Mr. Vinegar

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

It’s silly but orderly: one trade leads to the next. The predictable pattern feels soothing, and the ending highlights partnership and making the best of a hard day.

Story Synopsis

Mr. and Mrs. Vinegar live in a vinegar bottle, as snug as they can be. Mrs. Vinegar keeps their little home tidy, sweeping and scrubbing with pride. Then—oh dear—one unlucky thump, and the bottle cracks. Their whole house tumbles down around her. Instead of giving up, the Vinegars do something clever: they start trading. They trade one thing for another, then trade again, and again—each swap changing their situation a little. Sometimes the trade feels like an improvement. Sometimes it brings a new problem. But the Vinegars keep going, side by side, using quick thinking and good humor. By the end, they may not have a perfect home, but they still have each other—and they’ve learned that a hard day can be faced with creativity.

Story Excerpt

Mr. and Mrs. Vinegar lived in a vinegar bottle. It was a tiny little home, but Mrs. Vinegar kept it neat and tidy, and she worked hard every day. One morning, while Mr. Vinegar was out, Mrs. Vinegar took her broom and swept and swept. But then — oh dear — she gave one unlucky thump. Clitter - clatter, clitter - clatter! Down came their little house around her. Mrs. Vinegar’s heart went thump - thump with worry. She hurried outside to find her husband. When she saw him, she cried, “ Oh, Mr. Vinegar, Mr. Vinegar, we are ruined! I have knocked the house down, and it is all to pieces! ” Mr. Vinegar looked at the broken bits. He took a slow breath and said, “ My dear, let us see what can be done. Here is the door ; I will take it on my back, and we will go forth to seek our fortune. ” So Mr. Vinegar lifted the door onto his back, and off they went together. They walked and walked all day. The road felt long, and their feet felt tired. When evening came, they reached a thick, dark forest where the trees stood close together. “ We are very, very tired, ” said Mr. Vinegar. “ My love, I will climb up into a tree, drag up the door, and you shall follow. ” He climbed carefully. Then he pulled the door up. Mrs. Vinegar climbed up too, and together they lay down on the door, high above the ground, where it felt safer. The night air was cool, and the leaves whispered softly. Soon they…

In One Glance