Seven True Fairy Tales

By Flemming Quist Møller

Right in the middle of the forest lived the troll woman Grumla with her husband, Grimbard, and their eighteen naughty imps.

   Imps with trolls for their parents simply have to be naughty. They have to grow up and become as dangerous and frightening as possible, so that they can keep human beings away from their caves and their trolls’ gold.

   But eighteen wild and naughty imps are difficult to keep in check. So although Grumla was big and strong she had plenty to do to look after her unruly brats.

   She didn’t have the least bit of help from her husband. Grimbard was a little bristly-haired sourpuss. He always complained about the food, but he couldn’t even be bothered to fetch fuel for the fire.

   He slept all day, and at night he would run around in the forest roaring “Booh” to no earthly purpose.

   He was both stupid, lazy and thoroughly mean, for, you know, he woke the animals so they didn’t get the sleep they so much needed at night.

Translated by W. Glyn Jones