The Straw, The Coal, and The Bean

Once Upon a Time in a Far-Off Land

In a village near a deep forest and tall mountains lived three brothers: Straw-Heart, Coal-Heart, and Bean-Head.

Each brother carried something special inside his chest. Straw, coal, or beans made them think and act in their own unique ways, sending them on many surprising journeys.

The Kind-Hearted Straw

Straw-Heart, the eldest, saw Mrs. Gable struggle with a heavy basket. "Excuse me, I can carry that!" he said, taking the load easily onto his shoulder.

Later, he found a tiny squirrel with a sore paw near the oak trees. He gently made a soft, warm bed for it in his favourite hat.

The Challenges and Trials

The Wicked Enchantress

A wicked enchantress narrowed her eyes at the brothers' smiles. She wanted to test them. So, she changed into a beautiful maiden.

She waited for Straw-Heart with an empty basket. "Please help!" she whispered. Straw-Heart saw her pretend to struggle. "I'll carry it!" he said, never guessing her trick.

The Test of Coal

The beautiful maiden approached Coal-Heart with her empty basket. "Could you please help me?" she asked. "No, I will not," he said, turning his back. The enchantress's eyes flashed green. "Then be a frog!" she yelled. Coal-Heart felt himself shrink and grow green.

He looked at his new warty skin. "I should have been kind," he croaked sadly. He truly wanted to be a boy again.

The Test of Beans

The enchantress found Bean-Head, who was stomping about. "Will you help me?" she asked.

"Yes!" he bellowed, before she said another word. She smiled, then gave him a smooth, green bean. "One wish for your quickness." Bean-Head shouted, "I wish you would leave our village forever!" He did not realise this would take away their bean plants.

The Brothers' Redemption

The Brothers' Unity

"I was so unkind!" croaked Coal-Heart. Bean-Head stomped his foot. "I took our beans! Let's fix it!" Bean-Head said, and they started their long journey.

Froggy Coal-Heart hopped over tricky roots, and Bean-Head carefully pulled his brother past a thorny bush. Working together like this taught them kindness.

The Triumph of Love and Kindness

The brothers worked hard to undo the enchantress's bad spells. Soon, a happy quiet settled over their village. Everyone heard about Coal-Heart and Bean-Head's kind journey. Their favourite story was about Straw-Heart, whose tough heart learned to be soft.

"What a lovely sound this is!" Coal-Heart murmured, listening to the children. Bean-Head nodded, "Our kindness changed everything for us."

The Wicked Enchantress's Return

Not long after their big win, the sky above the village turned a deep, dark grey. A cold shiver ran through the houses. Everyone whispered: the wicked enchantress was back, wanting revenge. She had a truly awful new plan. This time, she would test if the brothers would still work together.

One cool morning, a thick, chilly fog crept around Coal-Heart and Bean-Head’s home. Out of the swirling mist, the enchantress stepped. Her eyes glittered with a mean, green light. “This time,” she hissed, a sharp, cold laugh bubbling up, “your hearts will truly be put to the test!” With a quick flick of her hand, she threw a powerful spell. The brothers felt a sudden pull and then landed in different, puzzling lands they did not know.

Straw-Heart's Journey

Straw-Heart blinked in a hot, empty place. The sun baked his skin like a giant oven; he saw no water, only endless sand. "Oh dear," he mumbled, his throat dry. He remembered his mum's lessons on finding his way, deciding not to give up.

Coal-Heart's Transformation

Meanwhile, Coal-Heart dropped right into a thick, dark forest. Tall trees blocked out most of the sunlight, making it shadowy and cool. He shivered, feeling extra cold inside. As he walked further, he noticed how much he missed the sunshine. The dark made him feel lonely, and he began to think about how nice warmth would be.

Bean-Head's Wise Decision

Bean-Head blinked, finding himself high up on a giant mountain. Grey clouds swirled around the top, hiding where it ended. The path was very steep, with loose rocks that could roll away. "This isn't like running through the fields at home," he mumbled, remembering his quick wish. He usually rushed everywhere.

He stopped, looking carefully at each big stone before he put his foot down. "Slow down, Bean-Head," he told himself, taking a deep breath. He realised that being careful was much better than being fast, especially on this wobbly climb.

The Brothers' Reunion

A strange, warm feeling pulled Bean-Head along the rocky shore. He carefully watched his step. Straw-Heart, though tired, kept moving, his eyes searching the horizon. Coal-Heart felt a soft glow from his chest, guiding him towards the sound of crashing waves. Soon, each brother stood where the wide river rushed into the salty sea, finding their way together.

The Brothers' Unity

Straw-Heart looked at his brothers, his straw head tilted. "We must stick together," he said softly. Coal-Heart grumbled, "Aye, there's no other way." He nudged Bean-Head with his elbow. Bean-Head nodded quickly, his clever eyes scanning the horizon. "Together we can solve anything," he declared. So, the three brothers set off on their journey.

The Triumph of Love and Kindness

After many long days and nights, the three brothers finally arrived. They pushed past thorny bushes into a strange, dark forest. Tall trees with twisting branches blocked sunlight; a sweet, unknown smell filled the quiet air. Deep inside, they found the enchantress by a crooked tree. She wore a dark cloak, and her eyes held a mischievous glint.