Long, long ago there lived, in Japan a brave warrior known to all as Tawara Toda, or “My Lord Bag of Rice.” His true name was Fujiwara Hidesato, and there is a very interesting story of how he came to change his name.

One day he traveled forth in search of adventures, for he had the nature of a warrior and could not bear to be idle. So he buckled on his two swords, took his huge bow, much taller than himself, in his hand, and slinging his quiver on his back started out. He had not gone far when he came to the bridge of Seta-no-Karashi spanning one end of the beautiful Lake Biwa. No sooner had he set foot on the bridge than he saw lying right across his path a huge serpent-dragon. Its body was so big that it looked like the trunk of a large pine tree and it took up the whole width of the bridge. One of its huge claws rested on the parapet of one side of the bridge, while its tail lay right against the other. The monster seemed to be asleep, and as it breathed, fire and smoke came out of its nostrils.

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Ripple Stories retells classic fairy tales reimagined with more representation. Support us on Patreon to never miss a story! https://www.patreon.com/RippleStories

The old version of this story has a woman as the greedy one asking for bigger and grander houses and positions. I've changed the tale portraying the woman as the fisherwoman and the bread winner in the family. The man in the story is never satisfied with what he has and is always pondering what he can be or the riches he can gain next. In a way this is quite pertinent to our society today and the way that some people want all of the resources and power for themselves. If only we could be happy in our little house, close to nature, working the land. The fisherwoman shows this side of life, content with every new situation, always asking "isn't this enough"? I hope you enjoy this tale!

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What would the story of Briar Rose look like if we changed some of the problematic elements in this classic tale? In this version we made all of those changes and some more! The prince does not kiss Briar Rose when she is sleeping, as how could he ask for consent in that situation? They do not get married when she is still 15 years old, but they get to know each other and then when they are adults the princess asks the prince if he would be her husband. Also the Queen mother raises the princess on her own without a king in the picture and is an example of a strong happy independent woman. Briar Rose has flaming red hair and freckles and the prince has dark brown skin and warm brown eyes, so that children who are not blond and blue eyed can see themselves in the story, and if they are blond and blue eyed they can enjoy hearing about people who are different from themselves. Finally the scullery boy is scolded and not boxed in the ear, another problematic element of the original tale. You need to hear this version of Briar Rose to see how easy it is to keep the sense of wonder and magic alive, but bring it into our modern world! It will make you love Fairy Tales again!

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Beautifully told story about an evil Fairy and two young people who wander too close to her castle. In this version of the Grimm's Fairy Tale, I have made one of the characters gender neutral. Here is how I introduce this idea in the intro to the story.

Did you know children (and adults) that some people prefer not to be referred to as he or she? But they instead? This story has a character who is they or them, meaning they want to be respected for who they are and not with being a girl or a boy. As some of you know I choose to be called Teacher Nicole instead of Miss Nicole when I am teaching my Kindergarteners. Teacher, Doctor, Judge, Police Officer, and they or them are gender neutral terms instead of Miss, or Ms or Mrs or Mr or even she or he. I like being called teacher as it is a sign of respect for me as a person and is the same term used for both men and women. People who want to go by they or them have their own reasons for wanting to be called by those pronouns and we can use their chosen pronouns as a sign of respect for them.

Here are a few excerpts from the story:

Now there was once a girl whose name was Jorinda. She was smarter and funnier than all the pretty girls that ever were seen before, and a shepherd, whose name was Jorindel, was very fond of her, and they were always to be found in the others company. Jorinda had springy black hair that framed her soft round face and eyes that crinkled at the corners when she laughed. Jorindel had brown hair that hung almost down to their green eyes, a shy, quiet demeanor and long lanky limbs.......

On a sudden Jorindel found themself free. Then they fell on their knees before the fairy, and prayed her to give them back their dear Jorinda: but she laughed at them, and said they should never see her again; then she went her way.....

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Then she asked if he required any huntsmen, and if he would take all of them into his service. King Ozzymandias looked at her and did not know her, but as they were such handsome fellows, he said: ‘Let us see how well you handle your blades' and he had his best soldiers come and battle with the twelve maidens and the maidens easily won each squirmish. He asked the maidens to then show him how well they knew how to hunt and use their bows. The maidens rode out with the king and each shot they took, a bird or beast was hit, and they had proved that they were fine marksmen. At the end of the day the King said, ‘Yes,’ and that he would willingly take them, and now they were the king’s twelve huntsmen.

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