In which the gift of stories continues with a vegetable story

The Great Big Enormous Turnip (Russia)

Every spring, the dedka (grandfather) planted a big garden.  He planted kartofel, (potatoes).  He planted kapoosta, (cabbage).  He planted markov, (carrots). 

But most of all, he planted repka (turnips).  He planted the seeds, he pulled the weeds.  He watched and he watered, and he cared for the garden.

All of the vegetables grew big and strong and sweet.  But the repka grew biggest of all.

“Time to harvest the turnips!” said the babka (grandmother).

And he did.  All but one.  He let one little repka keep growing.  And growing.  And growing.

Until it was a great big enormous turnip.  “Time to harvest that one, too!” said the babka.

So the dedka took hold of the turnip leaves.  He tugged and he pulled, he pulled and he tugged.  But that great big enormous would not come up.

He called for the babka to come and help. 

The babka pulled the dedka.  The dedka pulled the repka.   They tugged and they pulled, they pulled and they tugged.  But that great big enormous turnip would not come up.

They called for the vnuchca (granddaughter) to come and help. 

The vnuchca pulled the babka. The babka pulled the dedka.  The dedka pulled the repka.   They tugged and they pulled, they pulled and they tugged.  But that great big enormous turnip would not come up.

They called for the zhuchka (dog) to come and help.

The zhuchka pulled the vnuchca. The vnuchca pulled the babka. The babka pulled the dedka.  The dedka pulled the repka.   They tugged and they pulled, they pulled and they tugged.  But that great big enormous turnip would not come up.

They called for the koshka (cat) to come and help.

The koshka pulled the zhuchka.  The zhuchka pulled the vnuchca. The vnuchca pulled the babka. The babka pulled the dedka.  The dedka pulled the repka.   They tugged and they pulled, they pulled and they tugged.  But that great big enormous turnip would not come up.

There was nobody else to call for help, only the tiny myshka (mouse).  So they called for the myshka.

The myshka pulled the koshka. The koshka pulled the zhuchka.  The zhuchka pulled the vnuchca. The vnuchca pulled the babka. The babka pulled the dedka.  The dedka pulled the repka.   They tugged and they pulled, they pulled and they tugged. 

And finally, with everyone helping, that great big enormous turnip came up!  And everyone had turnip for dinner that night. 

Everyone, even the myshka!