"A witch?" Rapunzel laughed.
"Silly Papa!
Witches only appear in fairy tales!"
Papa shook his head. "Witches are real.
I must tell you a story."
Rapunzel listened as Papa began.
"We used to live in the city.
Mama was going to have a baby.
But she was very sick.
"Next door lived a witch with a big garden.
The witch grew lots of plants.
She made healing potions and spells.
"One day Mama looked into the witch's garden.
She saw fresh, green rapunzel.
'It will make me well!' she said.
So I went to the market for rapunzel.
"Mama ate some and got well.
Every day I bought her more.
But then I couldn't find any rapunzel.
Mama grew sicker and sicker.
"One night I climbed into the witch's garden.
I picked rapunzel, and the witch appeared!
'Thief!' she cried.
'I will turn you into a hedgehog!'
"'Please!' I begged her.
'My wife is going to have a baby.
She must eat rapunzel or she will die!'
"The witch laughed. 'Take my rapunzel.
You can repay me later with your child.
When the child turns ten, it will be mine!'
'Never!' I cried and ran home.
"But the next day, Mama grew even sicker.
She was going to die, so—"
"You went back to the garden!" Rapunzel said.
Papa nodded. "The witch gave me some rapunzel.
And Mama got better.
We moved here to hide you, but . . ."
Papa bit his lip. "Now you're ten."
Rapunzel patted his arm.
"Don't worry, Papa.
That mean old witch probably forgot about me!"
Just then Mama ran over.
Her eyes were wide with fright.
"Someone is coming—it's the witch!"