Only The Best

You can get the best out of anybody if you push the right buttons; as this story will demonstrate. The very best!

A weary traveller arrived on horseback at a farmhouse seeking shelter for the night; after paying an outrageous amount he was informed that there was no food to be shared.

There was a huge pot with boiling water hanging over the fire. “No worries”, he said. “If I can have that water, I will make us some stone soup.”

While being watched by everybody he produced a round stone from his pocket; about the size of a golf ball. He put it in the hot water.

After a while he lifted the lid to stir the pot.

“Is the soup ready?” asked the farmer’s wife.

“Almost”, he said while stirring it some more. “It is such a pity we don’t have any salt and pepper to put in here.”

“Oh, but we do.” She replied while giving him the salt, pepper and even some spices too.

After a while he lifted the lid again to stir the pot.

“Is the soup ready?” asked the farmer’s wife again.

“Almost”, he said while stirring it some more. “It is such a pity we don’t have any potatoes to put in here.”

“Oh, but we do.” She replied while giving him the potatoes and a few carrots.

After acquiring some turnips, onions, peas and barley in the same fashion, he lifted the lid again to stir the pot.

“Is the soup ready?” asked the farmer’s wife again.

“Almost”, he said while stirring it some more. “It is such a pity we don’t have any meat to put in here.”

“Oh, but we do.” She replied while giving him a large chunk of fatty meat.

After some more time he lifted the lid again to stir the pot.

“Is the soup ready?” asked the farmer’s wife again.

“Yes it is”, he said while fishing out the stone with a large spoon. He dried it and put it back in his pocket. “It is such a pity,” he added, “that we don’t have any bread to enjoy with the soup.”

“Oh, but we do.” She replied while slicing up a freshly baked loaf. “But can we not have that stone?” she asked.

“No dear,” the traveller replied with a deep sigh, “my journey will still last several days. On my return I shall leave it with you”

The soup was enjoyed by all; everybody agreed that the ‘stone soup’ tasted better than anything they had before. He was cordially invited to sleep there again on his return journey.

“Just bring the stone, we will have the other ingredients,” she said as he cantered off the next day; with enough food for two days.


Res Ipso. It speaks for itself. So I rest my case!