The Rumblegum

A fairy tale, author unknown

Once upon a time there lived a kind old lady in a secluded cabin in the woods. She lived alone apart from her dog and her cow. The kind old lady cared for all of the animals in the forest and took care of them. One day, a rainstorm blackened the sky and heavy water poured from the heavens. The old lady sat in a rocking chair by the fireplace in her cabin and knitted with her dog curled up at her feet. It was warm and peaceful. 

Then the old lady’s dog turned towards the door and began to growl. The old lady hushed the dog and returned to her knitting. Then she heard a small scratching at the door and the dog began to bark. The old lady hushed the dog and returned to her knitting. Then came a louder knock at the door and the dog ran into the bedroom and hid under the bed . But the old lady was not afraid. Someone needed her help. She put down her knitting and went to the door. On the doorstep was a strange creature with big, mournful eyes and small, delicate paws. It was soaked and shivering and its fur clung to its tiny body. The creature opened its wide mouth and spoke.

“I am the rumblegum,” it said, “and I will eat you whole.”

The old lady felt compassion for the poor rumblegum and brought it into her house. She dried it off and gave it food and water. The rumblegum seemed to enjoy this and purred like a cat. The old lady smiled as she went to bed.

The next morning the old lady awoke to find rumblegum sleeping at the end of her bed. The old lady smiled and made breakfast. Kindness, she thought, had won the creature over. When the old lady went to feed the dog and cow she found the cow but the dog was gone. She looked and looked but the only animal in the house was the rumblegum. When the old lady asked the creature if it knew where her dog was it opened its wide mouth and spoke.

“I am the rumblegum,” it said, “and I will eat you whole.”

The old lady assumed that the dog had run away and she spent the day doing her chores and caring for the rumblegum. The creature was helpful and friendly. The old lady thought that the rumblegum just needed to experience kindness and it would understand that she meant it no harm. The next morning, the old lady could not find her cow. This time she confronted the rumblegum. She tried to pick it up and the creature sliced her hands with its sharp claws.

“I am the rumblegum,” it said, “and I will eat you whole.”

The old lady apologized. She did not mean to scare or anger the rumblegum. She wanted very much for the creature to like her so she did everything she could to make the rumblegum happy. She brought it food, which it greedily ate. She gave it praise, which made it smile and scamper about. She was gentle and kind but the rumblegum continued to hurt her. Soon, the old lady was covered in cuts and bruises. One moment it licked her hand, the next it used its claws. The old lady was convinced that she could change the creature from its violent way and tame it so she did not send it away. Then one night the old lady went to bed and she woke to the rumblegum standing on her chest.

“I am the rumblegum,” it said, “and I will eat you whole.” Then it did just that.