Episode 18

          “Whoa, call off the dogs.” Red pulled closer to the table. “We didn’t steal your beer. We got these from a party at Snow White’s last night. We’ve never been here before.”

          The ogre looked at Red for five seconds. Then he waved his hand at the dogs. One head relaxed completely while the other head kept showing its teeth. “Maybe that’s the truth and maybe it’s not.” He thought for a few more seconds. “I’ll tell you what I’ll do. You two go back down the beanstalk and find my goose and I’ll find your mother. If those lying thieving trolls stole my beer, they probably also stole my pet goose.

          Jack glanced at the snarling dog for an instance. “Are you sure you can find my mom? She’s a delicate thing and not use to being around strange people. She may have a nervous breakdown.”

          The ogre shook his head and gave a half grin half leer. “Don’t worry about your mom, I can find her in a heart beat.” He pointed at the door. “You two go and find my goose. Bring her back safe and sound and you will get your mother.” He glanced at Red. “You’ll also get a reward.” He slapped on the table. The dogs snarled and snapped at Jack’s ankles. “Go now!” He turned back to the table and cut another slice of coconut cake as Jack and Red Ridinghood hurried out the door in front of the howling dogs.

          Jack was sitting on a branch as Red jumped onto the beanstalk, one step ahead of the snapping teeth. He managed a weak grin toward Red. “Mean critters, aren’t they.” He broke off a branch and tried to hit the meanest head.

          Red didn’t hesitate, she began her decent dropping from one branch to the next like a circus acrobat, hardly ever using her feet. In a few seconds, she was out of Jack’s sight, dropping like a lead sinker through the white clouds.

          Jack took his time and carefully climbed down the beanstalk. After a few hundred yards of swirling clouds and wet air, he emerged from the clouds to find Red sitting on a branch. She was holding two huge leaves apart and looking downward. “What are you looking for? We can’t waste time looking at the scenery. We’ve got to find the goose so the ogre will find my mom.”

Love to All from the Farm
in Two Double-aught Six.