I initially wrote this (very) short story back in my high school composition class. I have edited it for publication here, and look forwarding to writing more creative stories in the future.
Once upon a time, there were three maidens who decided to search the forest for berries to bring back to their families. They set out in the early morning, each girl with a basket in her hand. They had to cross a river before reaching the forest, but it was no issue as they had done it many times before. About midday, the girls’ baskets were completely filled with blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. They turned around, ready to go home, and stopped in their tracks. The path they had made through the woods was gone. In a panic, they clung to each other and looked around wildly. It had been foolish for them to go into the forest alone, and now they were lost. As the sun began to sink towards the horizon, a man appeared among the trees. He was dressed in dark purple robes with a silver beard that tickled the tops of his feet.
“I knew someone would come this far eventually,” he chuckled as a crooked grin twisted across his face. “Perhaps I could help you.”
The girls looked nervously at each other before glancing back at him.
“I will grant each of you one wish,” continued the man, “and you will also make it out of the forest alive; that I can promise. In return, you must give me your basket of berries.”
The first maiden stepped timidly towards the man and cleared her throat.
“I wish to be the most beautiful woman in the world,” she said. The old man held out his hand, and as the girl placed the basket onto his palm, her body began to transform. With a squeal as she looked down to admire her perfect figure, she returned to her friends.
The second maiden stepped towards the man with more confidence.
“I wish to be the wealthiest woman in the world,” she said as she eagerly passed her basket of berries to him. With a snap of his fingers, the second woman’s pockets were bursting with gold and precious jewels. She waddled back to her friends, smiling although weighed down by the vast amount of riches.
The third maiden felt a slight twinge in her stomach, so she stepped towards the man and bowed her head.
“I only wish for safe passage home,” she said.
“Very well,” said the man, and he disappeared.
“Why did you wish for safe passage home when he already granted us a safe way out of the forest?” asked the second maiden. “We know how to get to the village from there.”
“I want nothing else,” the third maiden responded.
As the women walked through the forest, the third maiden filled her pockets with berries. The others walked ahead and took no notice of her actions. Finally, they burst out of the forest and saw the river glimmering in the light of the sunset.
“See, she told you it would be safe. You should have wished for something better, like to be the smartest woman in the world,” laughed the first maiden as she glanced towards the third. With a graceful leap, she pranced through the grass towards the water. As she reached the shores, she saw her reflection for the first time. Transfixed at her own beauty, the woman leaned closer and closer towards the surface of the water until she tumbled in and was swallowed by the river.
“Ditzy girl,” cried the second maiden, shaking her head. She too walked towards the water and attempted to wade across. She made it halfway across the river before it became too deep to cross without swimming. The gold in her pockets made it impossible to lift her feet from the ground, yet she stubbornly refused to empty even a coin from her dress. She took another step and was swept away by the river.
The third maiden glanced at the river and was frightened by its power. She remembered the old man’s promise, however, and so she took a step into the cool water and then another and another. The berries in her dress floated her across the deepest parts of the river, and she made it across safely. As she stepped into the grass on the other side, she looked sadly at the water.
“What use is money or beauty when you didn’t work for either of them?” she asked quietly. “At least I still have my life, my home, and all the berries I came for. For that, I am grateful.”
