The old woman who lived in a bottle

Once there was an old woman who lived in a bottle.
She had a table and a chair and cat.
There was a cup and a saucer on the table.

One day the old woman was very sad. Her cat was very sad too.

Just then a fairy came. She had a magic wand.
"What´s the matter?" asked the fairy.
"I don't want to live en a bottle", said the old woman.
" I want to live in a house".

The fairy said, " Stand up, close your eyes, turn around three times and open your eyes".
So the old woman stood up, closed her eyes, turned around three times and opened her eyes.

She was in a house. It had a chimney, a roof, two windows and a door. The old woman was very happy. The cat was very happy too.

But soon the old woman was very sad again.
The fairy came again.
"What's the matter now?" asked the fairy.
"I don't want to live in a house", said the old woman.
"I want to live in a castle".

The fairy said, " Stand up, close your eyes, turn around three times and open your eyes".
So the old woman stood up, closed her eyes, turned around three times and opened her eyes.

She was in a castle. It had a big tower with a flag on top. There were many rooms and windows. The old woman and the cat were ver happy .

But soon the old woman was very sad again.

Suddenly the fairy came again.
"What's the matter now?" asked the fairy.
"I don't want to live in a castle", said the old woman.
" I want to live in a palace"

The fairy said, " Stand up, close your eyes, turn around three times and open your eyes". So the old woman stood up, closed her eyes, turned around three times and opened her eyes.

But the old woman was not in a palace. She was not in a castle. She was not in a house. She was in her bottle again. The old woman was very sad, but the fairy did not come again. Why? Because the old woman was too greedy.

From " Telling tales in English" Wendy Superfine, Megan James, SBS publishing.