Open Writing

Once, long ago, an old woman and an old man lived in the country beside a stream. They had no children.

One summer day, the old man went into the hills to gather wood for the fire. The old woman went to the stream to wash the clothes. Soon she saw a fine, ripe peach floating downstream. 'What luck!' she said as she took it out of the water. 'It's rosy red on both sides.'

In the evening, the old man came home.

'Look what I found,' said the old woman. 'A lucky peach.'

Before the old man could eat it, it burst in two. Inside, instead of a stone, was a tiny boy.

'How amazing!' said the old man and the old woman.

First the boy ate one half, and then he ate the other. By this time he had grown into a fine, strong lad.

'Momotaro!' cried the old man. 'The eldest son of the peach.'

'It is Momotaro,' said the old woman. 'He was born in a peach.'
Soon he was the strongest and bravest boy in the country.

One summer day, Momotaro said, 'Please bake me some millet dumplings. I'm off on my holidays.'

'Where are you going?'

'To the Ogres' Island to get their treasure.'

So the old woman made millet dumplings and put them in a bag, and Momotaro set off.

'Sayonara,' called the old man and the old woman. 'Good luck!'

'Sayonara!' shouted Momotaro, waving goodbye.

He hadn't gone far when he met a monkey.

'Kia, Kia!' said the monkey. 'Where are you going, Momotaro?'

'I'm going to the Ogres' Island for an adventure.'

'What have you got in your bag?'

'Millet dumplings—the best in Japan.'

'If you give me one, I will go with you.'

So Momotaro gave a millet dumpling to the monkey, and the two of them jogged along together.

Soon they met a pheasant.

'Screech, screech!' said the pheasant. 'Where are you off to, Momotaro?'

'I'm going to the Ogres' Island for an adventure.'

'What have you got in your bag?'

'Millet dumplings—the best in Japan.'

'If you give me one, I will go with you.'

So Momotaro gave a millet dumpling to the pheasant, and the three of them jogged along together.

Soon they met a dog.

'Woof, woof!' said the dog. 'Where are you off to, Momotaro?'

'I'm going to the Ogres' Island for an adventure.'

'What have you got in your bag?'

'Millet dumplings—the best in Japan.'

'If you give me one, I will go with you.'

So Momotaro gave a millet dumpling to the dog, and the four of them jogged along together.

Soon they came to Ogres' Island.

'Listen to my plan, brothers,' said Momotaro. 'Monkey, climb over the castle wall and pinch the Ogres. Pheasant, fly over the castle gate and peck the Ogres. Dog, when I break the bolts and bars, bite the Ogres, and I will fight them.'

The monkey climbed over the castle wall—'Kia, Kia!'—and pinched the Ogres. The pheasant flew over the castle gate—'Screech, screech!'—and pecked the Ogres.

Momotaro broke the bolts and bars. The dog leaped into the castle courtyard—'Woof, woof!'—and bit the Ogres.

The brave companions fought and won the battle against the wicked Ogres, and put them in prison.

'Now, brothers,' said Momotaro. 'Let's bring out the Ogres' treasure.'

And they did. There were magic jewels, caps and coats to make you invisible, gold and silver, jade and coral, amber, tortoise-shell and mother-of-pearl.

'Choose from these riches, brothers,' said Momotaro.

'Kia, Kia,' said the monkey. 'Thank you, Momotaro.'

'Screech, screech,' said the pheasant. 'Thank you, Momotaro.'

'Woof, woof,' said the dog. 'Thank you, Momotaro.'

They all chose from the Ogres' treasure, and set off home.

'I have returned from my summer holiday,' said Momotaro to the old man and the old woman. He opened the bag. 'Look what I have brought.'

The old man and the old woman were amazed. 'The Ogres' treasure!'

With these riches, they never wanted anything for the rest of their lives.

© Edel Wignell

Acknowledgment
Joanne Cole (sel.), Best-Loved Folk-Tales of the World, 1982, Anchor Books, Doubleday, New York