You may have noticed my blog has been a bit quiet over the last few months! I haven’t meant to neglect it, but between doing LOTS of storytelling programs and workshops, completing final proof-reading/edits of my 4th children’s book which is headed to press, and getting ready for the arrival of my little one ANY day now, it has been a bit of a whirlwind. Thankfully, things have finally begun to settle down (the calm before the storm I guess!), and I’ve been able to devote a few days to writing! Oh, how I missed it!
You may recall that I entered the Susanna Leonard Hill Holiday Writing Contest back in December. I had a lot of fun with that and got some great feedback on my story. So when I saw her next challenge seeking Fractured Fairy Tales for the March Madness Writing Contest, I was excited to dive in! The cool part is I’ve had the idea for this story in my head for a long time. In fact, I already had it outlined as a storytelling stage show and some time ago commissioned an artistic friend of mine to develop the costume pieces for it. I’ve just been looking for the right moment to get it out there!
Of course the challenge with this contest is that I had to tell the story in 400 words or less. This required some significant cutting and removing character lines and development that I desperately wanted to keep, but hopefully the essence of the story can still come through!
At any rate, below is my story of The Three Frilly Goats Fluff. I hope you enjoy it. I look forward to your thoughts/feedback. And of course, if you’re interested in the more amplified staged/storytelling version for your school, library, etc; please let me know!
THE THREE FRILLY GOATS FLUFF by Lindsay Bonilla
Trippity-trop – Fluffy’s hooves clacked across the bridge.
“What are you doing on my bridge?” growled the troll living underneath.
“Aren’t you ugly!” said Fluffy. “With that big nose and baaaaad breath, you’ll never attract a girlfriend! Anyway, Mama thinks I’m crossing to find sweet grass, but I’m going to meet the billy goats! They are much cuter over there!”
“Too bad you won’t make it. I’m going to eat you!”
“Wait! My sister’s about to cross. She doesn’t care about billy goats. She’s plumper than I am. She’d make a better meal.”
“Alright, go! But if she doesn’t come, I’ll eat you on your way back.”
Trippity-trop, Muffy’s hooves clacked across the bridge.
“What are you doing on my bridge?”
“Aren’t you uneducated! Only dim-wits speak so rudely. You’ll never find a teacher with that baaad brain! Anyway, Mama thinks I’m crossing to find sweet grass, but I’m going to study with the Goat Guru.”
“Too bad you won’t make it. I’m going to eat you!”
“Wait! My sister’s about to cross. She doesn’t care about learning. She’s plumper than I am. She’d make a better meal.”
“Alright, go! But if she doesn’t come, I’ll eat you on your way back.”
Trippity-trop, Puffy’s hooves clacked across the bridge.
“What are you doing on my bridge?”
“Is someone having a baaad day?” said Puffy. “Why don’t you tell your mommy so she can make you feel better?”
“Mommy? I don’t have a mommy.”
“Don’t have a mommy!? So no one ever sang you lullabies or kissed your boo-boos?”
“No, but it sounds wonderful! If I had a mommy, I’d never leave her side.”
“Mama sent me to find sweet grass, but I’m going to pick her a bouquet!”
“Can I help?” begged Troll.
“Sure! Then we’ll take it to Mommy!”
“Won’t Mommy be afraid of an ugly, stupid troll like me?” he inquired. But Puffy didn’t hear him.
They finished picking the flowers, then Puffy pranced home. Troll followed nervously.
“What beautiful flowers!” cooed Mommy. “And who’s this? . . Don’t be shy. . . What a handsome troll you are! So smart, so lovable!”
Troll never returned to his bridge again. He stayed with Mama Goat who kissed his boo-boos and sang him lullabies every night.