The Troll Bros

By Malavika

Once upon a time there was a wonderful, green meadow in a far away land. Three nice little troll brothers lived there and grew vegetables in the fertile soil for their families and friends. They called themselves the Troll Bros, Bail, Bale and Knox.

The troll brothers worked hard each day tilling, planting,watering, and weeding. They grew the biggest, most delicious vegetables in the land. Bail grew juicy, purple turnips that grew to the size of softballs, Bale grew dark red potatoes that dripped with delicious flavor and Knox grew cabbages that were as green as could be.

The Troll Bros were quite happy tending their gardens and sharing with others. They lived simple, quiet lives. However, it was no secret that they were probably the best farmers in all the land.

One day, a message came from the king. The Troll Bros had been selected to grow vegetables for the king’s vegetable growing contest. Of course, they were delighted to hear the news and they thought they just might have a good chance of winning.

They had one huge problem, though. Their garden soil had been used so much it was low on nutrients and they didn't have good soil to grow their plants. They knew they must devise a plan as fast as possible.

The Troll Bros put their heads together and thought and thought and thought. All of a sudden, an idea came to all three at once. They knew about the rich land that lay on the other side of the Forbidden Bridge, but a mean goat named Beast, a conceited goat, who lived in a hideaway hut under the bridge.

Beast was a very particular goat and he did not allow anyone to cross over his bridge. Partly because he was selfish but mostly because he just loved taking huge bites of any poor creature’s body, no matter when it would step one foot onto his bridge. He would snap down and the poor creature would yell for mercy, jumping around like crazy, begging for the old goat to let it loose. Beast would almost laughed himself sick watching the creature run away in the opposite direction crying for its mommy.

Now, Beast was certainly aware of the three Troll Bros. He was also very jealous of them because he hadn’t been invited to participate in the king’s contest. He decided he would wait and see if the Troll Bros would try and cross his bridge, having heard about their soil dilemma. If they had the nerve to even try, he’d be more than ready for them.

Since the trolls were brothers, one young, one old, and one in the middle, they decided to send the youngest one over the bridge first. Hopefully, Beast would wait for the other two brothers and allow the youngest brother to pass without a problem, so after the youngest troll passed over, he would immediately begin a garden where vegetables could be grown for the contest.

Off Bail went,in a carefree manner. Sure enough, up charged Beast, yelling so loudly the youngest troll bro froze in his tracks.

“Oh, Littlest Troll Bro, where would you suppose you might be going?” asked Beast in an angry, gruff voice.

“Ugh,”stammered Bail, “please, I need to cross your bridge, Mr. Beast. Please let me cross and I can assure you I have two older brothers coming later. They’re much bigger and if you can wait for them, think about how much juicier a chunk out of them would taste compared to my skinny little body,” Bail stuttered.

The large goat thought about it and knew the little troll had a point. Miraculously, the goat allowed the youngest troll bro to pass over his bridge.

“After all,” Wiley B. thought to himself. “What do I have to lose? Two juicier behinds will follow.” He quietly snickered, his teeth showing. Little did Beast know that he had been tricked for the first time.

When the two remaining trolls knew the youngest had made it over the bridge safely. Bale decided it was time for him to try his luck in outwitting the vain goat. As softly as he could, the middle troll began stepping across the bridge, using very careful steps. He was about one fourth of the way across when Beast popped his head over the edge of the bridge.

“And, just who is tiptoeing across my bridge this time?” snarled Beast, chomping down on his sharp teeth and showing his dripping tongue.

Bale decided on a quick reply.

“Uh, Mr. Beast, Sir, I’m sure you know by now, right? I am supposed to cross over your bridge so you can chomp down on my older brother’s body. I can assure you, it is much bigger and juicier than mine. Ooh, look up at that bird in the sky,” Bale yelled, making fast tracks. “See ya later!” Bale raced away, leaving his words behind him.

And, Beast stamped his hooves in a fit of anger, having been outwitted a second time.

Now, Beast didn’t take kindly to Bale making him look like a fool by getting to cross his bridge. However, he was quite sure he would make up for it when the biggest troll tried his luck to pass over. Beast would be ready for him and would make up for his losses, and big time at that.

The oldest troll bro waited for a while, making sure Bale had successfully passed over the forbidden bridge. Loaded down with a bag of fertilizer, seed bags, and work tools, it was time for him to begin his journey. He trudged toward the bridge, expecting to see the goat at any minute.

After Knox had taken only a few steps on the bridge, Beast appeared. By this time, the goat wasready. He flew to the top of the bridge and plopped himself down, smack-dab in the center and waited for the oldest troll to try and continue his journey. The old goat stood there, stamping his hooves. He growled up at Knox, showing his teeth with his tongue dripping. Smoke arose from his ears because he was so mad, aiming that he wouldn’t be tricked again.

Knox had to think of something really fast or he knew he’d be torn apart, never to join his brothers on the other side. He had an idea and hopefully the willy goat would fall for it.

“Oh, Beast, Sir, may I say that you smell exactly like a vase full of lilacs on this beautiful day,” Knox said.

Beast was shocked and immediately started sniffing the air, speaking aloud to himself, his tongue hanging out.

“Well, I guess I do smell a little bit like lilacs at that.”

Seeing that the trick was working, Knox continued. “And, your teeth, Mr. Beast, Sir, which you are showing so well, look like shining white stars, surely as bright as diamonds.”

Baffled, the goat grunted, blurting out all kinds of sounds.

“Well I can’t see them, now can I?”

“Oh, well, perhaps you could check them in your mirror inside your hut,Mr. Beast. Go on and see for yourself,” Knox replied.

Beast was so vain he raced to his hut to peer at himself in his mirror to see if his teeth really were white and shining as bright as diamonds.

Little did the old goat know that he’d been outwitted for a third time.

Knox finished crossing the bridge to join his two brothers. There, the Troll Bros started new fields for the king’s vegetable contest.

There’s no telling how beautiful their new vegetables will grow in the lush fields of the land across the Forbidden Bridge. As forBeast, he now walks around all day long with a mirror tied to his collar. That way, he can constantly admire his sparkling, white teeth. Each day, he sniffs the air surrounding him, believing he smells like a bouquet of lilacs. And, he allows the Troll Bros to pass whenever they want. Of course, now, all three of them continue to flatter Sir Beast on the way back and forth across the bridge.

                                                        Moral

                  Sometimes flattery works and don’t be vain.

              The End