I can’t talk now, because every time I go to say something, the only words that will come out of my mouth are: “Dirty creatures!” Don’t ask me why it happened. I’m sure my stepsister’s behind it. She’s the dirty creature, but...
The king thought I had a green thumb because I presented him with the largest turnip anyone had ever seen. It was as big as the wagon I put it in when I brought it to the castle. I told him that I’m really not favored by Lady Fortune in any way. I’m a poor soldier who...
Stupid bird! Why must my husband keep her? Let Nature take her course, I say. That sparrow should have been a meal for ravens! Instead, my silly husband saved her life and took her home. Now he lets her fly around the house and soil all the window sills. Does he clean...
I help mortal men. I save them from misfortune. I come to them when they’re desperate. I only ask to have something for myself. It’s not enough to have a woman’s comb, or her flute, or even her golden spinning wheel. I want her man. I had him for a...
Ha, she’s such a pretty bird, the little queen! So fresh and new. Innocent as the dawn! She sits at the window and weeps because the king has gone away. “Why don’t you come out into the garden?” I ask, coming to her window and leaning on my...
I hate my sister! I’m glad that my mother makes her work as hard as Cinderella. It suits me just fine that she doesn’t get to play with a golden ball like a fairy princess, but has to sit by a well near the highway and spin till her fingers bleed! People...
Last night I took an axe and chopped off the head of my stepdaughter while she was sleeping. I thought, ‘Ha, now there will be no more fuss about who gets all the pretty things. My daughter will get them all!’ This morning, I called upstairs for my girl....
People in the village say Vasilisa is the most beautiful girl in town, so we put her to work. Let her grow thin with toil! Let the red sun burn her and the black soil chafe her pretty white hands! Then we’ll see who is more beautiful. What irks me more than...
At the crack of midnight, I flew out of the snuff box and spoke to the one-legged toy soldier who was staring at the paper dancer in front of the castle. “Don’t look at things that aren’t intended for the likes of you!” I shouted. Then I...
What burns me is not that the upstart has built a castle more splendid than the Sultan’s. It’s that he has left a window for the Sultan to finish. He mocks my master! He will never match the splendor! Where did he get such magic? There’s a demon at...
