“How dare you cross my bridge without paying the toll?” the troll roared.

The little goat trembled in the troll’s presence.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Troll,” he said. “But I’m only a goat and have no gold coins to spare.”

“Then you shall be my dinner!” the troll growled, and lunged toward the frightened goat.

“Wait!” the goat said. “I would make you nothing but a small snack. You should wait until my older brother crosses your bridge and eat him. He’ll make you a much more satisfying meal!”

The troll couldn’t believe the small goat would wish this upon his own brother, but he had a point. He let the little goat pass and waited for his brother to cross the bridge.

“How dare you cross my bridge without paying the toll?” the troll roared.

“I’m sorry, sir!” said the second-oldest goat. “But I am just a simple billy goat and have no money to give.”

“Then you shall be my dinner!” the troll growled.

“Wait!” the goat said. “I would only be a light meal for you, but if you wait for my older and larger brother to cross your bridge, you’ll have a wonderful feast!”

The goats were the most dysfunctional family the troll had ever encountered. But he was so hungry, he was glad they were turning on each other. He let the second-oldest goat pass and waited for the oldest goat to cross the bridge.

“How dare you cross my bridge without paying the toll?” the troll roared at the oldest goat.

The oldest goat laughed at him, for he was much larger than the troll. The troll tried to run, but the goat charged toward him horns-first and knocked the foolish troll off the bridge and into the river.

The three goats crossed safely into the next field, where there was plenty of grass for them to eat. The river sent the troll all the way to the other side of the kingdom, and he learned never to take on more than he could chew.

The End