The Pretty Fool: A folktale in 7 parts
Prompt 1: Fool
“Once upon a time, there was a girl many people of her small-minded village considered a fool. Her name was Iina. And because she was a pretty girl, they call her a pretty fool.”
“Once upon a time, there was a girl many people of her small-minded village considered a fool. Her name was Iina. And because she was a pretty girl, they call her a pretty fool.”
Prompt 2: Tree
“But Iina wasn’t a fool. She just did things differently from the other kids in her small village. Once, to get to the highest branch of a tree after all the other children broke every other branch, she used a ladder.
“Anyone could’ve thought of that.” The villagers scoffed.
But no one else did.”
Prompt 3: Star
“Iina was born under a starry night sky. Her grandmother said it was a sign, a good omen, to be blessed with a different mind.”
Prompt 4: Rebel
“One day, there was a contest held to determine which young mind will be the new head of the village. Iina wanted to enter, but she was barred from doing so.
“No one here wants a pretty fool to lead us into disaster.” They said.
But Iina refused to let others decide for her.”
Prompt 5: Costume
“So the pretty fool found a way to enter the contest by disguising herself as a boy. By the time her ruse was uncovered, the contest had already begun. The worried village folk decided to let her try, assuming she and her foolish behaviour will lead her to failure.”
Prompt 6: Potion
“The competition proved to be quite difficult. Each child tried and failed to produce stars from the selection of potions they were given. At the near end, Iina the pretty fool mixed all of the potions together and threw the water up, where it exploded in the air. The sky was lit with colourful fireworks and dazzling stars.”
Prompt 7: Victory
“Iina won the contest and became the new head of her little village. Despite the entire village’s thoughts about her, she ruled just and wise, like a Queen of a mighty empire. To this day, people still marvel at how the pretty fool was pretty clever.”
