Comedian John Branyan tells the story of “The Three Little Pigs” in the classic style of Shakespeare. Enjoy:
In time past, though not long ago, there lived pigs, in stature, little, in number three, who–being of an age both entitled and inspired to seek their fortune–did set about to do, thusly.
When they had traveled a distance, Pig numbered First spake, saying, “Hearken, brethren, heed this tempestuous realm! Tarry we long from hearth and home, we shall fare, I fear,’oink’ not well!
And so, being collectively agreed, but individually impelled, the diminutive swine set about to each erect, for himself, an abode. Pig numbered One did construct his house from straw. Pig numbered Two did likewise, though, rather not from straw, instead from sticks. Meanwhile, unique in his imaginings, Pig numbered Three did erect as his domicile, stalwart and garish a structure made from brick, entirely!
Soon, there happened along, as is frequently the scenario in classic tale of protagonist pig or red-hooded child, a wolf.
Carnivorous nature in full season, he called out to the straw-ensconced swine, saying,
“Pray thee, little pig, grant me entrance!”
But Pig One recalled with sage foreboding, that he is MAD to trust in the tameness of a belly-pinched wolf!’ and responded immediately, “Nay, it shall not be, indeed, not by wit or whiskered jowl!”
Prepared for this most expected response, the wolf replied immediately, “Then steel thyself, little pig! Forthwith shall I endeavor by employing means both by huffing and puffing to dismantle yon flaxen fortress!”
Whereupon there issued forth from the wolf an exhale of gale proportions that quickly rendered straw hovel to dregs and dross and carried aloft piglet and shattered quarters both.
Exposed now to claw and fang, Piglet One made haste, wolf in pursuit, to the stick festooned sanctum of peccary secondary, causing Pig Two to cry out in dismay,
“Well, this knots my knickers! The marshaling of feral wolf to my doorstep is nowhere among those endeavors amenable or congenial!”
“A thousand pardons!” squealed Two (sic) One. ‘T’would seem the beast made for breath has purged me of home and sound judgment, alike!”
The mighty maelstrom of the wolf’s exhale splattered second swine’s shack, and shortened his sanctimonious scoldings simultaneously.
“Lo and behold!” squealed Two, “Stand we now amid wooded wreckage, tremulous and vulnerable, with nary a strategy for eschewing the canine devourer looming in deadly proximity!”
“Strategy!” squealed One. “What is noble to contemplate tactical particularities, pressed as we are with a time restraint forbidding detailed strategical conversations. I would urge we run! Wee wee wee wee wee!”
Whether by their own fleet-footed competence, or the wolf’s windless attitude, the diminutive swine arrived at their ultimate kindred neighbor’s inexpugnable brick ingress unscathed.
Upon the Third Pig’s door with urgent hooves they pounded calling out, “Unbar this entrance and with haste, we beseech thee!”
The Third Pig hailed from the American colonies, and possessing a vocabulary substantially less robust than his impromptu visitors, replied, “Say what?”
“Seek we sanctuary!” they implored on the verge of hysteria, “lest we fall forthwith to the ravenous appetency of yonder approaching carnivore!”
Still confounded by their importunate words, Pig Three did render ajar his portal, whereupon One and Two spilled through and collapsed beyond the threshold enervated.
“So y’all just wanted to come in? You could have said that.”
The sinister hist of the wolf could once again be heard outside.
“Pray thee, pigs, grant me entrance!”
“The wolf!” said One and Two.
“Wolf?” said Three, “What do you s’pose he wants?”
“He seeks to gain purchase within, and indeed he would occupy this very alcove were he afforded the most meager of opportunities!”
“Right. I’m just gonna go ask him what he wants.”
“Under no circumstances!” squealed Two, flinging self bodily against the portal. “There is naught to be gained accosting external opponent save our own immediate demise!”
“What did you say about my momma?”
House and occupants were again engulfed in a malevolent blast of wolfish wind. The foundation shook, the frame rattled and lo, to the astonished eyes of piglet and encroaching scoundrel alike stood the Third Pig’s lodging, undaunted. (Good news for you pig fans.)
Aghast and dismayed, Pig Two queried of Three, “How doth, against such relentless and torrential onslaught this domicile endure?”
Pig Three, puffed out chest, tapped a hoof to the hearth and responded,
“It’s American made!”
Transcribed by Jewel Atkins.
