Greta's Tickle Travels

Greta was a young girl living in a stone age village. She lived with her father, mother and younger brother Herrmann.

The village was small and there were only 30 other people living there.

Greta’s family were of high status in the village and they shared a large cave with others of higher status.

Greta was fortunate to have parents who were able to provide her with the best tools for foraging for food in the forest.

Greta had seen weapons wear out after long use and she knew that she needed to be careful to not lose hers. Greta’s parents told her that if anything ever happened to her she could always return home.

One day when Greta was walking home from the forest, she spotted something strange on top of the hill. It looked like a large box with some men standing around it. She ran back into the forest and fetched her father, so he could see this strange thing too. The two of them made their way up to the hill slowly and as they got closer, Greta realised that this strange object was actually a big tent. A man came out of the tent and approached them as they got close enough to see him clearly. The man wore different clothes to those worn by villagers who wore animal skins or furs made from animals such as bears and wolves. The man who stood before them now wore trousers which had many buckles on them, he wore shoes which Greta had never seen before and his hair was cut in an unusual style for a villager. He had no beard or moustache, just smooth skin on his face, Greta had never seen such smooth skin before on any villager!

The man spoke to them kindly, “Hello my friends, I am travelling around showing off some strong men and women to all kinds of villages like yours throughout these lands and I am looking for people willing to show off their strength at a show I will be performing tonight in the town of Magdeburg”

The man seemed friendly but Greta’s father replied sternly “I do not know what you are talking about my friend but we are just simple villagers who try our best to stay out of trouble and live our lives peacefully”

The man smiled warmly “It is not trouble I speak of my friend, It is an opportunity for you to show your strength at my show tonight” The man paused for a moment “You see I travel far distances carrying all this equipment myself so it does me good when someone can carry some equipment for me too!” he said smiling warmly at them once again before continuing “So what do you say? You carry these heavy bags tonight and help me set up my stage, have your daughter join our show tonight as we make your village famous! You see everyone who attends my shows wants to see some strong men like yourselves perform feats that take much strength so your performance would be greatly appreciated” he said smiling once again at them both warmly.

Greta’s father thought about it for a moment before explaining what he thought this show might entail “I am worried that you might want us to do things we are not used to doing back home” he explained “We don’t like strangers touching us or having our feet tied up by strangers ever since we saw how many people became ill after one stranger came here trying to convince people that tying their feet up was better health wise than letting their toes point foreward like ours naturally do! We don't want our bodies being shown off like cattle! We don't want all these strangers touching our bare skin!” He said firmly trying his best to dissuade him from taking his offer but the man replied calmly “No no no my friend, No-one will touch you, your daughter will be safe with us tonight I assure you! Just have her join us on stage during our performance tonight so she can show everyone how strong she is with her amazing strength! You will help carry some equipment for me tonight as well since you are such strong men and women! You will be rewarded handsomely for your efforts as well my friends! What do you say? Are you going to accept my offer? Will you join me on stage tonight? Tonight every one will want to see someone from your village perform at my show and then they will all want something special from your village afterwards! Your daughter will be a star overnight once she performs onstage with us today! Do you accept my offer? Will you help me win over Magdeburg tonight? Will you let your daughter join us?” He asked calmly while smiling broadly at them both warmly once more while his eyes sparkled brightly.

Greta watched her father thinking carefully about it before replying with a smile , “Alright we accept your offer… We will have our little girl join your show today…. She will certainly have lots of fun with all these strangers staring at her bright red hair…. I hope she doesn't get scared though… She is not used to performing in front of crowds… She usually has nightmares after performing in front of crowds… I hope she does alright.... Oh well lets go home first…. Wait what if one of these strangers tries touching her feet after we leave?! How would we know? Oh well lets go home first…. We should make sure everything is ready for this evening so nothing goes wrong…. Lets go home first…. It would be bad if she got sick after joining in your show today…. Lets hurry home first then maybe she won't feel too nervous if everything is ready when we arrive…. Alright lets go home first… Good bye now Mr Stranger..... Oh yes what did you say your name was again? My memory isn't as good as it used be... Oh wait it's Mr Stranger isn't it.... My apologies Mr Stranger.... Goodbye now.... Goodbye...... Hmmm... Where are we going now father? Why are we going home early today...? Well okay then lets go home now... Goodbye Mr Stranger..... Bye bye Mr Stranger....... Bye bye Mr Strange............. Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Strange Stranger Stranger Stranger Stranger Stranger ..............