Barnaby was a troll, and not a very happy one. He lived under a little stone bridge, and his job was to… well, mostly to grumble at anyone who tried to cross. “Halt!” he’d boom, even if it was just a little bunny hopping by. “Pay a toll of a frown!” He believed being grumpy was the best way to be. It certainly kept everyone away, and Barnaby liked having the bridge all to himself.
One sunny afternoon, a little girl named Lily came to the bridge. She wasn’t scared of Barnaby’s booming voice. Instead, she smiled. “Hello!” she chirped. “That’s a lovely bridge. Are you the bridge keeper?” Barnaby blinked. No one had *ever* been polite to him before. He tried to grumble, but it came out a little wobbly. “I… I suppose I am,” he mumbled.
Lily skipped closer. “I’m on my way to Grandma’s with these berries,” she said, holding up a basket overflowing with bright red fruit. “She’s feeling a little sad, and I thought berries would cheer her up.” Barnaby watched her. He hadn’t thought about cheering anyone up in… well, ever. He usually thought about how *he* felt.
“You don’t have a frown to pay,” Barnaby said gruffly. “Just… go.” Lily tilted her head. “But wouldn’t it be nicer if you came with me? Grandma loves trolls, and she always has extra cookies!” Barnaby’s eyes widened. Cookies? And someone wanting *him* to come along?
He hesitated, then slowly climbed out from under the bridge. As they walked, Lily told Barnaby all about her grandma, her garden, and her fluffy cat. Barnaby found himself… smiling! He even helped Lily carry the berries when her arms got tired. He discovered that helping someone felt much better than grumbling at them.
When they arrived at Grandma’s house, Grandma greeted them with a warm hug and a plate piled high with cookies. She wasn’t scared of Barnaby at all! She said he had a very kind face, even if he didn’t know it yet. Barnaby ate a cookie (it was delicious!) and listened to Grandma tell stories. He laughed, a real, booming laugh, not a grumpy one.
As the sun began to set, Barnaby walked back to his bridge. He wasn’t grumpy anymore. He realized that being kind and making friends was much more fun than being alone and frowning. The next day, when someone came to the bridge, Barnaby didn’t boom, “Halt!” He smiled and said, “Welcome! May I help you across?” And from that day on, Barnaby the troll was known not for his grumbles, but for his kindness and the warm welcome he gave to everyone who crossed his bridge.