You Must Not Follow

Terence and Baby-Glossy sit on Louisa's front step with Saint Roley.

Now tell us a story, says Terence.

Okay, says Saint Roley. Would you like one with a winner?

Yes, says Terence.

No, says Baby-Glossy.

Perhaps we shall have time for both, says Saint Roley. 

Winner first, says Terence.

All right, says Saint Roley. You can tell me who wins in this story:

Once there was a poor fisherman, who found a crane, entangled in nets. He set the crane free. That night a beautiful girl appeared at his door and said she was his wife.

That's a good story, says Terence. 

It's not finished, says Saint Roley.

I don't get it, says Baby-Glossy.

It's not finished, says Terence.

Saint Roley continues:

The fisherman said he was too poor to keep a wife. But I have a big bag of rice, said his wife. And it never runs out. They ate rice and were happy. Then one day the wife said she was going into a room and he must not follow.

The toilet! says Terence.

NO! says Saint Roley. 

Woop, says Terence. Sorr-ee!

She stayed in the room for seven days and then came out, looking skinny, holding a shining bolt of woven cloth, says Saint Roley. She asked her husband to sell it, which he did, for a great deal of money. Now they were rich.

Two winners! says Terence.

I bet it's not finished, says Baby-Glossy.

Not yet, says Saint Roley.

One day the wife disappeared into the room again. This time the fisherman was so curious, he peeped in. He saw a crane, plucking out its own feathers and weaving them into a beautiful cloth on a loom. Why are you doing that? he cried. For love, answered the crane. But now you have seen me, I must leave you. And the crane flew away.

One winner, says Terence.

And who was it? asks Saint Roley.

The fisherman! cries Terence. Wait, no! He lost his parrot.

Did she leave the cloth behind when she flew away? asks Baby-Glossy.

No, she took it with her, says Saint Roley.