(40. Saniyeden sonra masal başlamaktadır.)

ONCE upon a time there dwelt on the outskirts of a large forest a poor woodcutter with his wife and two children; the boy was called Hansel and the girl Grettel. He had always little enough to live on, and once, when times were bad, they had to get by with one piece of bread and butter each. One night, as he was tossing about in bed, full of cares and worry, he sighed and said to his wife: “What’s to become of us? how are we to feed our poor children, now that we have nothing more for ourselves?” “I’ll tell you what, husband,” answered the woman; “early to-morrow morning we’ll take the children out into the thickest part of the wood; there we shall light a fire for them and give them each a piece of bread; then we’ll go on to our work and leave them alone. They won’t be able to find their way home, and we shall be rid of them.” “No, wife,” said her husband, “that I won’t do; how could I find it in my heart to leave my children alone in the wood? The wild beasts would soon come and tear them to pieces.” “Oh! you fool,” said she, “then we must all four die of hunger, and you may just as well go and saw the boards for our coffins”; and they argued and argued, until he agreed that they must get rid of Hansel and Grettel. “But I can’t help feeling sorry for the poor children,” added the husband.

The children, too, had not been able to sleep for hunger, and had heard what their step-mother had said to their father. Grettel wept bitterly and spoke to Hansel: “Now it’s all up with us.” “No, no, Grettel,” said Hansel, “don’t fret yourself; I’ll be able to find a way to escape, no fear.” And when the old people had fallen asleep he got up, slipped on his little coat, opened the back door and stole out. The moon was shining clearly, and the white pebbles which lay in front of the house glittered like bits of silver. Hansel bent down and filled his pocket with as many of them as he could cram in. Then he went back and said to Grettel: “Be comforted, my dear little sister, and go to sleep: God will not desert us”; and he lay down in bed again.

At daybreak, even before the sun was up, the woman came and woke the two children: “Get up, you lie-abeds, we’re all going to the forest to fetch wood.” She gave them each a bit of bread and said: “There’s something for your luncheon, but don’t you eat it up before, for it’s all you’ll get.” Grettel took the bread under her apron, as Hansel had the stones in his pocket. Then they all set out together on the way to the forest. After they had walked for a little, Hansel stood still and looked back at the house, and this maneuver he repeated again and again. His father observed him, and said: “Hansel, what are you gazing at there, and why do you always remain behind? Take care, and don’t lose your footing.” “Oh! father,” said Hansel, “I am looking back at my white kitten, which is sitting on the roof, waving me a farewell.” The woman exclaimed: “What a donkey you are! that isn’t your kitten, that’s the morning sun shining on the chimney.” But Hansel had not looked back at his kitten, but had always dropped one of the white pebbles out of his pocket on to the path.

When they had reached the middle of the forest the father said: “Now, children, go and fetch a lot of wood, and I’ll light a fire that you may not feel cold.” Hansel and Grettel heaped up brushwood till they had made a pile nearly the size of a small hill. The brushwood was set fire to, and when the flames leaped high the woman said: “Now lie down at the fire, children, and rest yourselves: we are going into the forest to cut down wood; when we’ve finished we’ll come back and fetch you.” Hansel and Grettel sat down beside the fire, and at midday ate their little bits of bread. They heard the strokes of the axe, so they thought their father was quite near. But it was no axe they heard, but a bough he had tied on a dead tree, and that was blown about by the wind. And when they had sat for a long time their eyes closed with fatigue, and they fell fast asleep. When they awoke at last it was pitch dark. Grettel began to cry, and said: “How are we ever to get out of the wood?” But Hansel comforted her. “Wait a bit,” he said, “till the moon is up, and then we’ll find our way sure enough.” And when the full moon had risen he took his sister by the hand and followed the pebbles, which shone like new threepenny bits, and showed them the path. They walked on through the night, and at daybreak reached their father’s house again. They knocked at the door, and when the woman opened it she exclaimed: “You naughty children, what a time you’ve slept in the wood! we thought you were never going to come back.” But the father rejoiced, for his conscience had reproached him for leaving his children behind by themselves.

Not long afterward there was again great dearth in the land, and the children heard their mother address their father thus in bed one night: “Everything is eaten up once more; we have only half a loaf in the house, and when that’s done it’s all up with us. The children must be got rid of; we’ll lead them deeper into the wood this time, so that they won’t be able to find their way out again. There is no other way of saving ourselves.” The man’s heart smote him heavily, and he thought: “Surely it would be better to share the last bite with one’s children!” But his wife wouldn’t listen to his arguments, and did nothing but scold and reproach him. If a man yields once he’s done for, and so, because he had given in the first time, he was forced to do so the second.

But the children were awake, and had heard the conversation. When the old people were asleep Hansel got up, and wanted to go out and pick up pebbles again, as he had done the first time; but the woman had barred the door, and Hansel couldn’t get out. But he consoled his little sister, and said: “Don’t cry, Grettel, and sleep peacefully, for God is sure to help us.”

At early dawn the woman came and made the children get up. They received their bit of bread, but it was even smaller than the time before. On the way to the wood Hansel crumbled it in his pocket, and every few minutes he stood still and dropped a crumb on the ground. “Hansel, what are you stopping and looking about you for?” said the father. “I’m looking back at my little pigeon, which is sitting on the roof waving me a farewell,” answered Hansel. “Fool!” said the wife; “that isn’t your pigeon, it’s the morning sun glittering on the chimney.” But Hansel gradually threw all his crumbs on the path. The woman led the children still deeper into the forest farther than they had ever been in their lives before. Then a big fire was lit again, and the mother said: “Just sit down there, children, and if you’re tired you can sleep a bit; we’re going into the forest to cut down wood, and in the evening when we’re finished we’ll come back to fetch you.” At midday Grettel divided her bread with Hansel, for he had strewn his all along their path. Then they fell asleep, and evening passed away, but nobody came to the poor children. They didn’t awake till it was pitch dark, and Hansel comforted his sister, saying: “Only wait, Grettel, till the moon rises, then we shall see the bread-crumbs I scattered along the path; they will show us the way back to the house.” When the moon appeared they got up, but they found no crumbs, for the thousands of birds that fly about the woods and fields had picked them all up. “Never mind,” said Hansel to Gret- tel; “you’ll see we’ll find a way out”; but all the same they did not. They wandered about the whole night, and the next day, from morning till evening, but they could not find a path out of the wood. They were very hungry, too, for they had nothing to eat but a few berries they found growing on the ground. And at last they were so tired that their legs refused to carry them any longer, so they lay down under a tree and fell fast asleep.

On the third morning after they had left their father’s house they set about their wandering again, but only got deeper and deeper into the wood, and now they felt that if help did not come to them soon they must perish. At midday they saw a beautiful little snow-white bird sitting on a branch, which sang so sweetly that they stopped still and listened to it. And when its song was finished it flapped its wings and flew on in front of them. They followed it and came to a little house, on the roof of which it perched; and when they came quite near they saw that the cottage was made of bread and roofed with cakes, while the window was made of transparent sugar. “Now we’ll set to,” said Hansel, “and have a regular blow-out. I’ll eat a bit of the roof, and you, Grettel, can eat some of the window, which you’ll find a sweet morsel.” Hansel stretched up his hand and broke off a little bit of the roof to see what it was like, and Grettel went to the casement and began to nibble at it. Thereupon a shrill voice called out from the room inside:

“Nibble, nibble, little mouse, Who’s nibbling my house?”

The children answered:

“Tis Heaven’s own child, The tempest wild,”

and went on eating, without putting themselves about. Hansel, who thoroughly appreciated the roof, tore down a big bit of it, while Grettel pushed out a whole round window-pane, and sat down the better to enjoy it. Suddenly the door opened, and an ancient dame leaning on a staff hobbled out. Hansel and Grettel were so terrified that they let what they had in their hands fall. But the old woman shook her head and said: “Oh, ho! you dear children, who led you here? Just come in and stay with me, no ill shall befall you.” She took them both by the hand and let them into the house, and laid a most sumptuous dinner before them–milk and sugared pancakes, with apples and nuts. After they had finished, two beautiful little white beds were prepared for them, and when Hansel and Grettel lay down in them they felt as if they had got into heaven.

He was a vulgar boy!

The old woman had appeared to be most friendly, but she was really an old witch who had waylaid the children, and had only built the little bread house in order to lure them in. When anyone came into her power she killed, cooked, and ate him, and held a regular feast-day for the occasion. Now witches have red eyes, and cannot see far, but, like beasts, they have a keen sense of smell, and know when human beings pass by. When Hansel and Grettel fell into her hands she laughed maliciously, and said jeeringly: “I’ve got them now; they sha’n’t escape me.” Early in the morning, before the children were awake, she rose up, and when she saw them both sleeping so peacefully, with their round rosy cheeks, she muttered to herself: “That’ll be a dainty bite.” Then she seized Hansel with her bony hand and carried him into a little stable, and barred the door on him; he might scream as much as he liked, it did him no good. Then she went to Grettel, shook her till she awoke, and cried: “Get up, you lazy-bones, fetch water and cook something for your brother. When he’s fat I’ll eat him up.” Grettel began to cry bitterly, but it was of no use; she had to do what the wicked witch bade her.

So the best food was cooked for poor Hansel, but Grettel got nothing but crab-shells. Every morning the old woman hobbled out to the stable and cried: “Hansel, put out your finger, that I may feel if you are getting fat.” But Hansel always stretched out a bone, and the old dame, whose eyes were dim, couldn’t see it, and thinking always it was Hansel’s finger, wondered why he fattened so slowly. When four weeks had passed and Hansel still remained thin, she lost patience and determined to wait no longer. “Hi, Grettel,” she called to the girl, abe quick and get some water. Hansel may be fat or thin, I’m going to kill him to-morrow and cook him.” Oh! how the poor little sister sobbed as she carried the water, and how the tears rolled down her cheeks! “Kind heaven help us now!” she cried; “if only the wild beasts in the wood had eaten us, then at least we should have died together.” “Just hold your peace,” said the old hag; “it won’t help you.”

Early in the morning Grettel had to go out and hang up the kettle full of water, and light the fire. “First we’ll bake,” said the old dame; “I’ve heated the oven already and kneaded the dough.” She pushed Grettel out to the oven, from which fiery flames were already issuing. “Creep in,” said the witch, “and see if it’s properly heated, so that we can shove in the bread.” For when she had got Grettel in she meant to close the oven and let the girl bake, that she might eat her up too. But Grettel perceived her intention, and said: “I don’t know how I’m to do it; how do I get in?” “You silly goose!” said the hag, “the opening is big enough; see, I could get in myself,” and she crawled toward it, and poked her head into the oven. Then Grettel gave her a shove that sent her right in, shut the iron door, and drew the bolt. Gracious! how she yelled, it was quite horrible; but Grettel fled, and the wretched old woman was left to perish miserably.

Grettel flew straight to Hansel, opened the little stable- door, and cried: “Hansel, we are free; the old witch is dead.” Then Hansel sprang like a bird out of a cage when the door is opened. How they rejoiced, and fell on each other’s necks, and jumped for joy, and kissed one another! And as they had no longer any cause for fear, they went in the old hag’s house, and here they found, in every corner of the room, boxes with pearls and precious stones. “These are even better than pebbles,” said Hansel, and crammed his pockets full of them; and Grettel said: “I too will bring something home,” and she filled her apron full. “But now,” said Hansel, “let’s go and get well away from the witch’s wood.” When they had wandered about for some hours they came to a big lake. “We can’t get over,” said Hansel; “I see no bridge of any sort or kind.” “Yes, and there’s no ferry-boat either,” answered Grettel; “but look, there swims a white duck; if I ask her she’ll help us over,” and she called out:

“Here are two children, mournful very, Seeing neither bridge nor ferry; Take us upon your white back, And row us over, quack, quack!”

The duck swam toward them, and Hansel got on her back and bade his little sister sit beside him. “No,” answered Grettel, “we should be too heavy a load for the duck: she shall carry us across separately.” The good bird did this, and when they were landed safely on the other side, and had gone for a while, the wood became more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw their father’s house in the distance. Then they set off to run, and bounding into the room fell on their father’s neck. The man had not passed a happy hour since he left them in the wood, but the woman had died. Grettel shook out her apron so that the pearls and precious stones rolled about the room, and Hansel threw down one handful after the other out of his pocket. Thus all their troubles were ended, and they lived happily ever afterward.

Ayşenur is a beautiful girl. She has got short, black, curly hair and big black eyes. She resembles her mother. Ayşenur is a bookworm. She likes reading. Her parents buy her new books everyday. Ayşenur reads the books and then tells the stories to her parents. She likes her books and her books like her. Everyday, Ayşenur lies on her bed and reads her books. It is her hobby.

There are different kinds of books on her bookshelf. Big books, small books, colourful books. Every night before she goes to sleep, Ayşenur puts her books on the bookshelf carefully. She talks to them and kisses them.

The books wonder, “ Which book does Ayşenur like the most?”
“Ayşenur likes me the most,” says one book.
“No, she likes me the most,” claims another.
“You are both wrong. She likes me the most,” boasts the other.
Because of this, they quarrel every night.

There is an old book among the other books. Ayşenur doesn’t forget it, she reads it a lot. So, its pages are worn out. The old book doesn’t join in the quarrel.
“I am very old. Ayşenur doesn’t like me any more. There are a lot of new books. She likes them,” the old book thinks.
The old book’s heart is broken. It thinks that Ayşenur doesn’t like it.

There is a big, blue book on the bookshelf. It is Ayşenur’s mother’s book. The big blue book is tired of the books’ quarrel. It is very angry with them because they are making a lot of noise.
“Enough! Stop this fight! Do you want to learn who Ayşenur’s favourite is?” the big blue book asks.
“Yes, but how can we learn it? All the books ask in surprise.
“Let’s organize a contest,” the big blue book suggests.

“A contest? Who will choose the winner?” the other books ask.
“It is very easy. Which of you is the oldest one? The oldest book is always the most valuable book,” says the big blue book.
All of the books look at the old book on the shelf because it is worn out so much. The old book is Ayşenur’s favourite. The old book is happy for that. It is proud of being old now. It knows that Ayşenur likes it a lot.

Edited by:Turgay EVREN

Retold by:Kezban EVREN

Performed by:Bob BEER

There was once an old miller who had three sons. When he died, he left them everything he had. Simon, the eldest son, inherited the flour mill, Alex got a donkey and Jack, the youngest, got a cat. Simon soon set to work grinding flour. Alex headed for town with his donkey. “I’m going to find work hauling things,” he said.
Jack, meanwhile, tried to think of a way to make a living.
“That silly cat is worse than useless, for I shall have to feed him, as well as myself,” he grumbled.
“Do not be so glum, Master,” the cat said. I have a plan that will make us both rich.” “What can you do? You’re only a cat!” said Jack.
“Give me a fine hat, a pair of good boots, and a large sack,” said the cat. “I shall take care of the rest.”
“Why not,” Jack said miserably. “What have I got to lose?”
When the cat was dressed to his satisfaction, he left Jack sitting in a field, and headed for the nearest stream. Puss ‘n Boots, as he was then called, crouched on the bank and used his swift paws to pull a dozen gleaming fish out of the water.
His sack bulging with fish, Puss ‘n Boots strutted to the castle and asked to see the King.
“What business does a cat have with the King?” asked the gatekeeper.
“I have a gift from the Marquis of Carabas,” said Puss. He was allowed in at once, and bowed before the King, the Queen and their daughter, Cecile.
“The Marquis of Carabas sends his greetings, and would like you to have these fine fish from his estate, Your Highness,” said the cat.
“Tell the Marquis we appreciate his kindness,” said the King. But as soon as Puss had left, the King whispered to his wife, “Who is this Marquis?”
“I don’t know,” replied the Queen. “I’ve never even heard of him.”
Over the next few days, Puss returned to the court several times, each time with a gift for the royal family.
“Here comes that cat again! Who is this Marquis of Carabas?” the courtiers whispered. Since no one knew who he was, everyone in the King’s court made up stories about him.
“I hear he is the richest man in the kingdom,” someone said.
“And the most handsome,” said another.
Then one day, when Puss brought the Queen a pheasant, she said to him, “Your master seems to be a good hunter.”
“Oh yes,” Puss replied. “The Marquis has many talents.”
“But why have we never met him?” asked the Queen. “You must arrange a meeting.” That night, Puss told Jack he was to meet the Queen. “That’s ridiculous!” said Jack. “Look at me! I don’t even have a decent shirt!”
“Don’t you worry,” said Puss. “Leave everything to me.”
The next day, Puss led Jack to the river.
“Take off your shirt and get in the water,” Puss told him.
“But I can’t swim!” said Jack.
“Don’t worry. Just do as I say,” said the cat.
But when Jack stepped into the river, the cat pushed him into deep water. Just as Puss had planned, the current carried Jack downstream to the bridge where the king’s carriage was passing.
“Help!” cried Jack.
“Hurry!” yelled Puss. “The Marquis of Carabas is drowning!”
The king ordered two men to pull Jack out of the water. He sent a third man to the castle for dry clothing. Soon, Jack was dressed in clothes fit for a marquis.
“He would make a handsome husband, don’t you think?” whispered the Queen to Cecile.
“You must be exhausted from your ordeal,” the King said to Jack. “We shall escort you home.”
“Yes. Where exactly is your castle?” asked the King’s advisor, who was suspicious of Jack and his cat.
“Well, ahhh, I don’t have a castle,” muttered Jack.
“The Marquis is always so modest. There it is,” said Puss, pointing to a castle on the hill.
“Now, if you will excuse me, I have some errands to run.” And the cat leapt out of the carriage.
Puss ‘n Boots raced along the road, ahead of the King’s carriage, and shouted to the peasants working in the fields.
“If anyone asks, say these lands belong to the Marquis of Carabas,” Puss instructed them.
“The castle, too.”
“Certainly, Sire,” the peasants replied.
Puss reached the castle on the hill, and knocked at the huge gate. A door in the gate swung silently open.
Puss tiptoed through the dark rooms. Suddenly, a giant ogre appeared before him.
“What are you doing in my castle?” he hollered.
Puss introduced himself politely.
“I hear you have great magical powers and that you can transform yourself into an elephant, or even a lion,” said Puss. “Is that true?”
Instantly, the ogre transformed himself into a lion.
“What do you think?” he roared, chasing Puss around the room.
“I believe you!” said Puss. “But can you make yourself as small as a mouse?” can do anything,” replied the proud ogre. But as soon as he transformed himself into a mouse, the clever cat swooped him up and swallowed him whole. Meanwhile, the King’s carriage approached the castle.
“Who owns all these rich fields?” he asked.
“The Marquis of Carabas,” replied one of the peasants.
“And the castle is his, too?” asked the King.
“Yes, Sire,” said the peasant.
With the ogre out of the way, Puss ran through the castle, opening all the gloomy curtains to let the sun in. He reached the gate just as the King’s carriage pulled up.
“Welcome to the estate of the Marquis of Carabas,” Puss announced, bowing low.
“Why it’s lovely,” said the Queen.
“You’ve done very well for yourself, young man,” said the King.
“Yes, it seems that I have,” replied Jack.
But Jack was not looking at the castle at all – from the moment he met her, Jack only had eyes for Princess Cecile.
Several months later, Jack and Cecile were married, and they lived happily ever after. Of course, Puss ‘n Boots lived happily ever after at their side.

It is a hot, sunny day . Ali and his mother are in the kitchen. Ali is playing with his toy train. His mother is washing thedishes. Ali is a curious boy. He asks his mother a lot of questions. His mother answers the questions patiently.

“Mommy! I can see the sun now. But why can’t I see it at night?” Ali asks his mother.
“Where does it go at night?”
“The sun goes to the other side of the world at night,” his mother answers.
“But I want the sun to stay with us,”says Ali. “ Please mom! Tell it not to go.”

There is a smile on Ali’s mother’s face.
“OK. My dear son. I will tell the sun not to leave us,” Ali’s mother says.
“Thank you mom. I love you. I like the sun,” Ali says happily.
After some time, Ali changes his mind and comes to his mother.
“Mom! Don’t tell the sun anything. I will talk with the sun myself,” Ali says.
“Good idea. You talk to it,” his mother replies.

The next morning, Ali is very excited. Because he is going to speak to the sun.
He is having breakfast in the kitchen. The sun is shining in the sky. Ali finishes his breakfast and runs to the balcony because he can see the sun very well on the balcony. Ali is very close to the sun now.

“Hello sun!” Ali greets the sun. “You are very bright as usual. I like you. Please don’t leave me, don’t go anywhere at night.”
The sun doesn’t say anything, but it seems very happy with Ali’s words. “Mom! It is all right. The sun will stay with us. It won’t go anywhere,” Ali tells his mother. Ali’s mother is smiling at Ali.

“Look my sweet boy. There are a lot of children on the other side of the world,”explains Ali’s mother. “It is night there. The children are sleeping now because the sun is with us. When it is night here, the sun is visiting the other children. They like the sun, too.”
“You are right mom. I must share everything with my friends,” Ali says. “I must share my toy train, and the sun. All the children are my friends. The sun is my friend, too.”

Ali runs to the balcony.
“Hey sun!” he calls out to the sun. “You shouldn’t stay with us at night. Visit my friends on the other side of the world. Give my greetings to them. I like you and my friends like you too.”

Edited by:Turgay EVREN

Retold by:Kezban EVREN

Performed by:Zeynep EVREN