The Gigantic Turnip

One summer, Grandfather planted a turnip seed in his garden. He tended it with care, watering and weeding. The turnip grew and grew… and grew – until it became huge, the size of a boulder! Grandfather decided it was time to pull it out. He grabbed the turnip's leaves and pulled: "Ugh! Come out, turnip!" He tugged with all his might, but the turnip didn't budge.

So Grandfather called, "Grandmother, come help!" Grandmother came. She took hold of Grandfather, Grandfather held the turnip, and together they pulled: "One, two, three – pull!" Still that enormous turnip stayed stuck in the ground.

Grandmother called their granddaughter: "Olenka, dear, we need you!" Little Olenka grabbed Grandmother, Grandmother held Grandfather, Grandfather held the turnip. "Heave-ho, pull together!" they cried. The turnip moved just an inch – but remained firmly in the soil.

Olenka beckoned the Dog: "Zhuchka, come help us!" The dog took hold of Olenka's apron, the chain continued, and they all pulled. No luck – the turnip barely trembled.

The dog barked at the Cat: "Murka, lend a paw!" The cat latched onto the dog's tail. They pulled and pulled in a long line – cat to dog, dog to girl, girl to grandma, grandma to grandpa, grandpa to turnip. The stubborn turnip gave a little shake, but still stuck.

✦An illustration from the tale of The Gigantic Turnip✦

The cat meowed to the Mouse: "Mousey, we need you too!" The tiny mouse scurried and bit onto the cat's tail at the end of the line.

Now at last the chain was complete: Mouse pulled Cat, Cat pulled Dog, Dog pulled Girl, Girl pulled Grandmother, Grandmother pulled Grandfather, Grandfather pulled the Turnip – and PLOP! Out came the gigantic turnip at last, sending everyone tumbling backward with the turnip on top of them! They laughed in triumph.

It was so large that Grandfather shared the turnip with the whole village. They cooked sweet turnip soup, mashed turnip, and roasted turnip. And who got the first tasty bite? The little Mouse, of course – for sometimes the smallest helper is the one who makes the biggest difference.