Join us for a weekly blog party in Six Sentence Stories, hosted by Denise and attended by some mighty fine, fun folk. Prompt word=NOD. Read, write and come back for more SIX SENTENCE STORIES.
For Part 1 of this fractaled fairy tale, please click <here>.
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Jack froze in fear and his brain began to churn out escape plans that included getting food for his mouse family, even as Sylvia hunched down, whiskers alert, shoulders hunched, hind end readying itself to pounce.
“Um, not nibbling on the house per se,” answered Jack, as he ceased chewing on the cord that encircled the covered bowl’s lip, and turning to face the large cat he straightened and held up one claw of one paw and wiggled his nose to feign playful confidence, adding “I can smell mouth-watering herring in this bowl and my sharp teeth are the perfect tool to free its creamy contents…care to make a deal?”
“She lets me lick the bowls after her guests have eaten their fill…” the cat pointed out, sitting back and licking a paw unconcernedly “so why would I deal with you?”
“Because you could have it now and not wait until after the trolls’ visit,” Jack tipped his head, venturing “they’re awfully sloppy and sometimes leave nothing at all for the real householders.”
At just that moment, the furthest corner of the highest rafter rattled and a wooden shoe containing three sleepy yet hungry boys in pirate’s pajamas emerged out of the darkness, crowing “We’re Wynken, Blynken, and Nod and we’re tired of eating cod; we’ll take that bowl of creamed herring off your hands and into our boat, and that wheel of cheese as well!”
At that, the cat rose and bristled like a hedgehog, yowling, “Nibble nibble little boys, I’ll rock your boat and make you chew toys!”
© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2026)
Stay tuned for Part 3
Jack the negotiator, Sylvia the bowl-guardian, and then pirates in a wooden shoe threatening to upend the whole deal—this is genius. I love how every sentence spirals the chaos one turn tighter, and that final yowl? Exactly where this had to go. Bring on Part 3.
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😊
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By all the gods, “snap” as my mother used to say. Just this morning (before coming here), I wrote a reply to one of Clark’s comments on his blog in which I mentioned Wynken, Blynken, and Nod. Unfortunately he was referring to the bible and Genesis Land of Nod … (grinning).
Now then, your Six. I adore you stories. Just charming, and slightly askew which I love.
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Thank you! I, myself, have been identified as slightly askew, from time to time…😄😄
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