
An old man planted a turnip seed in his garden. He watered it and watched it grow. And it grew, and it grew, and it grew into the most enormous turnip you have ever seen.
"Time to pull it up," said the old man. He grabbed the turnip's leaves and pulled. He pulled and pulled, but the turnip wouldn't budge.
The old man called the old woman. The old woman held onto the old man, and the old man held onto the turnip. They pulled and pulled, but the turnip wouldn't budge.
The old woman called the granddaughter. The granddaughter held onto the old woman, the old woman held onto the old man, and the old man held onto the turnip. They pulled and pulled, but the turnip wouldn't budge.
The granddaughter called the dog. The dog held onto the granddaughter, the granddaughter held onto the old woman, the old woman held onto the old man, and the old man held onto the turnip. They pulled and pulled, but the turnip wouldn't budge.
The dog called the cat. The cat held onto the dog, the dog held onto the granddaughter, the granddaughter held onto the old woman, the old woman held onto the old man, and the old man held onto the turnip. They pulled and pulled, but the turnip still wouldn't budge.
The cat called a little mouse.
"A mouse!" said the old man. "What good will a mouse do?"
But the little mouse held onto the cat, the cat held onto the dog, the dog held onto the granddaughter, the granddaughter held onto the old woman, the old woman held onto the old man, and the old man held onto the turnip.
They pulled, and they pulled, and they pulled, and — POP! — out came the enormous turnip at last!
They all tumbled backward in a heap, laughing.
And that night, they made the biggest pot of turnip soup anyone had ever seen. There was enough for everyone — even the little mouse.