STORY STARTER
Submitted by Evelyn Allen Vale
"Two go in, and one comes out" is the start to a dark nursery rhyme that everyone in the town knows.
Write a story which features this rhyme and its tale.
Ten Little Children….
Ten little children hate the food
All of them had the same old mood
They talked big and acted rude
Mom and Dad stood up and ask for two.
Two go in, and one comes out
Still the children choose to pout
Now there are nine children,
One is beaten, the other no longer shouts.
Dad tells the children,
“Now now, young ones, we worked hard
To give you bread & lard…unless, of course,
You’d rather starve.”
The children refused to eat a crumb
Except the one who sucked it up
And gave a thumbs up.
Eight little children refuse to gulp,
Mom and Dad each took a child’s hand
Two go in, and one comes out
“Six kids left,” Mother replies, “you all have it nice, but you don’t want to act like little mice.”
Five little children continue to complain
They act like they are in so much pain
All they do is use some slang.
“Quiet brothers and sisters,” the two children replied, “Mom and Dad will give you blisters!”
The five little children refuse to listen…
Mom and Dad each put their hand on a kid’s shoulder.
Two go in, and one comes out
“Want to try this again?” Dad asked,
Neither the sore boys and girls said a word
Except, of course, the ones who act all bold
Four little children act all rowdy
They never were good with being chummy
They think the food isn’t very yummy
Two go in, and one comes out
Mom and Dad didn’t want to shout
But they had too much doubt
That they’re children would go another route
Three more children are left on the list
What is Mom’s one little wish?
She wants her kids to flourish
Dad wants to snag them like they are fish
Still the children refuse to listen
They begin to bicker
About the food?
No—about their siblings that were so very rude
Two go in…and one comes out
One has snot running out their snout
The children stop and stare one last time
As Father said, “are you ready to eat? It’s dinnertime.”