The Enormous Turnip

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

It’s reflective and grounded: no fantasy danger, just a gentle story about telling the truth and starting over. Good for bedtime talks about choices and second chances.

Story Synopsis

A soldier finishes his service and walks home with an empty stomach and emptier pockets. Days of hunger blur his thinking, and when he sees two travelers carrying a clinking purse, he grabs it and runs. The money feels heavy in a way that doesn’t comfort him. Trying to keep off the main road, he wanders into a quiet field and pulls up a huge turnip for supper. The turnip is oddly heavy—and when he opens it, he finds a hidden heap of coins tucked inside like a secret. Soon he meets the King’s servants, who grow suspicious of his pack. When the King arrives, he questions the soldier calmly, not with shouting, but with curiosity. The soldier speaks carefully, revealing the truth: he wasn’t searching for treasure; he was searching for food. The King decides that what is found by chance, without plotting, may be fortune placed in a person’s hands. He refuses to let his servants seize it. The soldier, ashamed of his earlier theft, promises to live honestly. He walks on carrying money—and a heavier, steadier choice: to build instead of grab.

Story Excerpt

A soldier came walking down a dusty road with his pack on his back and his coat worn thin at the elbows. His time in the army was finished, and now he had to find his own way in the world. At first, he tried to be brave about it. But days passed, and his pockets stayed empty. His stomach rumbled, and his thoughts grew cloudy and unkind. One afternoon he met two travelers on the road. They wore good coats and spoke softly together, and they carried a purse that clinked when it moved. The soldier’s eyes followed that sound. “ I’m so hungry, ” he thought. “ I don’t know how I’ll earn my bread. ” And instead of choosing a better path, he chose a wrong one. He snatched the money and ran. He ran until his chest hurt and the voices behind him faded. At last he slowed, hiding among tall weeds beside a field. His hands shook as he looked at what he had taken. For a moment, he felt a hard sort of relief — like sitting down after running too long. But it didn’t feel like true comfort. It felt heavy. He wandered on, keeping off the main road. The sun slid lower, and the air smelled of earth and green leaves. In a wide field, rows of plants stretched out neatly. “ There must be something here I can eat, ” the soldier said aloud, because it was lonely, and saying words made him feel a little steadier. He stepped between the rows and found a turnip plant with…

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