Photo Copyright: Sandra Crook
“Little boys make for the best stew. Don’t you think, dear sister?” the ugly old woman said with a crooked smile. She poked the youngster in the cage with a stick.
“Aye, they do, Matlida, with proper preparation, of course.” The younger, but still old, hag with the eye-patch agreed.
Inside the cage, he cried as they poured foul liquids over him and spoke in tongues he couldn’t comprehend. A bleat escaped his quivering lips. Curly white hair sprouted across his naked body. His fingers shrank and fused together in cloven hooves.
The witches cackled over the lamb with delight.
—
This story was written for Friday Fictioneers. Now be a good little minion and read the tales the others have woven with their share of the wool.
Adam Ickes 
May 14th, 2014 at 11:26 AM
I actually find this a little hilarious — witches with a taboo for cannibalism, but no compunction about turning the children into lambs for their stew.
What an imagination you have!
May 14th, 2014 at 4:58 PM
I’m not so sure it’s a taboo for cannibalism as much as a taste for transformed flesh. Surely it must be different than both human and lamb, sort of a mixture of the two I’d think. That is all just conjecture of course. I’ve never partaken in the flesh of a young boy who’d been transformed into a lamb myself to say for sure, but I hear it’s a delicacy in some parts of the screwy world in my head.
May 14th, 2014 at 5:06 PM
Awesome! (That made me laugh even more)
May 14th, 2014 at 11:52 AM
I love lamb stew. Does that mean I’ve been eating little boys? You have a vivid imagination!
May 14th, 2014 at 4:59 PM
Unless you’ve been buying your lamb from witches I think you’re probably safe.
May 14th, 2014 at 12:49 PM
Imagine the possibilities. They would always be able to have what they want, just add some potions, then boil with the appropriate herbs, spices and vegetables 🙂
May 14th, 2014 at 5:02 PM
I find it’s more a problem of knowing what I want than having the necessary ingredients. It’s always a struggle thinking up ideas for dinner. Though it would be nice to conjure up the ingredients for those instances where they aren’t readily available.
May 14th, 2014 at 2:04 PM
Reminds me of that rhyme, ‘What are little boys made of’ I just didn’t know it was lamb, lol 😉
May 14th, 2014 at 5:03 PM
It’s a little known fact. I’m sure it’s buried in an obscure verse of the rhyme somewhere–some unknown tome lost to time probably has it within it’s weathered pages.
May 14th, 2014 at 10:12 PM
Mares Eat Oats, and Does Eat Oats, and Little Lambs Eat Ivy, a Kid ‘ll Eat Ivy Too, Wouldn’t you? This was a song I’ve sung since I was in grade school. Then there is this one: Little boys are made of frogs and snails and puppy dogs tails. By the way – your story is so good – I could feel the little boy’s lip quivering. I hope the witches choke on it. Good, good job! Nan 🙂
May 16th, 2014 at 9:52 PM
I can’t allow them to choke on it, or at least not die from choking on it. I may need then for a story at some point in the future.
May 15th, 2014 at 5:28 AM
Dear Adam,
Great job with descriptions. I could see it. Poor little guy. Pass the mint jelly, please.
Shalom,
Rochelle
May 16th, 2014 at 9:53 PM
Fresh out of mint jelly. Would you care for some eye of newt? I’ve got loads of that. Nobody ever wants the eye of newt.
May 15th, 2014 at 6:10 AM
Wicked witches who know what they like in the kitchen! Their world sounds like fun, though I know it shouldn’t – well written as always
May 16th, 2014 at 9:54 PM
I’m sure they enjoy their world, though most of the other inhabitants are likely terrified.
May 15th, 2014 at 8:55 AM
Poking the little guy with a stick made my ribs go all tingly. This was a fun (can I really say that?) story. Thanks.
May 16th, 2014 at 9:54 PM
You can always say that here. I won’t judge. Look at my stories. I’m in no place to judge. I have fun with them all!
May 15th, 2014 at 10:30 AM
Adam, Your mind does move in mysterious ways. I guess that story would fit into the humorous dark category. Great description and well done. 🙂 —Susan
May 16th, 2014 at 9:56 PM
My mind is full of dead ends and precarious cliff hugging roads. I really shouldn’t have used the map to start a fire. I’m going to get lost one of these days.
May 15th, 2014 at 11:28 AM
Really liked this one, Adam! The storytelling is clever, and the creepy comes from subtle details, not gore and blood. It makes the boy’s plight all the more unsettling. Very well done!
May 16th, 2014 at 9:58 PM
Thanks, Dawn. Glad you enjoyed the story of a boy being turned into a lamb, you sicko. Wait… I wrote it. What’s that say about me?
May 17th, 2014 at 12:27 PM
No comment. 😉
May 15th, 2014 at 1:53 PM
Little boy lamb stew! Creepy! Probably taste like chicken. That’s what they say about any unusual type meat. You’ve painted a vivid picture that will be stuck in my mind for a while. Well done!
May 16th, 2014 at 9:59 PM
You can tell yourself it’s just like chicken all you want if it helps you get over the fact that the witches are feeding you a little boy to fatten you up. Perhaps you’re next on the menu?
May 15th, 2014 at 6:53 PM
So that’s where sheep come from. Good to know.
Also good to know … Stay out of witches hands.
May 16th, 2014 at 10:01 PM
It’s a highly guarded secret. Sales of lamb would plummet if word got out.
May 17th, 2014 at 9:02 AM
No more lamb chops for me.
May 16th, 2014 at 12:39 AM
You are one sick, dude! Transforming little boys into sheep so that witches can eat them? What are you going to do next — add songs and make it into a musical?
Actually I’ve been hungry ever since I read this ….
May 16th, 2014 at 6:53 AM
I think that’s a great idea, Perry. Lots of singing and dancing. We could easily fill the cast with contestants from those talent shows on TV.
May 16th, 2014 at 10:03 PM
I’d have to hire someone to do that. My musical talent is all but nonexistent. I do love the idea though.
May 16th, 2014 at 2:28 AM
Terrific Grimm’s tale!
May 16th, 2014 at 10:03 PM
Thanks. I really enjoyed writing this one.
May 16th, 2014 at 2:41 AM
Mmm, lamb-boy stew!
I liked your qualifier on the “younger” hag – “but still old”.
May 16th, 2014 at 10:05 PM
Lamb-boy stew, it’s whats for dinner. Well, not for me, but you go ahead dig in. Don’t let me stop you.
May 16th, 2014 at 6:54 AM
I like it, Adam. We need more of this kind of imagination.
May 16th, 2014 at 10:06 PM
Sorry. I’m hording it all for myself. Every drop is mine! Mwahahaha!
May 16th, 2014 at 10:37 AM
I agree – lamb does taste better than little boys… 😉
Great story!
May 16th, 2014 at 10:07 PM
I’m not going to lie. The fact that you know that frightens me a bit.
May 17th, 2014 at 12:32 PM
I couldn’t possibly comment….. 😉 (Seriously, I didn’t mean it the way I now see that it ‘reads’ – oh the horror!)
May 16th, 2014 at 11:15 AM
Evil wretches. Hope they know how to cook.
May 19th, 2014 at 8:34 PM
They are upwards of 250 years old. If they haven’t picked up that skill yet, they’re in trouble.
May 16th, 2014 at 2:45 PM
Now there’s a bedtime story! No drunken rant…just a cackle or two.
May 16th, 2014 at 10:08 PM
A cackle will suffice nicely in place of a half drunken rant. I’ll allow it.
May 16th, 2014 at 11:48 PM
Ohhh that’s diabolically creepy! You bet your mint jelly!
May 19th, 2014 at 8:35 PM
Is that what happened to all of my mint jelly? Did you bet it away again? How many times have I told you my bookie likes to be paid in cash, not mint jelly?
May 20th, 2014 at 7:09 AM
😀
May 17th, 2014 at 8:31 AM
Now, that’s scary! You established the atmosphere almost at once and scared the bejesus out of us! Well done.
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/escape/
May 19th, 2014 at 8:36 PM
Have you found your bejesus yet? My intention wasn’t to scare it away. Ah, who am I kidding? Of course that was my intention.
May 17th, 2014 at 3:59 PM
This was awfully delicious, Adam! I never considered the witch might transform from the poor child into a lamb! I suppose if she can, why wouldn’t she?
May 19th, 2014 at 8:38 PM
If it were me I would have gone with a precooked version. So much less work. Of course, they are witches. They probably enjoy getting blood on their hands.
May 19th, 2014 at 1:48 AM
This is a truly terrifying tale, Adam, and one I’m glad I’m stone-cold sober while reading. 🙂 I thoroughly enjoyed it. Hope someone else can provide the half-drunken rant this time.
*Raises Dr. Pepper in a cheerful toast.*
Cheers!
MG
May 19th, 2014 at 8:40 PM
Sober again? What am I going to do with you? Glad you enjoyed my newest friends. I really like them. I’m going to have to put them in something longer at some point.
May 20th, 2014 at 1:25 AM
Yeah, well, I spent some time at a convent this past week, and all that holiness must have gotten to me. I promise I won’t let it happen again!
Cheers!
MG