BABA YAGA
(Marcos’ Story)
Once there was a man and a woman
who had two children –
a girl and a boy.
One day, the parents
had to go to the market.
The mother said to the girl,
“Elena, while we’re away,
take care of your baby brother.
But be careful!
The black geese of Baba Yaga
were seen flying over the village,
so don’t go outside.
Now don’t forget!
We’ll bring you some sugar buns
when we come home.”
Elena knew about Baba Yaga,
the terrible witch of the forest.
She was eight feet tall
and ate little children.
Elena stayed in the house
with her baby brother.
She saw her friends outside,
so she took her brother,
set him down on the grass,
and went to play with her friends.
She forgot all about him.
After some time, she remembered
and came back to look for him.
He was nowhere to be found.
Then, far away on the horizon,
Elena saw the black geese.
They were carrying something!
The geese had stolen her brother
and were taking him
to Baba Yaga’s hut.
“I must go after him!”
Elena ran toward the forest
where Baba Yaga lived.
As she was running,
Elena came to a pond.
There, lying on the sand
was a fish, gasping for air.
“Please help me!” the fish called.
“I’m dying!”
Elena was in a hurry,
but she stopped and put the fish
back into the water.
The fish popped its head out.
“Because you helped me,
I will help you,” it said.
“Pick up that shell by your feet.
If you’re ever in danger,
throw it over your shoulder
and it will help you.”
Elena picked up the shell
and put it in her pocket.
Then she ran on through the forest.
The trees grew so close together
that no light could shine
through them.
Finally, she came to a clearing …
and there was Baba Yaga’s hut.
A skull fence stood around it,
and the black geese were sleeping
on the roof.
Elena climbed up to the hut
and peaked inside.
Baba Yaga was asleep, snoring.
Elena’s brother was near her,
sitting on the ground,
playing with some bones.
Elena crept in,
grabbed her baby brother,
and ran outside.
But the black geese saw her.
“HONK, HONK!” they cried,
and flapped their wings.
She ran out and screamed,
“STOP, THIEF!
Bring back my dinner!”
And she chased after them.
Elena ran as fast as she could,
but her brother was heavy.
Baba Yaga was getting
closer and closer.
When Elena looked back,
she saw Baba Yaga reach out.
What could she do?
She remembered the shell!
She threw it over her shoulder.
Instantly, a wide river appeared.
Baba Yaga could not go around it,
so she waded into it.
But the water was deep
and Baba Yaga couldn’t swim.
In no time at all, she drowned.
Elena and her brother got home
just in time.
Then their parents returned
and gave them some sugar buns.
