The Grave

Summary

Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest: Episode "The Grave" Summary

Release Date: December 5, 2024
Host/Author: Adam Gidwitz
Description: In this episode of Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest, bestselling author Adam Gidwitz retells a classic Grim fairy tale titled "The Grave" to a group of inquisitive children. The story delves into themes of greed, loneliness, and the power of community, all while engaging young listeners with plot twists and humorous interjections.

---

Introduction

Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest is a multi award-winning storytelling podcast hosted by Adam Gidwitz, where he reimagines classic Grimm fairy tales with unique and often hilarious twists. In the episode "The Grave," Gidwitz presents a darker version of a traditional tale, enhanced by lively interactions with a group of children who contribute their perspectives and humor throughout the narrative.

---

Story Overview

"The Grave" centers around a wealthy man who lives atop a hill, isolated from the impoverished villagers below. His obsession with accumulating wealth leads to a hollow existence, devoid of love and companionship. Upon realizing the emptiness within his heart, he fears his soul's fate after death. An encounter with a poor old woman sets off a series of supernatural events involving demons and the devil himself, ultimately leading to a transformative resolution for both the man and the village.

---

Key Plot Points

1. The Rich Man’s Isolation and Greed (00:25 - 04:25)

   • The rich man is preoccupied with counting his money, neglecting the villagers.
     Child 1 questions, "How come he's just living on top of them instead of, like, in the village?"
     Adam Gidwitz responds by highlighting the man's obliviousness to the villagers' plight and his continuous pursuit of wealth.

2. Realization of an Empty Heart (05:58 - 07:55)

   • The rich man hears knocking, which he initially mistakes for external threats but realizes it's emanating from his own heart—symbolizing his loneliness and lack of meaningful connections.
     Child 1 astutely observes, "He was lonely because of all this money making."

3. Fear of Damned Soul (07:55 - 10:37)

   • The man learns that an empty soul will be claimed by demons upon death, aligning with the town's belief that hoarding money also condemns one's soul.
     Adam Gidwitz explains the folklore: "If your soul belonged to the devil, then when you died, within three days, demons would come and drag your soul down to the underworld."

4. Encounter with the Poor Old Woman (09:11 - 10:47)

   • An elderly woman visits the rich man's doorstep, requesting a loaf of bread. In exchange, she promises to guard his grave for three days, preventing demons from claiming his soul. Despite his initial offer of money, the man accepts her assistance, leading to unforeseen consequences.

5. First Night: Confrontation with a Minor Demon (12:28 - 19:28)

   • The old woman sets up her vigil with a lantern and a stool. A small, terrifying demon appears, demanding the rich man's soul.
     Child 1 describes the demon vividly: "He has razor sharp teeth with crazy looking eyes."
     The woman outsmarts the demon by tricking him into overfilling her boot with gold, which ultimately frustrates him, but warns of a more powerful demon to come.

6. Second Night: Appearance of a More Terrifying Demon (19:28 - 33:06)

   • A larger demon, resembling the devil with multiple mouths and knife-like features, arrives to claim the soul. The old woman remains steadfast, setting up scarecrows to confront the demon.
     Child 1 imagines the demon as "as big as the sun," adorned with "knives for hair."
     Despite the demon's terrifying actions, the scarecrows remain unphased, showcasing the old woman's courage and ingenuity.

7. Final Confrontation with the Devil (33:06 - 35:32)

   • The devil himself appears, offering the old woman immense wealth in exchange for the rich man's soul. Faced with the temptation of gold, the woman devises a clever plan to protect both her soul and the man's.
     Child 1 speculates, "If she takes the gold, he'll get the soul... there'll be two souls in the bag."
     Instead of succumbing to greed, the woman rallies the entire village to share the gold, nullifying the devil's claim and ensuring collective prosperity.

8. Resolution and Transformation of the Village (35:32 - End)

   • The devil, thwarted by the woman's selflessness and the villagers' unity, departs. The once-poor village thrives with the distributed wealth, and the old woman, though still modest, gains the love and companionship she once lacked.
     Child 1 praises the woman's intelligence: "She's so smart."
     The story concludes with everyone living happily ever after, highlighting the triumph of generosity over greed.

---

Character Analysis

• The Rich Man: Embodies greed and isolation, prioritizing wealth over human connections, leading to his spiritual emptiness.

• The Old Woman: Represents selflessness, bravery, and ingenuity. Her willingness to help despite her own fears catalyzes the story's resolution.

• Demons and the Devil: Symbolize the consequences of greed and the supernatural enforcement of moral beliefs within the story's universe.

• The Villagers: Initially oppressed by poverty, they become united and empowered through the events, illustrating the strength of community.

---

Themes and Insights

• Greed vs. Generosity: The rich man's hoarding of wealth leads to personal and spiritual bankruptcy, while the old woman's generosity fosters communal prosperity.

• Loneliness and Connection: The story underscores the importance of relationships and community over material possessions.

• Courage and Ingenuity: The old woman's clever tactics against the demons highlight the power of wit and bravery in overcoming adversity.

• Redemption through Selflessness: By sacrificing her own well-being for others, the old woman redeems the rich man's legacy and transforms the village.

---

Discussion Highlights

Throughout the storytelling, the children offer insightful and humorous commentary that enriches the narrative:

• Child 1 consistently provides vivid descriptions and sharp observations, such as questioning the rich man's living situation and illustrating the demons' appearances.

• Child 2 humorously summarizes the podcast's premise: "Sidequesting is a fantasy podcast about avoiding the main plot."

• Child 3 engages deeply with the emotional aspects, empathizing with the rich man's fear: "When I die, I will surely be dragged down to the underworld by demons."

• Child 4 and Child 5 contribute by challenging the characters' motives and enhancing the story's tension through their questions and imaginative additions.

These interactions not only make the storytelling more engaging but also encourage listeners to think critically about the narrative's moral lessons.

---

Conclusion

In "The Grave," Adam Gidwitz masterfully blends a traditional Grim fairy tale with modern insights and child-friendly humor. The episode serves as a compelling exploration of the perils of greed and the redemptive power of community and selflessness. Through dynamic storytelling and interactive dialogue with children, Gidwitz delivers a rich, engaging narrative that resonates with both young and adult audiences, reinforcing timeless moral values in an entertaining format.

---

Transcript

[Child 1]

Pinna.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Did you know that you can listen to Grim, Grimmer Grimmest without any ads interrupting the story? Just subscribe to Pinna. Not only will you get to hear me tell these fairy tales straight through the way I tell them to kids, you get access to tons of other awesome original shows and audiobooks, all ad free. Subscribe to pinna at Pinna FM. That's P I N N A FM and use code GRIM with two M's to get 30% off an annual subscription. And remember, it's not a Smurf.

[Child 2]

Aren't adventurers supposed to have a specific purpose? What are you doing on this quest? Just meeting strangers.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Yep, my purpose is to have no purpose, though I sort of find purpose as I go. My basket. It's missing. I have tried many means of defense, but none have yet proven successful. I just wish someone would succeed in getting that darn sword.

[Child 3]

I am under attack by this ruffian.

[Child 1]

I want to be big and strong and fight evil. I have hope that if you show up at her door, she might listen. Want to help me?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Yell at them with your sword in a threatening manner.

[Child 2]

Sidequesting is a fantasy podcast about avoiding the main plot.

[Adam Gidwitz]

It follows Ryan, an adventurer who's willing to help just about anyone out as long as they're not being asked to.

[Child 2]

Deal with that scary wizard everyone keeps talking about. Subscribe today on your favorite podcast.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Apparently. Hi, my name is Adam Gidwitz. I'm an author. I'm also a storyteller. I like telling all kinds of stories, but I especially like telling grim fairy tales. You may think you know grim fairy tales and you may think that they are sweet and boring, but listen, those tales you heard were the cute, happy little kid bedtime versions of the Grimm tales. The original Grimm fairy tales aren't like that at all. They're weird and sometimes gross and often scary. In other words, they're grim. And I'm about to host a virtual storytelling session and tell one of the original Grim Grimm tales to a bunch of kids. Do you want to join me? Do you want to hear a Grim Fairy Tale? I don't know if you said yes or no because I can't hear you. So let me help you decide on a scale of Grim, Grimmer and Grimmest. This story is Grimmest. It involves the underworld and features some pretty freaky characters. If I get to a part of the story and you start to feel scared or uncomfortable, this is what you could do. You could turn down the volume and count to five, then turn the volume back up if it still seems like a part you don't want to hear, turn it down and count to five again. You know how much weird and gross and scary you're ready for? You know what you need? Okay. I'm about to join the session. There are kids inside waiting to hear a grim fairy tale. So are you coming in? Grim, Grimmer Grimace. All right, we're ready.

[Child 1]

Yay.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Let's tell this story. This story is called the Grave.

[Child 1]

That sounds grim. That sounds very grim. Wait, is this by the Brothers Grimm or Frank Sava von Schervart?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Good question. Close by the Brothers Grimm. And they call it the Grave Mound. I call it the Grave.

[Child 1]

Ooh.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Once upon a time, there was a rich man. He lived in a house at the top of a hill. And at the bottom of the hill was a village where everyone was desperately poor.

[Child 1]

Was he really mean?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Good question.

[Child 1]

How come he's just living on top of them instead of, like, in the village? Just, like, I feel like I'm going to not be in the village, but I'm gonna be on top of them.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Yeah. Well, over them. Not literally on top of them. He's not, like, sitting on them. Well, this rich man never thought of the poor people who lived in the village. Instead, he spent all day counting how much money he'd made and then checking his sums and counting all again, until one night, he heard a heavy knocking. At first, he thought the knocking was at the door, but he walked to the door and opened it and saw nothing but the darkness and heard nothing at the wind. He sat down and again began counting his money. When he heard it again, he ran to the door as fast as he could. Hello?

[Child 3]

Hello?

[Adam Gidwitz]

He called, but he saw nothing but the darkness and heard nothing but the wind. He sat down, and this time, he did not count his money. He waited, and when the knocking came again, he knew where the sound was coming from. It was coming from his heart. So he opened his heart and looked inside.

[Child 1]

How is that?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Yes.

[Child 1]

How is that possible? That's not possible.

[Adam Gidwitz]

So he opened his heart and looked inside, and he saw that it was empty. He had no friends in there, no family, no one he loved. There weren't even any good deeds hiding in the corners.

[Child 1]

I think I know what you mean.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Yeah.

[Child 1]

He was lonely. I think that he's so lonely, he just imagined someone knocking on the door.

[Adam Gidwitz]

I love that.

[Child 1]

That's so sad.

[Adam Gidwitz]

It is so sad.

[Child 1]

So sad. He's lonely because of all this money making.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Yeah. Explain what you mean by that.

[Child 1]

He's making so much money and he just like, oh, yes, I need all this stuff. What about the stuff that you don't get to pay for, like love and friends.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Amen. Well said. The rich man saw how empty his heart was, and he became afraid. Afraid for his soul. You see, it was the belief in that town at that time that when you died, if your soul was barren and empty of love or good deeds, it belonged to the devil. And there was another belief in that town. They believed that all money came from the devil. Humans could use it for the things they needed, like food and houses and things. But if you hoarded it, kept big heaps of it all for yourself, like the rich man did, well, that made your soul belong to the devil too. And if your soul belonged to the devil, then when you died, within three days, demons would come and drag your soul down to the underworld, where you would be tormented until the end of time.

[Child 1]

Till the devil's clock breaks.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Until the devil's clock breaks. So because of what they believed at that time in that town about what happens after you die, the rich man was suddenly gripped with panic.

[Child 3]

When I die, I will surely be dragged down to the underworld by demons, Maybe even by the devil himself.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Just then, the rich man heard knocking again. But this time it was definitely at the door. The rich man was certain that it was demons come to get him.

[Child 3]

I don't want to go to the underworld.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The rich man knew that there was no resisting the demons once they came for you.

[Child 1]

Oh, that's so grapey.

[Adam Gidwitz]

So the rich man went to his door, and he slowly pulled it open. And standing before the rich man was the devil. An old lady.

[Child 1]

Oh.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The rich man saw the old lady and instantly fell into her arms, weeping. The poor old woman was very surprised.

[Child 4]

She said, ah, sir, are you okay?

[Adam Gidwitz]

The rich man sobbed, I'm sorry.

[Child 3]

I thought you were a demon come to take my soul down to the underworld.

[Adam Gidwitz]

And he sobbed harder. The poor old woman tried to comfort him. She stroked his hair and said, there, there.

[Child 4]

I'm sure the demons will come to take your soul.

[Child 3]

Oh, but they will. I'm sure they will. I have an empty heart. There are no friends, no family, no good deeds inside at all.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Suddenly, he pulled away from the old woman. Wait.

[Child 3]

Why did you come here knocking on my door?

[Adam Gidwitz]

The old woman answered, well, I know.

[Child 4]

That you do not usually help us poor folk who live down in the village, but I was hoping that you would be so kind as to share a single loaf of bread with me. I am so, so hungry.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The rich man cried a Loaf of bread?

[Child 3]

Forget that. I'll give you enough money to buy.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Food for a year. You will? Yes.

[Child 3]

All I ask is that when I die, you will watch over my grave for three days and keep the demons from taking my soul away.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The old woman smiled kindly.

[Child 4]

You don't have to give me all that money to watch over your grave. I'll do it for free.

[Adam Gidwitz]

But the rich man insisted.

[Child 3]

No, no. I'll give you the money. But will you promise? Will you swear to watch over my grave and protect my soul?

[Adam Gidwitz]

The old woman promised she would. The rich man gave her a loaf of bread and told her that he would spend all night putting the money in sacks and would bring it to her the very next morning. She told him that he really didn't have to. But he insisted he would bring her enough money to eat like a king for a year. The next morning he didn't. He didn't bring her a penny.

[Child 1]

Why?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Because that night he had died. That's right. That night he had died.

[Child 1]

Well, that's just sad.

[Adam Gidwitz]

I know. The rich man was buried in a small graveyard far outside of town. It was a frightening place, that graveyard. Even during the daytime, the bare branches of dead trees hung over the whole place, interlocking like the fingers of a skeleton blocking out the sun. Not that the sun ever shone on that graveyard. There seemed to be dark clouds hanging over it all the time. It chilled your blood, that place. And that was during the day. No one ever went there at night. The poor old woman was frightened of the graveyard like everyone else. And the rich man hadn't brought her a penny. But she'd made a promise. Whether the rich man had kept up his end of the bargain or not, she wasn't going to let the demons get his soul. Aw, why are you saying awe?

[Child 1]

Cause that's cute. But the demons might drag her to the underworld instead of him.

[Adam Gidwitz]

It's cute. But she might be dragged to the underworld by demons, so maybe that's less cute. That's a good point.

[Child 1]

Yeah, that's not cute. That's a little scary.

[Adam Gidwitz]

It's a little scary. I know. It is a little scary. This part is going to get a little scarier, so just everyone be ready. So the first night after the rich man had been buried, the poor old woman took a small lantern and a three legged stool and she made her way to the graveyard. She set the stool right on top of the rich man's grave and sat down on it so the demons couldn't get him. And she waited. It was so Dark. She could barely see. And there were terrible sounds. Owls hooting, bats screeching.

[Child 1]

What is wrong with those sounds? Owls are cool. So are bats and all the other animals.

[Adam Gidwitz]

That's a great point. There should be nothing wrong with those sounds.

[Child 5]

Bats are cute.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Bats? What? Really?

[Child 1]

Bat food. Bats are so cute.

[Adam Gidwitz]

You all think bats are super cute? Weird.

[Child 1]

They are cute.

[Adam Gidwitz]

They are okay. But there were worse sounds than the owls and the bats. Darker sounds that the old woman couldn't identify. So she was afraid. Also, she was terribly cold. Her left boot had a big round hole in it where her big toe stuck out and froze in the chill and biting wind. Then the church bells chimed midnight. Bong. Bong.

[Child 1]

Bong boing. Bong boing, boing, boing, bong boing.

[Adam Gidwitz]

It's not boing. It's not a pogo stick. It's a church bell. It's bong.

[Child 1]

Boing, boing, boing, boing, boing.

[Adam Gidwitz]

At just that moment, smoke began to rise from the ground. And up from the earth in front of the grave, a demon emerged. He wasn't big, but he was terrifying. What do you think he looked like?

[Child 1]

Is he red?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Okay. Is he red? Sure, he's red. Who else can add to what he looks like?

[Child 1]

He was as tall as a finger.

[Adam Gidwitz]

A finger?

[Child 1]

He was as tall as my pinky.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Okay.

[Child 1]

He has razor sharp teeth with crazy looking eyes.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Razor sharp teeth? Crazy looking eyes? Electric razor sharp teeth.

[Child 1]

He has eyes all over his body with horns out splattered with blood.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Wait, wait. And what's splattered with blood?

[Child 1]

Big horns that are splattered with blood.

[Adam Gidwitz]

I'm writing these down so I don't forget. Blood, Razor sharp electric teeth. There was something else that are on his ears. Teeth on his ears? Of course. All right. So he wasn't big, but he was terrifying. The demon that emerged from the earth of the graveyard was the size of a finger. His skin was red and his whole body was covered with eyeballs. The horns that rose from his forehead were spattered with blood. And his teeth. Teeth were made of crackling electricity. And they weren't just in his mouth. They were growing out of his ears too. This tiny nightmare of a demon said to the old woman, out of my way.

[Child 5]

I have a salt to collect.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The poor old woman was so afraid, her teeth were chattering. But she managed to say, I can't move.

[Child 4]

I have to stay here in case a demon comes.

[Child 1]

But he's a demon. Why would you say that?

[Adam Gidwitz]

For a moment, the tiny demon looked very confused. Then he said, what are you talking about?

[Child 5]

I am a demon. And I'm here to collect the rich man's soul and take it down to the underworld.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The poor old woman made herself lean a little closer to the demon as she squinted.

[Child 4]

You. You're not a demon.

[Adam Gidwitz]

And the demon snapped, of course I am.

[Child 5]

Look at me. I've got eyes all over my body and razor sharp electric teeth growing out of my ears. And look at these horns. They've got blood all over them.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The old woman saw all these things and she was indeed terrified. But she didn't show it. Instead, she forced herself to laugh.

[Child 4]

Oh, if you're a demon, then I'm the king's grandmother.

[Child 5]

I am a demon.

[Child 4]

Oh yeah? Prove it.

[Child 5]

Look at me. I have teeth growing out of my ears. Teeth that are made of electricity. That's not enough proof for you.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The old woman shook her head dismissively.

[Child 4]

I had an uncle who looked just like that. You want to prove you're a demon? Well, I'll tell you how you can prove. Prove it. All demons have as much gold as they want, don't they? Since all money comes from the devil. Well, if you're a demon, fill my boot with gold. If you can do that, I'll move out of your way and you can take this man's soul.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The demon scoffed. Easy.

[Child 5]

I have as many pieces of gold as there are stars in the sky.

[Adam Gidwitz]

And the demon took a small sack from his belt.

[Child 4]

You're going to need more gold than.

[Adam Gidwitz]

That, said the poor old woman, taking off her left boot.

[Child 1]

Oh, she has a hole in her.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Boot, the demon said.

[Child 5]

More than this watch.

[Adam Gidwitz]

And the demon turned his little sack upside down over the poor old woman's boot. Gold pieces came toppling out more and more and more, way more than should have fit in that tiny little sack. But even though hundreds of gold pieces were falling out of the sack, the boot wasn't getting full. Because that's right.

[Child 1]

She's a tricky trickster.

[Adam Gidwitz]

She is a tricky trickster. The gold pieces kept falling from the sack into the boot and then out the big round hole at the toe and finally into the tall grass around the grave. But it was so dark the demon couldn't see that he cried, why isn't this working? And the old woman said, I have big feet. They stood there for hours, the demon pouring gold into the boot, getting more and more furious, until at last the first rays of sun peeked over the hills in the distance. Distance. Finally, he screamed, that's enough.

[Child 5]

It doesn't matter. We demons have three days to collect his soul. Just wait. Tonight, a much more terrifying demon than I will come. You won't dare stand in his way.

[Adam Gidwitz]

And the demon stamped his tiny foot and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. And the money he'd poured into the old woman's boot, it disappeared too. Aw, I know. But the old woman didn't have time to worry about that. A more terrifying demon was coming tonight. That was not good.

[Child 1]

Oh, no.

[Adam Gidwitz]

As the first roosters began to crow and the sun swept over the land, the old woman ran to a nearby farm and begged the farm to lend her his scarecrow. Then she ran to two more farms, and then she returned to the graveyard. By the time the sun had set on the second night, the old woman was sitting on her stool on the rich man's grave. And sitting beside her in a circle were three scarecrows. It was very dark in that graveyard. The moon was behind the black clouds. And what little light shone through was filtered by the interlocking of bare branches like the bones of dead men. The poor old woman waited and waited. One of the scarecrow's heads fell off. She put it back on for him. And then the church bells struck midnight.

[Child 1]

Boing, boing.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Not boink. Not a pogo stick. The ground began to smoke. And then up from the earth rose a demon who was much larger than the first one and who was terrifying. This demon looked like what?

[Child 1]

So he was as big as the sun?

[Adam Gidwitz]

He was as big as the sun. Okay, so he's enormous.

[Child 1]

He had five mouths on his hand and five on his other hand and five on his face.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Yeah.

[Child 1]

Okay, his eyes should look like he hasn't slept in ages.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Ooh, I love that. That's creepy.

[Child 1]

And plus he has like these creepy little knife tattoos all over his body. Ooh, and he even has knives for hair.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Yeah. Okay.

[Child 1]

And then there's this one speck of hair on the top of his head that says devil.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Oh, well, no, he's not the devil.

[Child 1]

But the devil governs the all.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Oh yeah. Or maybe property of the devil.

[Child 3]

What?

[Adam Gidwitz]

That?

[Child 1]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Demon. Property of the devil.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Perfect. This message is for the grown ups. I've got a New Year's resolution. I've resolved to take a little of the household mental load off of my wife's shoulders by taking charge of the food shopping. Luckily, HelloFresh makes that so much easier. They deliver right to my doorstep with more than 50 wholesome hassle free meals to choose from each week, including 15 minute meals that take only three steps to cook and there's over a hundred add on items that you can add to your weekly box like quick breakfasts, packable snacks, beverages and more. Get up to 10 free meals and a free high protein item for [e-mail] grim10fm one item per box with active subscription free meals applied as a discount on the first box. New subscribers only. Varies by plan. That's up to 10 free HelloFresh meals. Just go to hellofresh.com grim10fm hellofresh America's number one meal kit a new year.

[Child 2]

Means new opportunities, and if you've been thinking about starting your own business, let this be your sign to take the leap. Of course, this decision comes with a lot of questions like how do I get started? How do I come up with a brand? How do I sell stuff to people? What am I even going to sell? Well, if you have all those questions, you can take a deep breath because Shopify's got you. Shopify makes it simple to create your brand, open for business and get your first sale. With Shopify, you can get your store up and running easily with thousands of customizable templates. No coding or design skills required. All you need to do is drag and drop. Their powerful social media tools let you connect all your channels and create shoppable posts to help you sell everywhere people scroll. And Shopify makes it easy to manage all the details like shipping, taxes and payments from one single dashboard, allowing you to focus on the important stuff like growing your business. The best time to start your business is right now, and with Shopify, your first sale is closer than you think. Established in 2025 has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at shopify.com realm all lowercase go to shopify.com realm to start selling with Shopify today. Shopify.com realm.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The ground began to smoke, and then up from the earth rose a demon who was enormous, standing there in the graveyard. He appeared to the old woman to be bigger than the sun itself. His face had not one mouth, but five, and he had five more mouths on each of his hands. His hair was made up of knives, and he had drawings of knives in black ink all over his body and on top of his head it said Demon Property of the Devil. But the creepiest thing of all were his eyes. He looked like he hadn't slept in ages. The old woman was so terrified she nearly pooped her pants. But instead she said, who are you? The demon smiled with all of his mouths on his face and his hands, and said, you can't tell I'm a.

[Child 3]

Demon from the underworld. It's written right here on my head.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The old woman replied, no, you're not. Even though it was very obvious that this was indeed a demon from the underworld.

[Child 4]

Demons are supposed to be scary.

[Child 3]

You don't think I'm scary?

[Adam Gidwitz]

The demon hissed. And he brought his terrifying face with its five mouths right up to the poor old woman. The old woman nearly passed out, she was so afraid. But she managed to sound perfectly calm.

[Child 4]

When she said, I'm not scared and neither are my friends.

[Child 1]

Look.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The demon looked around. He saw her three friends sitting completely still, as if they weren't at all bothered by the demon, who looked like he was as big as the sun. And it was so dark that the demon couldn't tell that her friends were scarecrows. Yeah, exactly. So the demon approached the first scarecrow and he did something terrifying. What was the terrifying thing the demon did?

[Child 1]

Ripped off his head.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The demon ripped off his own head, but the scarecrow didn't react at all. The old woman said, see, you can't be a demon.

[Child 4]

You just aren't that scary.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The demon roared at her roar. And he moved to the second scarecrow and he did something even more terrifying. What did he do?

[Child 1]

His eyeballs jumped out of his sockets and his head spinned around and he jumped in the air and you could hear screaming for miles.

[Adam Gidwitz]

He did that. But the second scarecrow didn't react at all. The old woman said, see?

[Child 4]

Real demons are supposed to scare people.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The demon bellowed in rage, and he moved to the third scarecrow and he did the most terrifying thing of all. What did he do?

[Child 1]

He took out his heart. Parted in his face.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The demon took out his own heart, and then he farted in his own face. But the third scarecrow didn't react at all, of course, because he was full of hay.

[Child 3]

I hate you and I hate your friends.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The demon shouted in a very pouty way.

[Child 3]

We still have one more day to take that rich man's soul, so I'm leaving. But you better not be here tomorrow night. My boss is coming tomorrow night. The big guy.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The old woman's voice quavered just slightly.

[Child 4]

The devil.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The demon smiled his terrible smile. With all the mouths on his face and his hands, he said, the devil. And he disappeared in a cloud of black smoke.

[Child 1]

The devil is like the boss of evil things.

[Adam Gidwitz]

He is the boss of evil things. It's a great way to say that. The next morning, the old woman Returned the scarecrows to the farmers. Then she waited in the graveyard. She had no idea what to do. How could you stand up to the devil himself? She considered just giving up and going home. Why doesn't she just give up and go home?

[Child 1]

Because she had a deal. Because she's a nice person.

[Adam Gidwitz]

She's a nice person and she made a deal. She made a promise. The old woman had promised the rich man she would stay three nights. And so she would. She waited in the graveyard all day. When darkness fell that night, it was darker and windier and colder than any night the old woman had ever known. She clutched herself and trembled. And then, way off in the distance, the church bells struck midnight.

[Child 1]

Oh no. Oh no. Boing, boing, boing.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Not boing. Suddenly the ground around the old woman caught fire. And from the flames rose the evil one himself.

[Child 1]

I know what he looks like. I know. He wore green. A green coat. Green coat.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Very good. You are alright. The devil always looks the same. In all of these stories. The devil had a sharp chin and a sharper little beard. A small black mustache, golden hair on his head, tiny little spectacles, cloven hooves instead of feet and a long green coat. He advanced on the grave of the rich man. Until he saw the poor old woman sitting on top of it on her three legged stool. He stopped and he smiled.

[Child 3]

You know who I am?

[Adam Gidwitz]

The old woman wanted to lie like she had to the two demons. But she could not. She nodded, still smiling. The devil said, and do you know what I want? Again the old woman wanted to lie. She didn't, but again she couldn't. She nodded.

[Child 4]

The rich man's soul.

[Child 3]

Will you move and let me have it?

[Adam Gidwitz]

And the poor old woman shook her head no. The devil sighed.

[Child 3]

Well, I have no power over you. Not yet anyway. So let me offer you something.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The devil waved his long fingers and instantly there were bags and bags and bags of gold all around. The old woman.

[Child 3]

Let me have the rich man's soul and you take all of this gold as your own. You can be as rich as the rich man was. You can even buy his house at the top of the hill and live like for the rest of your days.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The old woman squinted at all the gold. Then she turned back to the devil and said, or I can kill you.

[Child 3]

And take your soul instead of the rich man's. Those are your choices. Take the money and live just as the rich man did. Or die and be punished as the rich man should be.

[Child 1]

But the devil is. If she kept the money to herself, the devil Would take her soul, too.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Good point. The poor old woman looked at all the bags of gold around her. She could eat like a king for the rest of her days. She would never feel hungry again. She could buy a large bathtub and sit in the hot water. And she would feel warm, truly warm, for the first time in her whole life.

[Child 1]

She.

[Adam Gidwitz]

She looked up at the devil standing in the hot flames that rose from the underworld, and she said, can I.

[Child 4]

Have an hour to think about it?

[Adam Gidwitz]

The devil tossed off a light laugh.

[Child 3]

You can have more than an hour. You have until just before dawn. But if you haven't decided by the moment before the sun crests the horizon, your life and your soul are mine.

[Adam Gidwitz]

And he sat down on the rich man's gravestone, surrounded by bags of money. The poor old woman said, you won't take him?

[Child 3]

Not until dawn.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The devil promised her, and the old woman hurried off to the village. Some hours later, just before sunrise, the old woman returned to the graveyard. She came and stood before the devil.

[Child 4]

I've made my decision.

[Child 3]

Oh, yes? And what have you decided?

[Adam Gidwitz]

The old woman took a deep breath, and then she said, I'll take the money. No. The devil began to grin.

[Child 3]

Oh, really?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Why is he grinning so?

[Child 1]

First of all, because he'll get the soul.

[Adam Gidwitz]

So if she takes the gold, he gets the rich man's soul. And.

[Child 1]

And she'll be so greedy that he'll get to take her soul too, so there'll be two souls in the bag.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The devil grinned at the old woman and at the devilish trick he had played upon her when suddenly she whistled just then, all of the old woman's port. Every person who lived in that starving little village filed into the graveyard. They were dressed in ratty night clothes, and they looked totally bewildered. Some gazed at the devil. Others shielded their eyes, afraid of what looking at him might do to them. The old woman called, right this way. And one by one, they came up to her. What's she gonna do?

[Child 1]

She's gonna give them the bag of money. She's gonna give them the bag of money so she's not greedy and he doesn't get her soul.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The old woman said to the devil.

[Child 4]

I'll take the money and I'll give it away to those who need it.

[Adam Gidwitz]

So the old woman handed each villager a bag of money and then told them to go home. The devil watched in horror. The old woman gave away the very last sack to the very smallest little girl in town. Just as the sun began to peek over the distant hills.

[Child 1]

She's so smart.

[Adam Gidwitz]

She's so smart. With the sun's soft glow beginning to light the sky behind her, the poor old woman turned to the devil.

[Child 4]

There. I took the money and I gave it away. Now the sun has come up. Three nights have passed. You can't have his soul.

[Adam Gidwitz]

And the devil shouted, I know how it works. And it kinda sounded like he was gonna cry. He stamped his cloven hoof and a giant column of fire rose up to the sky and shot all the way down into the earth. And the devil was gone. The poor old woman put a pebble on the rich man's gravestone. And then she made her way back to the village. But the little village wasn't poor anymore. But thanks to the money that the old woman had tricked the devil out of, everyone in the town was quite comfortable, with plenty to eat and lovely hot baths at least once a week. And while the poor old woman was still poor, she didn't feel poor because she was invited over to one of her neighbor's houses for every meal. And they always made sure that before she went to bed, she got a nice hot bath. And she and everyone in the little village lived happily ever after. The end. Okay, can you all do your creepy graveyard sounds at the same time? What was that sound?

[Child 1]

It was a tiger roaring.

[Adam Gidwitz]

A tiger in the graveyard?

[Child 1]

It's a fairy tale.

[Adam Gidwitz]

It is a fairy tale. Fair enough. Grim Grimmer Grimmest is a Pinna original production created, written and narrated by me, Adam Gidwitz, author of A Tale Dark and Grim co written by Ali Horne Produced and edited by Ilana Milner Casting by Paula Gammon Wilson Voice direction by Ilana Milner and Paula Gammon Wilson Sound design and mixing by Beat street nyc Executive produced by Ann Richards Production support by Ashley Beecher and Thaddeus Dankwa Characters voiced by Alison Lee Rosenfeld, Baron Bass, Billy Bob Thompson, Cat Portano, Sanofia Mitchell, Colin Ryan, Dylan Jones, Erica Schroeder, Kaelyn Clinton, Kylie Claxton, Lori Hyams, Michael Crouch, Mike Pollock, Nicholas Korda and Rob Moreira. Special thanks to all the kids who joined us for our storytelling sessions. You guys are awesome.

[Child 6]

Do you like to laugh? Ah, who am I kidding? Who doesn't like to laugh? So, okay, if you love to laugh, you'll love Don't Break the Rules. It's a hilarious comedy improv podcast where the voice actors make up their lines on the spot and try to be the only actor who doesn't break the rules. These talented actors are great at coming up with silly scenes and stories when they follow the rules for the episode, and it gets even sillier when they accidentally break the rules. The stories are guided by suggestions from kids like you, and the episodes feature laughs, burps, and the occasional unicorn. So if you'd like to giggle and play along, be sure to listen to Don't Break the Rules. Wherever you listen to podcasts.