THE SOUP PRINCESS

Long, long ago, in a kingdom far away, lived the beautiful Princess
Effy who lived with her widowed father the king in a palace on top of
a hill.
Effy was just as a princess should be, beautiful, clever, polite, a little
smaller than most girls her age and maybe just a little stubborn (if
she felt she wasnt getting what she wanted), and there was one
thing she wanted more than anything in the world more than her 5
white horses more than her 20 silk dresses even more than her
50 pairs of hand-made shoes.
SOUP
The beautiful Princess Effy liked soup no she LOVED soup
vegetable soup meat soup , thin soup, thick soup, hot soup, cold
soup, spicy soup , bland soup, cream sou.. (Well you get the idea).
Now no-one really knows why Effy liked soup so much but many
say it was because of what happened to her when she was a little
girl.

Effy had sneaked out of the palace and was playing on a frozen lake
nearby, as she played, she slipped, and fell through some thin ice,
into freezing water.
She would have drowned too, if she hadnt been saved by two little
boys, who dragged her to safety.
The three would have become great friends, but the boys began
arguing (totally ignoring the shivering princess) and before the
princess could thank them she was rushed back to the palace and
given a pot of soup to keep warm.

As she ate that soup she thought of the two boys that had saved her
and enjoyed the soup VERY much ever since that day, she would
have soup whenever she could.
The years passed by and as it approached the Princesses 21 st
Birthday the Kings thoughts as Kings thoughts often do turned to
the marriage of his only daughter and finding a suitable prince for
Effy.

The King was a gentle and loving man, often skipping important
state events in order to help Effy with her riding or hand delivering
some soup whilst she painted her pictures of soup.
When she wasnt eating soup she was riding the horses around the
estate... she loved everything in her life, but she found the suitors
her father presented to her, boring and uninteresting.
She loved her father very much, but could not marry for his
sake....she wanted someone special....and she could wait!.
Effy was very clever and she had an ideaas she loved her father
and knew how important this was to him, she agreed to marry on
one condition;
The man she would marry would have to be able to cook the best
soup in the world.
The King pondered over this for some timescratching his long
beard deep in thought.it was more difficult than the King had first
thought, after all Effy was rather an expert on the subject.

The King looked over his glasses and his daughter and smiled
Do you Know he said in his soft but deep voice..
I think that is a very good idea !

The King set about telling the Kingdom delivering posters across
the land offering his daughters hand in marriage if a man could
cook the worlds perfect soup.
Of course there was great interest, the sales of cookery books shot
up, food shelves were bare, as would-be chefs tried hard to perfect
the best soup in the world.

Now to a chef, this was a challenge, and especially to Barry Gorge

who was one of the best Chefs in the land who, as it happened,
lived in the local town.
Barry was not an unattractive man but he cared not to impress
people through the way he looked, he wanted to be appreciated for
the way he cooked.. !

He had watched the trail of chefs, princes and would-be Kings march
up the hill with hopes high, only to return a few minutes later with
sad faces and empty bowls.
Barry spent this time perfecting his soup, years of practice and a
good reputation made him the favourite in the race to make Effy his
wife.

Truth be told, Barry had no interest in Effy, his dream was to be

recognized as the best chef in the land and this was his big chance.

Three weeks had past and the King was getting frustrated with the
delay, he watched over Effy as every hopeful, bowed gracefully,
passed over a bowl of soup, and waited.

They were often too excited to watch, as Effy always scoffed the lot!
(After all, she liked good soup and bad soup).
The King of course would know straight away the outcome, Effy did
not have to speak, she pushed the bowl away and wiped her mouth,
she would screw up her nose like a mouse and say thankyou that
was nice but I have tasted better

When it came to Barrys turn there was a buzz that went around the
palace, crowds gathered and wished him well as he began the long
walk up the hill to the palace.
Those that didnt know him would have thought he was the
strangest of characters, a scruffy looking fellow red faced
huffing and puffing as he climbedas it did after all, take him longer
than most.he soon began to regret the years of sampling his own
cooking !
He may have been scruffy, he may have been out of breath, but
Barry was confident..the palace staff were confident ..the
King was confident, even little Effy was expecting something good!

Effy produced her special spoon and took a little of the soup and
smelt it, she smiled, the King smiled, Barry nodded (feeling smug).

She closed her eyes and took a sip.

Hmmmm lovely she said.
The King clapped the servants in the palace cheered
but as the King went to shake Barrys hand, Effy interrupted them.
But she
missing.

said,

paused

then

quietly

theres

something

Barry could not believe his ears, he became very red and very cross,
very quickly (as chefs do !)
Something missing ?!? he shouted.
He pushed away the platter and bowl and stomped out of the
palace, barging all of the servants out of his way.
The servants went back to their work, the King forced a smile,
turned his back, and went up to bed.
Only Effy remained at the table trying to save the soup which had
been tipped on the table, after all, it was good soup!
From outside the royal windows a shadowy figure stared at the
princess, and then disappeared following the Chef into the town.
Barry was fuming, he didnt notice the servants he pushed out of
the way, or the crowds waiting for him in the town, or the King
Barry posters that had been put up outside his restaurant.

He also didnt notice the shadowy figure follow him down the dark
alley behind the large kitchen of his restaurant.
As he entered the Kitchen through the back door he sat down
collapsing against his pots and pans, his head in his hands.
He must have fallen asleep as he was suddenly startled by a noise
in the yard he jumped up with a start and crept towards the door
with a wooden spoon and glass mixing bowl - ready to confront what
he thought was a stray dog that was scrounging for titbits thrown by
the kitchen staff.
He opened the back door and went into the yard.
Nothing.
As he re-entered the kitchen and closed the door behind him he
came face to face with the mysterious stranger.he dropped the
bowl
SMASHHHHHH!!!!!!
Only it was no stranger to Barry Gorge, this was Frank.
Frank was Barrys brother.
There there eyes met Frank younger, slightly taller, and
considerably slimmer than Barry was dressed in some smart, bright,
foreign looking clothes. Although he would never admit it, he was a
handsome man and stood confidently in front of his elder brother.
Barry and Frank were not the best of brothers; they had fought all
their lives, each one believing that they were better than the other.
They had the same interests, played the same sports but never
agreed on anything.
Frank had left the town as soon as he was old enough to travel on
his own.
Frank like Barry was also a chef and had spent the last 5 years
travelling the world, collecting spices and flavours from every
country he visited, storing them in leather pouches hanging from his
thick leather belt.

Frank tried to explain how he had seen the posters and thought that
he would like to make a soup for the princess, he also explained how
he had watched from the window and saw the princess reject the
soup.
Barry could not listen to any more, he didnt want his brother
teasing him about his soup.
Frank went on to say ,how his heart leapt when he saw the princess,
how beautiful Effy was, and how in love he had fallen, but Barry had
disappeared upstairs before he could finish talking.
Frank spent the night using the kitchen and spare food to create his
masterpiece he wanted more than anything to impress Princess
Effy, he took off his belt and used the spices in large quantities to
give the soup a special zing!
Unfortunately, he was not a great chef, in fact, he was quite terrible,
but believing love will find a way he marched up to the Palace gates
and knocked firmly on the Palace door.
As it was so early, only the princess was awake and wandering the
palace.
When Effy opened the door she instantly fell in love with Frank, she
had never felt the same about anything before (apart from soup of
course).
She invited him in and called to her father without taking her eyes
off of Frank.
Now the King was unsure of Frank, he could see that her daughter
was impressed by this man but rules were rules.
If he could not create the best soup in the world, he would not be
allowed to marry Effy.
As the table was prepared and the soup brought forward, he
watched Effy like a hawk if this wasnt a fantastic soup he would
tell.
The soup was heated and brought to Effy.
The princess smiled at Frank and Frank smiled back, passing the
bowl to her.

She took out her spoon and dipped it in the soup, she hoped more
than anything that it would be the best soup.
Then just as she brought the spoon to her mouth..the Palace door
flung open..
WAIT!!!
It was Barry he had been listening to Frank the night before, he
had used a touch of Franks spices to his own recipe and once tested
he had rushed to the palace just in time.
FRANK he said You have the wrong soup this is yours
Effy looked at the two brothers and suddenly they both looked very
familiar..these were the two boys that helped her out of the frozen
lake all those years ago.
Frank was confused, but his brother was so insistent the soup swap
was made the King, Effy and all of the servants believed him and
the exchange was made.
Barry winked at Frank as he placed his soup on the table
The Princess took the bowl and tried the soup. Her eyes opened
wide and she beamed as she said Thats it!!! The worlds best
soup.
The King looked closely and could tell his daughter was telling the
truth he couldnt believe it.
Congratulations my Son he said and put his arm around Frank.
Frank took Effy in his arms and asked her to marry him. It didnt take
long for an answer
Oh Yes !!! and before the month was out, they were married.
Frank never understood why Barry had come to his rescue, perhaps
he wanted to see his brother happy, perhaps he wanted to prove
that he could make the best soup in the world with the right
ingredients!
Whatever the reason one thing is for sure, they all lived, (as often
they do in these stories), happily ever after.

THE END

The Elves and the Shoemaker

There was once a shoemaker, who worked very hard and was very honest:
but still he could not earn enough to live upon; and at last all he had in the
world was gone, save just leather enough to make one pair of shoes.
Then he cut his leather out, all ready to make up the next day, meaning to
rise early in the morning to his work. His conscience was clear and his
heart light amidst all his troubles; so he went peaceably to bed, left all
his cares to Heaven, and soon fell asleep. In the morning after he had
said his prayers, he sat himself down to his work; when, to his great
wonder, there stood the shoes all ready made, upon the table. The good
man knew not what to say or think at such an odd thing happening. He
looked at the workmanship; there was not one false stitch in the whole
job; all was so neat and true, that it was quite a masterpiece.
The same day a customer came in, and the shoes suited him so well that
he willingly paid a price higher than usual for them; and the poor
shoemaker, with the money, bought leather enough to make two pairs
more. In the evening he cut out the work, and went to bed early, that he
might get up and begin betimes next day; but he was saved all the

trouble, for when he got up in the morning the work was done ready to his
hand. Soon in came buyers, who paid him handsomely for his goods, so
that he bought leather enough for four pair more. He cut out the work
again overnight and found it done in the morning, as before; and so it
went on for some time: what was got ready in the evening was always done
by daybreak, and the good man soon became thriving and well off again.
One evening, about Christmas-time, as he and his wife were sitting over
the fire chatting together, he said to her, I should like to sit up and
watch tonight, that we may see who it is that comes and does my work for
me. The wife liked the thought; so they left a light burning, and hid
themselves in a corner of the room, behind a curtain that was hung up
there, and watched what would happen.
As soon as it was midnight, there came in two little naked dwarfs; and
they sat themselves upon the shoemakers bench, took up all the work
that was cut out, and began to ply with their little fingers, stitching and
rapping and tapping away at such a rate, that the shoemaker was all
wonder, and could not take his eyes off them. And on they went, till the
job was quite done, and the shoes stood ready for use upon the table.
This was long before daybreak; and then they bustled away as quick as
lightning.

The next day the wife said to the shoemaker. These little wights have
made us rich, and we ought to be thankful to them, and do them a good
turn if we can. I am quite sorry to see them run about as they do; and
indeed it is not very decent, for they have nothing upon their backs to
keep off the cold. Ill tell you what, I will make each of them a shirt, and
a coat and waistcoat, and a pair of pantaloons into the bargain; and do you
make each of them a little pair of shoes.
The thought pleased the good cobbler very much; and one evening, when
all the things were ready, they laid them on the table, instead of the
work that they used to cut out, and then went and hid themselves, to
watch what the little elves would do.
About midnight in they came, dancing and skipping, hopped round the
room, and then went to sit down to their work as usual; but when they saw
the clothes lying for them, they laughed and chuckled, and seemed
mightily delighted.
Then they dressed themselves in the twinkling of an eye, and danced and
capered and sprang about, as merry as could be; till at last they danced
out at the door, and away over the green.
The good couple saw them no more; but everything went well with them
from that time forward, as long as they lived.

THE BIG BAD WOLF!

(He Is Really Not Such a Bad Guy)

I am the Big Bad Wolf,

That children say huff, puff and shout.
But, really I am not such a bad guy,

Like they all talk about.

I have a wife and family,

And, live near a clean blue lake.
I am really not such a bad guy,
Please believe me for heavens sake!

I have dreams of being an airplane pilot,

That soars high in the sky.
You can sit right behind me on the plane,
And, we can both wave as we fly bye.

I have dreams of scuba diving,

In the oceans deep.
Collecting star fish and sea shells,
For our very own collections to keep.

I have dreams of going on a jungle safari,

To explore all of the animals to see.
Dressed in my green camouflaged suit,
If you look hard, can you try and spot me?

I have dreams of standing at the Statue of Liberty,

And, learning about the freedoms that we all share.

Eating hotdogs at Coney Island,
And, standing in the middle of Times Square.

I have dreams of playing the cello or bass,

In an orchestra that sounds so fine.
Eating in a fancy Paris restaurant,
Just to eat out and dine.

I have dreams of being a cowboy in a rodeo,

In Houston where things grow tall and big.
Maybe working in the hot Texas sun,
On a big oil rig.

I have dreams of going to Washington, D.C.

Learning about Presidents like George Washington.
Visiting all of the museums at the Smithsonian,
Now, that would be exciting and fun!

I have dreams of meditating in China,

At a temple in the mountain far away.
Just spending quiet time alone thinking,
How truly bless I am today.

I have dreams of visiting all of my nursery rhyme friends,

To attempt to change my bad reputation.
To ask them for their forgiveness,
And, build a friendly relation.

I have dreams of being and doing so much,

That I want you all to try to see.
But, I guess for right now,
I have to stay the BIG BAD WOLF,
and just be ME!

2007 Geary Smith