Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Once upon a time, at the edge of a forest, there lived a little girl called Goldilocks. Her curls shone like the sun, and her feet were always itching to run off into the woods.

Deep in the woods stood a little house. Three bears lived there: big Papa Bear, middle-sized Mama Bear and tiny Baby Bear.

One morning Mama Bear cooked some porridge and spooned it into bowls: a big bowl for Papa, a middle-sized bowl for herself and a little bowl for Baby Bear.

“Too hot!” puffed Baby Bear.

“Then let’s go for a walk while it cools,” said Papa Bear.

And off the bears went down the path.

Meanwhile, Goldilocks went hop, hop over the stream and came straight to the little house. Knock, knock! Nobody answered. The door went creak!, and in she went.

And what did she see? Three bowls on the table. She tasted from the big one:

“Ooh, too hot!”

Then from the middle one:

“Ooh, too cold!”

Then from the little one:

“Mmm, just right!”

And gobble, gobble, she ate it all up.

Then she sat in the big chair. Too hard. She sat in the middle chair. So soft she sank right in! But the little chair was just right. Goldilocks rocked and rocked in it, until crack! The little chair fell to pieces, and bump! down she went onto the floor.

“Ow,” said the girl, rubbing her side.

Up the stairs she went. There were three beds. The big one was too high. The middle one was too wide. But the little one was warm and cozy, with a patched quilt. Goldilocks lay down, gave a big yawn, and fell fast asleep.

Just then the bears came home. Papa Bear looked at his bowl and rumbled in his great deep voice:

“Who’s been eating my porridge?”

“Who’s been eating my porridge?” asked Mama Bear.

“Who’s been eating my porridge, and gobbled it all up?!” squeaked Baby Bear.

They looked at the chairs.

“Who’s been sitting in my chair?” rumbled Papa Bear.

“Who’s been sitting in my chair?” asked Mama Bear.

“Who’s been sitting in my little chair, and broken it?!” sobbed Baby Bear.

Stomp, stomp, stomp. Up the stairs went the bears.

“Who’s been sleeping in my bed?” rumbled Papa Bear.

“Who’s been sleeping in my bed?” asked Mama Bear.

“And somebody’s sleeping in my little bed! There she is!” squeaked Baby Bear.

Goldilocks opened her eyes. And there above her were three bear noses: a big one, a middle-sized one and a little one!

“Eek!” she cried. She hopped out of bed and through the window, and off she ran into the woods.

The bears' jaws dropped.

“She didn’t even say hello,” said Baby Bear, very surprised.

Goldilocks ran down the path so fast her curls bounced. She ran all the way home and never once looked back.

These days, whenever the bears go out for a walk, they always latch the door. Click!

“So nobody eats our porridge,” says Baby Bear. “Or breaks my little chair.”

As for Goldilocks, from that day on she never set foot in anyone’s house without being invited. Now she always knocks first (knock, knock!) and waits until somebody says, “Come in!”