The Old Lady and The Rolling Pumpkin

There was an old lady whose daughter lived on the other side of the jungle.

One day she missed her daughter and her son-in-law, and decided to visit them.

The way of the jungle was long, dangerous and full of animals.  The next morning she put her stuff together and was on her way.

She hadn't gone far yet when she was confronted by a wolf. The wolf said, "Wow, what a great meal—a wonderful one!"

The old lady was afraid but did not lose her cool.

"Hi, hi, Mr. Wolf. How are you feeling? You are nice and kind, clean and well spoken.  Please step aside, please let me get on my way. I want to go see my daughter and son-in law."

The wolf said, "No way will I let you go; it's been two days since I have had anything to eat and I haven't given my kids any food."

The clever old lady said, "I am small and tiny—see how weak I am! Let me go to my daughter's. I will be eating all sorts of different foods, and I will gain a lot of weight—then I'll come and you can eat me."

The old lady went on her way until it was noontime.  All of a sudden a big tiger jumped in front of her from a tree, and with a growl, said: "Wow, what a great meal—a wonderful one!"

The old lady was very scared but tried to keep her cool. She said "Hi my tiger, my beautiful tiger. I know you are kind; let me go to my party."

The tiger said, "I am hungry, old lady."

The old lady with a sigh said, "I am of no use to you, just skin and bones. Let me go to the party—you know the reason? I want to go and eat roasted chicken and all sorts of food, and get chubby."

The tiger was satisfied and told her to go, but come back very soon.

The old lady continued her journey until sundown, when the horrifying sound of a lion froze her on the spot.

The old lady with such a nice tongue said, "Hey, Mr. Lion, the King of the Jungle, The Lord of Tiger and Wolf. You are the king of all the animals. You are the Lord of Elephant and Mouse. It is late, let me go, I have lots to do."

The lion said, "No way will I let you go. The road is closed, you cannot go on."

The old lady with her wisdom said, "Wow, what a pleasure! But I am very tiny and weak. Let me go to the party—you know the reason? I want to eat roasted chicken and all sorts of food. I'll become chubby and fat, then I'll be back. You can eat me then."

The lion said, "I have given up eating you now, I'll be here waiting for you."

That night the old lady arrived at her daughter's.  They were very happy to see her and kissed and hugged her. They made her delicious food.  The old lady told her the story. A few days passed and it was time to go back home.

The old lady told her daughter, "My kind daughter, all your problems should be mine, do you have a very big pumpkin?"

When she brought her a giant pumpkin, they emptied the inside of it. 

The old lady said goodbye to her daughter and her husband, and got inside of the pumpkin.  Her daughter put the top on the pumpkin and pushed it.

The pumpkin rolled and rolled and rolled until it got to the lion. 

The lion yelled, "Hey, rolling pumpkin, have you seen an old lady on your way—an old lady that is fat and big?"

The old lady, from inside the pumpkin, said with a shaking voice, "I swear to God, I have not seen, I am not aware of an old lady. Push me, roll me, let me go."

The lion was tricked and gave the pumpkin a push.

The pumpkin rolled and rolled until it got to the tiger.

The tiger screamed, "Hey, rolling pumpkin, have you seen an old chubby and fat lady?"

The old lady from inside the pumpkin said with a terrified voice, "I swear to God, I have not seen, I am not aware of an old lady. Push me, roll me, let me go."

The tiger was tricked and pushed the pumpkin.

The pumpkin rolled and rolled until it got to the wolf.

When the wolf asked the rolling pumpkin of the old lady, he recognized her voice and said, "You are the old lady—I'll catch you with both of my hands!"

The wolf attacked the pumpkin.

The wise old lady that had thought of everything jumped out from the other end of the pumpkin, and when the wolf jumped inside, she pushed it towards the edge of the rocky road, and the wolf fell down the high bank.

The old lady went happily on to her house.