There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly. She didn’t know what to do, so she swallowed the fly with a sigh and a tiny giggle. 'Well, that was easy,' she said, patting her stomach, which didn’t seem any bigger at all. But as she sat on her porch swing, sipping her chamomile tea, she heard a tickle in her throat. It was the fly, still wiggling around, and she decided to tickle it out with a feather. But before she could, a tiny spider came scurrying by, and she said, 'Oh dear, I think I swallowed a spider!' So she swallowed the spider, too, and suddenly her tummy felt a little rounder.

The old lady chuckled, 'What a silly way to grow a tummy!' Just then, a small bird zipped by, chirping, 'You swallowed a spider? You’re a brave old thing!' The old lady blinked. 'I did? Well, I suppose I should swallow the bird, then!' So with a deep breath, she swallowed the bird, and her tummy now looked like a round moon.

As she sat there, a cat came padding by, purring, 'That bird was delicious, wasn’t it?' She blinked. 'I think I swallowed a cat!' She laughed, 'I must be growing bigger and bigger!' So she swallowed the cat, and now her tummy was as big as a drum. The cat, the bird, the spider, and the fly all wiggled around inside her, making a little concert of tiny paws, wings, and legs.

The old lady smiled as she watched the sunset. Just then, a dog trotted by, wagging his tail. 'You swallowed a cat?' he said, 'You must be a real hero!' She thought for a moment. 'I suppose I should swallow the dog, too!' So she did, and her tummy now felt like a balloon about to burst. But the dog just wagged his tail and said, 'You’re doing great!' and he curled up on her lap, snoring softly.

The old lady sat there, feeling a bit wobbly, but she was also very peaceful. The sky turned purple, and the stars began to blink awake. She closed her eyes, and as she did, a tiny mouse scurried by, whispering, 'You swallowed a dog? I think I should come too!' She yawned. 'Well, if you must!' So she swallowed the mouse, and her tummy now felt like a cloud, soft and fluffy. She leaned back in her chair, her eyes drifting shut.

She fell into a deep, dreamy sleep, and as she did, she dreamed of flying with the bird, dancing with the cat, and tickling the spider with a feather. The mouse curled up on her chest, and the dog snored in her lap, while the cat purred in her ear. She smiled in her sleep, feeling warm and safe.

When she woke up in the morning, her tummy was back to normal, but her heart was full. She smiled and said, 'Sometimes, the smallest things can lead to the biggest adventures—but always remember to take a nap when you're done.'