a heap as that,

he told her. While Liesel preferred to be idle, she was quick with her tongue and replied,

Well, how should I spin anything properly when I have no reel? Go into the forest and get some wood for one,

then perhaps I shall spin properly. Then I shall. Into the woods I go. Frederick replied.

But Liesel was unhappy with this, for if he made her a reel, she would have to wind the yarn and spin and wind and spin.

...