Bluebeard

Once there is a man. He has a big blue beard. People call him Blue Beard. He lives in a big castle. He is very rich. He has many rooms.

A kind girl meets him. She likes his castle. She marries him. They have a big party. Everyone eats and dances. They are very happy. Then he says, "I must go away."

He gives her many keys. "These keys open every door," he says. "You can go in every room. But see this little key? It opens the little blue door. Do not open it."

She says, "I will not."

"Good," he says. Then he goes away.

The girl looks at every room. She sees big rooms. She sees small rooms. But she looks at the blue door. She looks every day. What is behind the door? She looks and looks.

One day she takes the little key. She opens the blue door. She goes in.

The room is very dark. She sees broken things. She sees old things. She sees strange shadows. The girl is very scared. "Oh no!" she says. She runs out fast.

She drops the key. The key turns blue! She picks it up. She washes it. But it stays blue. She washes and washes. It stays blue. She cannot clean it.

The Man with the Blue Beard comes home. "Give me the keys," he says. She gives him the keys. He sees the little blue key. "You opened the door!" he says. He is very angry.

"You must leave my castle!" he shouts. "Go away! Never come back!"

"Please, wait!" the girl says. "Let me call my sister."

Sister Anne goes up high. She looks far away.

"Anne, do you see anyone?" the girl calls.

"I see the sun," says Anne. "I see the grass."

"Anne, do you see anyone?"

"I see two boys! They are coming fast!"

Her two brothers run in. They are big and strong. "Stop!" they say. "You cannot be mean to our sister! Go away!" The Man with the Blue Beard is scared. He runs away. He never comes back.

The girl is safe now. Sister Anne is happy. Her brothers are happy too. They all live in the big castle. They are happy. They are safe. And the Man with the Blue Beard never comes back.

It is good to listen. Some doors are closed for a reason.