Good evening, children.

It's Granny Madduff, ready with a story.

So make yourselves comfy, and I'll begin.

Once upon a time, a king was hunting in a great forest.

He spotted a wild ball. He spotted a wild boar.

He chased it, galloping so fast

that none of the others in the hunting party could keep up with it.

The boar escaped,

and soon the king realized it was getting dark,

and he had no clue where he was. He tried many directions, but could not find his way. The king was lost. He was about to give up hope of finding his way out when he saw an old woman not far away. She was coming towards him.

What the king did not know was that the old woman was a witch.

He nudged his horse forward, and when he was close, he asked her,

Good lady, do you happen to know the way out of the forest?

I do. She croaked. And I would be pleased to show you the way, Lord King, but only on one condition.

If you refuse, you will never find your way out of this forest. You will stay here until the end of your days.

What condition? Say it, he said.

You make my daughter your queen.

"'She is as beautiful as any other,

"'and deserves to be your wife.

"'Do this, and I will show you the way out of this forest.'

"'The king did not want to consent to this, but found he had no choice.

Then she will be queen, he said.

...