Once upon a time, in a place not so very far away, there lived a girl named Mabel and her mother, who was also named Mabel. This created quite a bit of confusion at the post office and the doctor’s office, so most folks simply called them Mabel and Mom, Mom being the mother, and Mabel being the daughter. Clear as mud? Good, because we have a story to tell.
Mabel and Mom were as happy as two people could be, despite their circumstances. They were poor the kind of poor where you count pennies and stretch meals and sometimes go to bed with rumbling stomachs. But Mom possessed a remarkable talent: she crafted the most exquisite collectible figurines. Her nimble fingers shaped Civil War chess sets with tiny generals and cavalry soldiers, dolls modeled after famous personalities of the day, and those adorable big-eyed babies that made everyone who saw them coo with delight.
One bright morning, Mabel set out through the dense woods that separated their cottage from the market town, carefully carrying a box filled with her mother’s latest creations. The forest path was dappled with sunlight filtering through the canopy above, and birds sang cheerfully in the branches. Mabel hummed along, dreaming of the money these figurines would bring enough for a proper supper, perhaps even with dessert.
If you enjoyed this story, explore our full West African folktales collection
Suddenly, without warning, a peculiar old woman sprang out from behind a gnarled oak tree and hollered, “HOWDY!”
The shock sent Mabel stumbling backward. The precious box flew from her hands, tumbled through the air, and crashed onto the rocky ground. The sound of shattering porcelain echoed through the forest as four thousand and sixty-six pieces scattered across the path like snow.
“Oh my stars, I didn’t mean to startle you like that!” the old woman exclaimed, her weathered face creasing with concern.
Mabel knelt among the ruins, her heart sinking. “All of Mom’s beautiful figurines… they’re destroyed!”
The old woman stooped down and carefully picked through the wreckage. “Well now, not quite all of them. Look here, this little darling survived!” She held up one perfect figurine, gazed at its enormous innocent eyes, and couldn’t help but murmur, “Awwww!” Then her expression brightened. “Tell you what, sweetie, just so there’s no hard feelings between us, I’ll buy this one from you right here and now.”
Mabel appreciated the gesture, but reality weighed heavy on her shoulders. “That’s very kind, but it won’t help much. We can’t feed ourselves on four dollars and ninety-nine cents plus tax.”
“Hmmm, I see your predicament.” The old woman’s eyes sparkled with mysterious knowledge. “How about this instead: rather than money, I’ll trade you something infinitely more useful. Let me think… what do I have that might… ah! Perfect!” From a coat pocket that seemed impossibly deep, she produced a sleek food processor. “But this isn’t just any ordinary kitchen appliance, it’s a magical food processor that creates the most delectable dish in the entire universe: Yummy Happy Good Time Soup!”
“Yummy Happy Good Time Soup?” Mabel repeated, intrigued despite her skepticism.
“Precisely! Here, allow me to demonstrate!” The old woman reached into that same bottomless pocket and retrieved a bowl, positioning it beneath the dispenser. In a clear, melodic voice, she chanted: “Yummy Happy Good Time Soup, keep on cookin’ till you’re pooped!”
Immediately, the internal gears whirred to life. Rich, creamy soup began flowing from the spout the most heavenly-smelling, mouth-watering soup Mabel had ever encountered. It filled the bowl to the brim and would have continued indefinitely if the old woman hadn’t pronounced the stopping spell: “Yummy Happy Good Time Soup, one more bite and my tummy will droop!”
The soup ceased flowing instantly. Mabel tasted it and nearly wept with joy; it was perfection itself.
“Now Mom and I will never go hungry again! Thank you so much, Miss… I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”
“Oh, pish-posh! I’m just a crazy old witch who lives in these woods, but you can call me Mabel.”
“That’s my name too! And my mother’s!”
“Well, what a delightfully small world we inhabit. You’d almost think we were living in some sort of fairy tale. Cheerio!” And just like that, she vanished as mysteriously as she’d appeared.
When Mabel arrived home early, Mom was puzzled until her daughter revealed the magical food processor. They tested it immediately, chanting the starting rhyme together. Two bowls filled with glorious soup, and Mabel spoke the stopping words just in time. From that moment forward, they never knew hunger again.
About a year passed peacefully. Mabel grew into that age when young women enjoy evening outings, and one particular night she went on a date, leaving Mom alone at home. As the evening wore on, Mom felt hunger gnawing at her stomach. She’d watched Mabel use the processor countless times, surely, she could manage it herself.
She retrieved a bowl and tried to recall the words. “Super yummy happy soup… no, that’s not right. Happy Yummy Gooey… Ooey Gooey Creepy Cooky… Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie… Er… Yummy Happy Good Time Soup, keep on cookin’ till you’re pooped! That’s it!”
The processor sprang to life. Soup flowed beautifully into her bowl. But when Mom tried to remember the stopping spell, her mind went completely blank. She tried every silly word combination imaginable, but the soup continued its relentless flow. It cascaded over the bowl’s rim onto the table, then streamed onto the floor. Within minutes, Mom found herself standing atop the table, now an island in a rising sea of soup!
When Mabel returned home and opened the front door, a tidal wave of soup burst forth into the street, surrounding their house like a moat. She waded through, reached the processor, and shouted the stopping spell. Silence fell immediately.
Their house was thoroughly ruined. However, Mabel noticed a phone number printed on the processor’s back: “Questions, comments, or concerns? Please call!”
“Crazy Old Witch Products. Mabel speaking.”
“Mabel? It’s Mabel.”
“Oh, hello Mabel! How’s Mabel?”
“Mabel’s fine, Mabel. Listen, we have a soup situation…” After explaining everything, Mabel asked for help.
“Ah yes, that happens when people can’t remember the words. Perhaps I should have printed them on the machine itself! Not to worry, a certified representative will arrive immediately.”
Two seconds later: “HOWDY!” The witch Mabel appeared, waved her magic shoe (having misplaced her wand but fortunately having enchanted her left shoe for emergencies), and restored everything. The house was perfect, the soup vanished, except for three bowls so the three Mabels could share supper together.
And so, for absolutely no reason at all except that it’s traditional, Mabel, Mabel, and Mabel lived happily ever after.
The Moral Lesson
This modern fairy tale reminds us that magic whether literal or metaphorical comes with responsibility. Instructions matter, and when we don’t pay attention to the details, even the most wonderful gifts can create chaos. The story also highlights the importance of asking for help when we’re overwhelmed, and the value of good customer service (even from magical witches!). Most importantly, it teaches us that laughter and community can help us weather any crisis, even when we’re drowning in soup.
Knowledge Check
Q1: What is the significance of everyone being named Mabel in this story?
A: The triple Mabel naming is a humorous device that creates a sense of whimsy and interconnectedness. It’s a playful nod to fairy tale traditions where characters often share similar traits or destinies. The repetition also emphasizes how magic and help can come from unexpected sources even from strangers who share our name and creates a circular, folkloric quality to the narrative.
Q2: How does this story modernize traditional fairy tale elements?
A: This contemporary African fairy tale updates classic motifs by replacing traditional magical items (like magic beans or spinning wheels) with a food processor, setting the story in modern times with dates and customer service hotlines, and using casual, conversational language. However, it maintains fairy tale structure: a poor family, a magical gift from a mysterious stranger, a test of memory, and a happy resolution.
Q3: What does the Yummy Happy Good Time Soup symbolize in the story?
A: The magical soup represents abundance and security the answer to Mabel and Mom’s poverty and hunger. However, it also symbolizes how blessings can become overwhelming when we don’t fully understand or control them. The specific rhyme required to control it represents the importance of knowledge, attention, and remembering crucial details in life.
Q4: Why is Mom’s inability to remember the stopping spell important to the plot?
A: Mom’s forgetfulness creates the story’s central conflict and teaches a practical lesson about the responsibility that comes with magical gifts (or any powerful tool). It shows how assumptions thinking we know something without truly learning it can lead to disaster. Her mistake drives home the importance of paying attention and not being too proud to ask for help or review instructions.
Q5: What cultural context makes this an African fairy tale?
A: This story reflects contemporary African culture through its casual humor, modern setting with dates and consumer products, the inclusion of customer service as a plot element, and its conversational narrative style. The collectible figurines (Civil War chess sets, celebrity dolls, cute babies) are distinctly African consumer items, and the overall tone embraces African informality and accessibility in storytelling.
Q6: What role does the witch Mabel play, and how is she different from traditional fairy tale witches?
A: Unlike sinister fairy tale witches, this witch is helpful, quirky, and runs a business with customer support. She represents a modernized, domesticated version of magical beings more eccentric neighbor than threatening villain. Her immediate response to the crisis and willingness to fix her product’s problems reflects contemporary values about accountability and service, making her a benevolent trickster figure rather than an antagonist.
Source: Contemporary African fairy tale retelling by Templeton Moss (2017), modern humor fiction with African storytelling traditions
