The Giant's Wife

He kicked. He does it often now. It's like he's irritable. Is it possible for a baby to feel the emotions of his mother even while he's still in the womb. I hope not. The last thing I want is my baby to feel pain. Sometimes it is just too great to bear. However, I have to be strong. The is what he would have wanted - My love.

It all happened too fast. Oh! How my perfect world was shattered! We were so happy - My husband and I. I remember when he first proposed to me. We were having a picnic under the stars. "My love for you shines more brightly than any star. I'll love you forever! Let's be together forever, my love!" he said to me. Whoever thought forever would be so short.

That Jack! How could he have been so cruel! He stole everything from me - from us. Our source of income - gone! Our family heirloom - gone! Without our goose and my husband, I will surely loose the house. I need a job. However, there is not much a woman can do now adays. Nobody wants a woman, much less a pregnant one. I have a child to care for! Can't they see that! . . No . . .I guess not. Everyone seems to be blinded by greed and prejudice these days.

Jack . . .I shudder to say his name. What a Benedict Arnold! Caught him tresspassing, my husband did. However, did my love harm a hair on his head!? No. You may have heard the diddy "Fee Fi Fo Fum. I smell the blood of an Englishmen. Be he alive or be he dead, I shall grind his bones to make my bread." Pish Posh that is! My husband said no such thing! It is but a wive's tale. We treated Jack like a welcomed guest, despite his tresspassing. We fed him and cared for him. He seemed like such a nice boy. We never would have guessed.

We heard Jack's sob story and our heart's poured out to the boy. We wanted to help. We were going to return the boy home and give him a baker's dozen of our goose's golden eggs to help his situation. I should have seen the signs with the way Jack obsessed over the goose . . .along with our precious harp. It breaks my heart that my son will never hear her lovely music. My husband told me how it use to lull him to sleep as a child. Now you probably have heard that the harp was held captive by my husband. That is just another lie spewed by that boy by the name of Jack. She was a loved heirloom. She was treated like a princess. She was happy. I promise you that . . .I promise you.

When, Jack disappeared along with our prized possessions, we were devastated. My husband just had to get them back. Our lifestyle depended on it. When he went down the beanstalk, he had no intentions of harm. He just wanted to talk - to negotiate. He was a gentle and honest man who wanted nothing more than the best for his family. I remember his last words to me. "I'll be right back, Honey," he said as he gave me a peck on my cheek. He never came back . . .He never did.

~El Fin~