Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff Read Free Book Online Page A

Gran. “Elsbith …” She gently touched Gran’s forehead. “Red, go outside and get a bucket of snow.”
    I stood by the bed while Red’s mother looked Gran over. Gran opened her eyes and made a little gurgling sound, but she didn’t speak. It was like she was trying to say something, but the words were heavy and got twisted on her tongue.
    “What’s wrong with her?” I asked.
    Red’s mother didn’t look at me. “She’s old.”
    “But what’s wrong with her?”
    “Oh, child.” She looked at me now, and her eyes were so full of pity I thought I might be sick. “No one can keep going forever. She’s ill. Her brain isn’t working right.”
    Her brain! I needed Gran’s brain!
    “Can you help her? Will she get better?”
    She gave me a tragic smile. “We’ll just have to see.”
    My whole body sagged, and she touched my shoulder. “It will be all right.”
    Red and her mother placed cold cloths on Gran’s face and rubbed warm ones on her feet. They boiled water and the leftover chicken bones and spooned the broth in Gran’s mouth. A lot just dripped down her cheeks and chin, but Gran seemed a little more awake while we fed her. She looked at me, or at least I thought she did, and then she fell asleep.
    “She should sleep for the night,” said Red’s mother. She picked up her cloak and went to the door. “I’ll be back in the morning. Come, Red.”
    “I’ll be there in a moment.” Red’s mother nodded and shut the door.
    Red only waited a few seconds before she did what I knew she would: boss me.
    “I know what you’re thinking, but you can’t.”
    “How do you know what I’m thinking? I’m an idiot, remember? I don’t think that much.”
    Red’s eyes saddened. “I don’t think you’re an idiot, Rump.”
    “Well, you’d be the only one.” Including myself. I was an idiot. Why did I have to spin all that straw into gold? I should have listened to Gran. But maybe trading the gold for food could make her better.
    “Rump, don’t trade the gold.”
    “What makes you think I would?” I glared at Red and she backed away a little. Red , backing away from me .
    “Things will turn out all right,” she said. “But not if you trade that gold. It’s not safe.”
    I sat by the fire, picked up bits of straw, and flung them into the flames. “Just go away.”
    “Rump—”
    “Just leave me alone!” I shouted.
    Red breathed in sharply and opened the door. A cold gust blew in and made me shiver. “I take it back. You are an idiot!” And she slammed the door.
    I sat in front of the fire until it was cold ash.
    I didn’t sleep all night. And when the village bell chimed for the mining day to begin, I didn’t go. I stayed by Gran’s side and fed her broth. She still didn’t speak or look at me, but I got the broth in her mouth and she swallowed.
    She needed more food. She couldn’t get well without more food.
    When Gran fell asleep after dark, I went to my bed and took out three skeins of gold. I wrapped them in a dirty rag and tucked them inside my jacket. Then I walked outside and headed toward the mill.
    Gold meant food.

    Opal was the one who answered the door. She stared at me with her blank face.
    “I want to see the miller,” I said.
    Her tongue stretched and wound around her mouth. “What for?” she asked. It was the first time I’d ever heard Opal speak. She sounded annoyed.
    “I have something for him. Something he’ll want to trade me.”
    “Rations day was yesterday. Father doesn’t trade unless it’s rations day.”
    “He’ll want to trade me now,” I said.
    Her tongue flicked out. “Come back next rations day.” She started to close the door, but a deep voice sounded behind her.
    “Opal, who are you talking to?” Opal shrank back in the doorway, and Oswald the miller filled it up with his huge girth. He was almost as wide as he was tall. His belt strained on the last notch.
    “Oh, it’s you, then, is it? We’ve no rations for you, and we’re all