Once upon a time, a young lad named Jack decided to go and seek his fortune. He packed his favorite food, pickles and sardines and turnips. He wrapped them up and put them in his knapsack with a chunk of hard rye bread. He then headed out into the great wide world.
He hadn’t been walking down the road very long when he came across the calico cat from his village.
“Where are you going, Jack?” the cat asked.
“I’m going to seek my fortune!” Jack said. “Do you want to come with me? The more the merrier and I’d like some extra company.” The cat sat for a moment, grooming itself and agreed with a swish of its tail. Now there were two of them.
Before long, they bumped into a huge and fluffy white dog. The cat hid behind Jack. The dog raised his paws to show he was a friend and the calico cat relaxed.
“Where are you two going?” he asked. “I’m a little bored and I have nothing to do.”
“We’re going to seek our fortune!” Jack and the cat said at the same time.
“Would you like to come with us? The more the merrier,” said Jack. “We’d like the extra company,” added the cat.
The dog nodded yes with his tongue out and now there were three of them.
They walked on for some time, but stopped when they met a billy goat. He was chewing on an old bicycle tire, burping often.
“Where are you three going?” asked the goat.
“We’re going to seek our fortune! Will you join us? The more the merrier,” said Jack, the cat and the dog in unison.
“Will there be delicious food to eat? This tire tastes terrible!”
The three looked at…