The Gingerbread Man
Once upon a time, an old woman and her husband lived in a small, old house. They had no children and felt lonely. So one day, the old woman decided to make a boy out of gingerbread.
— My dear, I'm going to bake a little gingerbread man today.
She prepared everything she needed. Then, she carefully made the dough, rolled it out, and carefully cut out a gingerbread man.
— Oh, what a cute little gingerbread man! I should put him in the oven.
The old woman put him in the oven to bake. She waited a little. Then, she opened the oven again.
— Mmm, it smells delicious!
She drew hair and a mouth with icing. She used candy drops for eyes and cherries for buttons. When he was completely done, the gingerbread man jumped to his feet. The old woman was shocked to see him run away.
— Don't eat me!
And he ran out the window.
— Stop! Stop! — Run, run, as fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!
The Gingerbread Man's Escape
The old woman ran after him, but she couldn't catch him. And the gingerbread man ran and ran.
— Stop!
While he was running, a cow saw him.
— You smell so fresh! Just right for eating! — I ran away from the old woman and I can run away from a fat cow like you! I certainly can! Ha ha ha!
And the cow started chasing the little man. But the gingerbread man ran faster.
— Run, run, as fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!
The cow ran after the gingerbread man, alongside the old woman, but couldn't catch him. The gingerbread man kept running and soon met a little pig.
— You look so tasty! I want to eat you right now! — Try harder, dirty little pig! You won't catch me! I ran away from the old woman, I ran away from the cow, and I can certainly run away from you too! Yes, I can!
— Run, run, as fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!
The pig joined the old woman and the cow in chasing the gingerbread man, but couldn't catch him. The gingerbread man kept running. As he ran, a hen saw him.
— Ooh, what a feast! I'll feed it to my little ones! — You look just right for pecking at dinner! I'll take you home to my little ones, gingerbread man! — I ran away from the old woman, I ran away from the cow, I ran away from the pig, and I can run away from a scrawny thing like you! Yes, I can!
— Run, run, as fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!
The hen ran after the gingerbread man along with the rest of the group, but couldn't catch him. The gingerbread man was so proud of himself.
— How slow they all are!
Meeting the Fox
Still running, he slowed down when he saw the river. He was afraid he would get soggy in the water. By the river, he saw a fox drinking water.
— What wonderful food for my belly today!
The fox ran after the gingerbread man.
— Hey, you! Young man! We could be friends, if you'd like.
It was the first time the gingerbread man had heard something like that. He was very pleased.
— All right, Mrs. Fox! I'd like that, but on one condition. — Of course, gingerbread man. — Can you help me cross the river? — Yes, young man! Why not?
The gingerbread man felt relieved.
— Come on, gingerbread man! Climb on my back! I'll help you cross the river.
The gingerbread man climbed on her back. And as soon as they reached the other side of the river, the cunning fox tossed him in the air and opened her mouth wide. Snap! She swallowed him whole.
— Mmm, indeed, he was very tasty! Mmm!
The Moral of the Story
That was the end of the gingerbread man.
Never trust strangers, especially when they make promises that are too good to be true.
