OLD THREE HEADS
by Abbie Phillips Walker
Lucy and the Three Heads
`★ Insight ─────────────────────────────────────` The feedback targets sentences exceeding the 8-word max for A1 CEFR level. The fix is to break compound sentences (especially those with multiple dialogue tags chained together) into separate short sentences, each under 8 words. `─────────────────────────────────────────────────`
Lucy is a girl. She is very curious. She likes to open doors. She looks in rooms. These rooms are not hers. This makes her rude. She always wants to see. She opens many doors. She looks inside.
One day, Lucy went to the woods. She looked for berries. She did not pick berries. She looked behind rocks. She looked behind trees. A squirrel ran past. It said, "Look out!" A bird called, "Look out!" A rabbit called, "Look out!" Lucy wanted to see him. "Where is he?" she asked.
Lucy found a path. It went to a castle. Lucy walked inside. She opened a door. She saw The Horse. It had three heads. She opened more doors. She saw The Cat. She saw The Dog. She saw The Cow. She saw The Owl. All had three heads.
The Horse said, "Look out." The Cat said, "Be careful!" The Dog said, "Stop, Lucy." The Cow said, "We were curious." "Now we have three heads." The Owl said, "Be careful!" They told Lucy to go. Lucy did not listen.
Lucy still wanted to see. She opened another door. In this room was a giant. He sat on a throne. He had three heads. This was Old Three Heads. Lucy found him at last. She was a little scared now.
Old Three Heads saw Lucy. He called his helpers. He said, "Put heads on her!" They put two new heads on. One head had dark hair. One head had red hair.
Lucy went to a room. She saw herself. She had three heads now. The Dark Head moved. The Red Head moved. They pulled her. They argued all the time. They wanted everything. Lucy was very sad.
Lucy tried to eat. The heads ate her food. She could not eat. Lucy tried to drink. The heads drank her water. She could not drink. Lucy tried to read. The heads moved the book. She could not read. The heads argued always. Lucy was tired.
Lucy went to The Owl. "My heads quarrel," she said. The Owl said, "Who-who!" Lucy was sad. The Red Head said, "Pull us off." "Pull us hard." Lucy heard this. She thought about it.
Lucy took off The Red Head. It flew out. She took off The Dark Head. It flew out. Lucy helped The Owl. She removed its heads. Lucy helped The Cow. She helped The Cat. She helped The Dog. She helped The Horse. She removed all extra heads.
All the animals had one head. They were happy. Lucy and the animals left. They ran from the castle. They went into the woods. They were free now. They were very glad.
Other animals met them. They asked about the castle. Lucy told her story. "Stay away from him." "Extra heads are very bad." "They make much trouble." "Listen to warnings."
Lucy learned her lesson. She said, "I will not open doors." "Not if they are closed." "One head is good for me." Lucy is happy now. She has one head. She does not open doors. She learns her lesson.
Original Story
OLD THREE HEADS
Once upon a time there was a little girl named Lucy. She was always opening doors and looking into rooms that did not belong to her, and it made her appear very rude.
One day Lucy was sent to the woods to gather berries, but instead of filling her basket as she should have done she walked about, looking behind rocks and trees, thinking that she might find an opening in some of them.
“Better look out for Old Three Heads,” said a squirrel, as he ran past her.
“I wonder what he means,” she said. “I must keep on looking, for somewhere around here Old Three Heads must live, or the squirrel would not have said ‘look out,’ and I want to see what he is like.”
“Better look out for Old Three Heads,” called a bird from the limb of a tree.
“Better look out for Old Three Heads,” called a rabbit as he ran into his hole.
“I wish some one would tell me where Old Three Heads lives,” said Lucy, “instead of just saying look out for him.”
Just then she came to a path which led through thick bushes.
“I will see where this leads,” she said. “Perhaps it leads to Old Three Heads’ house.”
Lucy walked along the path and soon she saw a castle standing among the trees. Most little girls would have hesitated about going into a strange house, but Lucy’s curiosity was so great she thought only of seeing the inside of the castle. She walked up the steps and opened the door. The hall was long and dark, but she was not afraid. So she closed the door and walked along.
There were many doors on each side of the hall, and Lucy opened one and looked in. In one corner of the room was a horse with three heads. “What a queer place to keep a horse!” thought Lucy.
“Better look out for Old Three Heads,” said the horse, shaking all three heads and looking sad.
“How did you get three heads?” asked Lucy.
“I looked in the window one day when Old Three Heads was eating his dinner, and he saw me. You better look out,” he warned her again.
Lucy thought of the other doors and decided to keep on, for she was very anxious to see what was behind all of them.
She opened another door and a three-headed cat ran toward her. “You have only one head!” said the cat, in a tone of surprise. “You better look out for Old Three Heads.”
“I am not afraid,” said Lucy, as she left the room and opened another door. In this room was a three-headed dog. He looked at her and said, “Better look out for Old Three Heads; you will find him if you keep on opening doors.”
“I want to see him,” answered Lucy. “Where is he?”
“You better run while you can,” said the dog, “but you will find him if you keep on, and then you will wish you had taken my advice.”
But Lucy only laughed and went to another door. In that room she saw a three-headed cow.
“What a queer place!” she said. “I never saw animals living in a house before. Why are the animals kept in the house?” she asked the cow.
“We belong to Old Three Heads,” replied the cow, “and every creature that comes in this castle has three heads. You better look out for Old Three Heads,” she warned her.
“Why did you come in, if you knew you had to wear three heads?” asked Lucy.
“We wanted to see what was in here, just as you did,” replied the cow. “The cat found the door open and she walked in to look about; the dog saw her enter and he followed. Old Three Heads saw them. You better look out,” she warned Lucy again.
But Lucy was more curious than ever, and she kept on with her questions.
“How did you and the horse get three heads?” she asked. “You did not walk in the door, did you?”
“Not at first,” answered the cow. “The horse put his head in the window one day when it was open and Old Three Heads saw him.”
“And you,” asked Lucy again, for the cow stopped and hung her three heads, “what did you do?”
“I saw some green corn on the window-sill,” the cow confessed, very slowly, “and I put my head in the window to get it and Old Three Heads saw me.”
“What happens when he sees you?” she asked.
“Wait and see,” replied the cow. “But I have warned you; you’d better look out for Old Three Heads and run while you can.”
As that was all the information she could get from the cow, Lucy told her she would find out for herself how they all got their three heads, and she went to the next door and opened it.
The room was dark, and at first Lucy could not see anything, but some one said, “Who-who,” and as the sound came from a corner of the room Lucy went in and looked about.
As her eyes became accustomed to the darkness she saw perched on the back of a chair an owl with three heads.
“Well, of all things!” exclaimed Lucy. “How did so wise a bird as you happen to be caught by Old Three Heads?” she asked.
“Who-who are you?” stuttered the owl. “You-you better look out for Old Three Heads,” he warned Lucy.
“Tell me how it happened that you have three heads,” asked Lucy, ignoring the warning as she had before.
“Who-who are you?” stuttered the owl again.
“I am a girl,” said Lucy. “Can’t you see?”
“Bet-bet-better look out,” warned the owl again.
“Oh dear!” said Lucy. “You are worse than the others. I am going to find Old Three Heads and find out, if I can, how all of you got three heads.”
“Who-who,” said the owl as she went out of the room.
Lucy opened another door, and there on the throne in this room sat a giant with three heads. She had found Old Three Heads at last.
For the first time since she entered the castle Lucy was frightened when she saw the curious-looking creature; but there was no chance to escape; it was too late.
The giant looked at her a second, and then he called out to his attendants, who all had three heads but were much smaller men: “Bring the intruder before me.”
“Bring two heads,” he said, when Lucy stood before him.
When the heads were brought one had black hair and one red.
“I do not want those heads,” said Lucy; “they do not match my hair. Can’t I have two golden-haired heads?”
“Those are all I have,” said the giant, “and you will have to wear them. On with them,” he said, and the attendants fastened the heads on Lucy’s shoulders, one on each side of her own head.
“I wish I could see myself,” said Lucy, still curious.
“Take her to her room,” said the giant, and Lucy was taken to one of the rooms that opened out of the long hall.
When she was alone she looked around the room and saw a mirror hanging on the wall. She ran and looked into it. The new heads looked very cross.
“What is the matter with you?” asked Lucy.
“I do not like red hair or light hair,” said the dark-haired head.
“And I do not like dark hair or light hair,” said the head with red hair.
“I cannot help that,” said Lucy. “I did not want either of you.”
“I will not stay here,” said the dark-haired head.
“Neither will I,” said the head with the red hair.
And they began to pull away. Lucy bent first to one side and then to the other, with the pulling of the quarrelsome heads.
“Do keep quiet,” she said at last. “I am sorry I said anything about the color of your hair. If you will be good I’ll try to get you something nice to eat.”
This plan quieted the heads, and Lucy went to the door. It was not locked, and she opened it and went out.
First she went to the room where the horse was.
“Horse, can you tell me where I can get something to eat?” she asked.
“Yes,” said the horse. “Go to the fireplace and call up the chimney.”
“I want my dinner,” Lucy called.
Down came a table with food upon it and a chair standing beside it. Lucy seated herself and began to eat.
Then the trouble began; every time she raised the fork to her mouth the dark head or the head with red hair would stretch out their necks and take the food from the fork before Lucy could get a chance.
The new heads quarreled because each thought the other was getting more than its share.
Lucy put her fork and knife on the table in despair. “You are a pair of greedy heads,” she said. “I have not had a bite.”
“It is all your fault,” said one; “you should not have got us.”
Lucy went into the room where the cat was and asked her if she would tell her where she could get something to drink.
“Rap three times on the wall,” said the cat.
Lucy tried this and a cup appeared filled with water. Lucy tried to put it up to her lips, but the head with the red hair reached it and drank all the water.
Lucy rapped again, and another cup appeared, and this time the head with dark hair reached it and drank every drop of water before Lucy could stop it.
She tried several times, but each time the greedy heads drank it before she could get her lips to the cup.
She went into the room where the dog was kept.
“Where can I find a comfortable chair and a book?” she asked.
“Tap on the floor three times,” the dog said.
Lucy did as he said, and a chair appeared, and beside it a table filled with books. Lucy opened one of the books and looked at the pictures.
“I cannot see them,” said the head with the red hair. Lucy moved the book to one side.
“I should think you would remember that you have three heads,” said the head with the dark hair. “How do you expect me to see if you keep the book over that side?”
Lucy moved the book to the other side, and then the head with the red hair began to fuss again.
“Oh dear!” said Lucy. “You are the most selfish heads I ever saw. I will go to the cow and see if she can help me,” she said.
“Where can I find a bed?” she asked the cow. “These heads have just tired me out.”
“I will get you one,” said the cow. “Moo, moo!” she called up and from the floor came a bed.
Lucy lay down upon it. “I do not want to go to sleep,” said the head with dark hair. “I do,” said Lucy. “I am tired and I am going to sleep; you can stay awake if you wish to.”
“I do not feel tired,” said the head with red hair; “I feel like singing,” and it began to sing so loudly that Lucy had to get up.
“I’ll go to the owl and see if he can help me,” she said, as she went out of the room.
She went into the room where the owl was and opened the window. The owl hid its three heads.
“You are such a wise bird,” she said to the owl, “I wish you would tell me what to do with these new heads; they quarrel all the time.”
“Who-who!” said the owl.
“I cannot understand how any one could ever think you were wise,” said Lucy; “all you can say is who-who. I wish I could be rid of these troublesome heads.”
“Why don’t you, then?” said the head with red hair. “We come off if you pull hard.”
“I never thought of that,” said Lucy, pulling at the head with red hair.
Off it came and flew through the window.
Then she tried the other and it came off and followed the other through the window.
“Would you like to be rid of your extra heads?” Lucy asked the owl.
“Who-who,” answered the owl.
“You silly bird!” said Lucy, pulling at his extra heads. Off they came and followed Lucy’s heads.
“Let’s go to the cow,” said Lucy, “and take off her heads.”
The owl tried to follow her, but bumped against the wall and fell to the floor.
“Oh, I forgot that you could not see in the daytime,” said Lucy. “I’ll put you on my shoulder,” she said, picking him up from the floor.
“Would you like to get rid of your extra heads?” Lucy asked the cow.
“Of course I would,” she said. “How did you get rid of yours?”
“I will show you,” said Lucy, pulling at the cow’s extra heads. Off they came and out the window they flew.
“Well, I never should have thought of that,” said the cow.
“Let us go to the cat and the dog and the horse,” said Lucy, “and help them to get rid of their troubles.”
Each of them said they had never thought to try pulling the extra heads off, and they were very grateful to Lucy for helping them.
The heads all flew out of the window and that was the last that was ever seen of them.
“I think we should get out of this place as soon as we can,” said Lucy. “Old Three Heads might get us again.”
They hurried out of the house and soon were in the woods a long way from the castle.
“Did Old Three Heads get you?” asked the animals they met in the woods.
Lucy told them he did. “But he will not bother you,” she said, “if you keep away from his house, and I warn you that three heads are a nuisance, and you may not be so fortunate as we have been in escaping from them.”
“Did you have to feed them all?” asked a squirrel.
“Yes,” answered Lucy, “or at least I tried to, but they quarreled so that I had to go without.”
“I will never go near Old Three Heads,” said the squirrel. “I have all I can do to take care of one head.”
“I have had my lesson,” said Lucy. “I shall never look into rooms again when the door is closed, for one head is all I care to have.”
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Moral of the Story
Unchecked curiosity and meddling in others' affairs can lead to troublesome and unwanted consequences.
Characters
Lucy ★ protagonist
A small, slender girl of indeterminate height, with a lively and inquisitive demeanor. Her movements are quick and exploratory, always looking for something new.
Attire: Simple, practical clothing suitable for a child in the woods, likely a plain linen or cotton dress in a muted color, perhaps with a small apron, and sturdy shoes for walking on uneven terrain. She carries a berry basket.
Wants: Driven by insatiable curiosity to discover what lies behind closed doors and hidden places, particularly to understand the mystery of 'Old Three Heads'.
Flaw: Her overwhelming curiosity leads her into dangerous situations and causes her to disregard warnings from others.
Transforms from a disobedient and overly curious child who ignores warnings into someone who learns the value of heeding advice and the drawbacks of excessive curiosity, ultimately valuing simplicity over complexity.
Curious, disobedient, brave, persistent, resourceful.
Old Three Heads ⚔ antagonist
A giant of immense size, with a formidable presence. He possesses three distinct heads, making him a truly unique and unsettling figure. His build is likely broad and powerful, befitting a giant.
Attire: Sits on a throne, implying regal or powerful attire. Likely wears heavy, dark, and imposing garments, perhaps made of roughspun fabric or leather, befitting a giant in a castle. No specific colors or styles are mentioned, but it would be grand and intimidating.
Wants: To enforce his rule and perhaps to collect 'extra heads' from those who trespass or are overly curious, maintaining his strange collection of three-headed creatures.
Flaw: Not explicitly stated, but his power seems to be limited to his castle and the act of 'seeing' intruders. He doesn't actively pursue those who escape once they are out of his immediate grasp.
Remains unchanged throughout the story, serving as the static threat that drives Lucy's actions and eventual escape.
Punitive, powerful, unyielding, possessive, somewhat arbitrary (in his choice of extra heads).
The Horse ◆ supporting
A large, powerful horse, but with the unnatural addition of three heads. Its coat color is not specified, but it would be a typical horse color like bay, chestnut, or black. Its three heads would make it appear somewhat ungainly or sorrowful.
Attire: No clothing, but perhaps a simple bridle or halter, though not explicitly mentioned. Its natural horse coat would be its 'attire'.
Wants: To warn others of Old Three Heads and to eventually be freed from its extra heads.
Flaw: Unable to remove its own extra heads, trapped by Old Three Heads' magic.
Starts as a resigned captive and becomes a freed animal, grateful to Lucy.
Sad, resigned, cautious, helpful (once prompted).
The Cat ◆ supporting
A cat, likely of average size, but with three heads. Its fur color is not specified, but it would be a typical cat color like tabby, black, or ginger. The three heads would give it an unusual, perhaps startled, appearance.
Attire: No clothing, just its natural fur coat.
Wants: To warn others and eventually be freed from its extra heads.
Flaw: Unable to remove its own extra heads, trapped by Old Three Heads' magic.
Starts as a resigned captive and becomes a freed animal, grateful to Lucy.
Surprised, cautious, helpful (once prompted).
The Dog ◆ supporting
A dog, likely of medium to large size, but with three heads. Its fur color is not specified, but it would be a typical dog breed color. The three heads would give it a watchful, perhaps weary, appearance.
Attire: No clothing, just its natural fur coat.
Wants: To warn others and eventually be freed from its extra heads.
Flaw: Unable to remove its own extra heads, trapped by Old Three Heads' magic.
Starts as a resigned captive and becomes a freed animal, grateful to Lucy.
Watchful, serious, cautious, helpful (once prompted).
The Cow ◆ supporting
A large, placid cow, but with three heads. Its coat color is not specified, but it would be a typical cow color like black and white, brown, or solid white. The three heads would hang, indicating resignation or weariness.
Attire: No clothing, just its natural hide.
Wants: To warn others and eventually be freed from its extra heads.
Flaw: Unable to remove its own extra heads, trapped by Old Three Heads' magic. Her desire for green corn led to her capture.
Starts as a resigned captive and becomes a freed animal, grateful to Lucy.
Resigned, weary, confessional, helpful (once prompted).
The Owl ◆ supporting
A wise-looking owl, but with three heads. Its feather color is not specified, but it would be a typical owl color like brown, grey, or white. The three heads would make it appear even more unusual, and it hides them when a window is opened.
Attire: No clothing, just its natural feathers.
Wants: To warn others and eventually be freed from its extra heads.
Flaw: Unable to remove its own extra heads, trapped by Old Three Heads' magic. Also, cannot see well in the daytime.
Starts as a confused captive and becomes a freed animal, grateful to Lucy, though still somewhat clumsy.
Stuttering, confused, cautious, seemingly unwise despite its species, helpful (inadvertently).
The Dark-Haired Head ⚔ antagonist
A disembodied human head, with dark hair. It is attached to Lucy's body, making her a three-headed creature. It is distinct from Lucy's original head.
Attire: None, as it is a disembodied head.
Wants: To satisfy its own desires for food, drink, and comfort, regardless of Lucy's needs or the other head's desires.
Flaw: Its intense selfishness and constant quarreling make it a nuisance, and it can be physically removed by pulling hard.
Remains consistently selfish and demanding until it is physically removed and flies away.
Greedy, selfish, quarrelsome, demanding, stubborn.
The Red-Haired Head ⚔ antagonist
A disembodied human head, with red hair. It is attached to Lucy's body, making her a three-headed creature. It is distinct from Lucy's original head.
Attire: None, as it is a disembodied head.
Wants: To satisfy its own desires for food, drink, and comfort, regardless of Lucy's needs or the other head's desires.
Flaw: Its intense selfishness and constant quarreling make it a nuisance, and it can be physically removed by pulling hard.
Remains consistently selfish and demanding until it is physically removed and flies away.
Greedy, selfish, quarrelsome, demanding, stubborn, prone to singing loudly.
Locations
Enchanted Woods
A dense, somewhat mysterious forest with thick bushes and winding paths, where small animals like squirrels, birds, and rabbits reside. The path eventually leads to a hidden castle.
Mood: Initially curious and adventurous, later becomes a place of escape and relief.
Lucy is sent to gather berries but instead explores, hearing warnings about Old Three Heads. It's where she discovers the path to the castle and later escapes back into.
Old Three Heads' Castle Exterior
A castle standing among the trees, with steps leading up to its main entrance. Its appearance is not explicitly detailed but implies a structure large enough to house many rooms and a giant.
Mood: Mysterious and imposing, drawing Lucy's curiosity.
Lucy discovers the castle after following the path and decides to enter out of curiosity.
Castle Hallway
A long, dark hall with many doors on each side, leading to various rooms within the castle.
Mood: Dark, mysterious, and somewhat foreboding, yet Lucy's curiosity overrides fear.
Lucy enters the castle and begins her exploration, opening doors to discover its inhabitants.
Old Three Heads' Throne Room
A dark room containing a throne where Old Three Heads, a giant, sits. It's the final room Lucy enters before confronting the giant.
Mood: Terrifying and climactic, marking the moment of confrontation.
Lucy finally finds Old Three Heads and is confronted, leading to her receiving two extra heads.
Enchanted Animal Rooms
Various rooms within the castle, each housing a three-headed animal (horse, cat, dog, cow, owl). These rooms are where Lucy attempts to eat, drink, read, and sleep, and eventually discovers how to remove the extra heads.
Mood: Initially curious and strange, then frustrating and chaotic due to the extra heads, finally becoming a place of discovery and liberation.
Lucy interacts with the animals, tries to manage her new heads, and ultimately learns how to remove them and helps the animals do the same.
Story DNA
Moral
Unchecked curiosity and meddling in others' affairs can lead to troublesome and unwanted consequences.
Plot Summary
Lucy, a girl with insatiable curiosity, ignores warnings about 'Old Three Heads' and ventures into a mysterious castle. Inside, she finds various animals with three heads, all of whom explain they gained their extra heads due to their own intrusive curiosity. Despite their warnings, Lucy continues until she encounters Old Three Heads, who affixes two quarrelsome extra heads to her. Tormented by their constant bickering and selfishness, Lucy discovers she can pull the heads off and, after freeing herself, helps all the other animals do the same. Having learned her lesson, Lucy and the animals escape, vowing to never again meddle where they don't belong.
Themes
Emotional Arc
curiosity to fear to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story reflects a common theme in children's literature of the early 20th century, emphasizing obedience and the dangers of disobedience or excessive curiosity.
Plot Beats (13)
- Lucy is introduced as a very curious girl who habitually opens doors and looks into rooms that don't belong to her.
- While in the woods, she hears warnings from animals about 'Old Three Heads' and becomes determined to find out who he is and where he lives.
- She finds a castle, enters it, and begins opening doors, discovering animals (a horse, cat, dog, cow, and owl) each with three heads.
- The animals explain that they gained their extra heads by being overly curious and looking into places they shouldn't have, warning Lucy to 'look out'.
- Lucy ignores all warnings and continues her search, eventually finding Old Three Heads, a giant with three heads, sitting on a throne.
- Old Three Heads, seeing Lucy, orders his attendants to attach two extra heads to her, one with black hair and one with red hair.
- Lucy is taken to a room where she sees her reflection and realizes the new heads are quarrelsome and selfish, immediately causing her distress.
- The extra heads prevent Lucy from eating, drinking, or reading comfortably, constantly bickering and taking things for themselves.
- Frustrated, Lucy complains to the owl, and the red-haired head reveals that they can be pulled off if one pulls hard enough.
- Lucy pulls off her two extra heads, which fly out the window, and then helps the owl, cow, cat, dog, and horse remove their extra heads.
- All the animals, now with single heads, escape the castle with Lucy, relieved to be free.
- Lucy shares her experience with other forest animals, warning them about Old Three Heads and the nuisance of extra heads.
- Lucy declares she has learned her lesson and will never again look into closed rooms, content with her single head.
