ABSTRACT
Now there was a merchant, and this merchant sold all sorts of stuff that made him a rich man, and he promised to give his shop to anyone who could tell him a story that began without “it’s been told time and again.” Many people came and tried, but they all began their tales with “it’s been told time and again,” and he always won the wager. Then the girl arrived with the note and said to him, “Signor merchant, I’ve come here to tell you a tale that will begin without ‘it’s been told time and again.’ ”
“Get out of here, you dirty brat!” he said. “How can you possibly know how to tell a tale that doesn’t begin with ‘it’s been told time and again?’ ”
And then she began:
“Once there was a little note, And this note spoke and said: Get out of here, merchant, this shop is mine.”
