

Lily and Max were having lunch with their mom. They liked to eat bread and cheese and fruit, but they did not like salad. Salad was green and leafy and bitter. Mom said salad was good for them, but they did not care.
"Please, try some salad, kids," Mom said. "It will make you strong and healthy."
"No, thank you, Mom," Lily said. She pushed her plate away. "Salad is yucky."
"No, no, no, Mom," Max said. He shook his head. "Salad is gross."
Mom sighed. She wanted her kids to eat well, but they were very picky. She decided to try a different approach.
"Okay, how about this?" Mom said. "If you eat some salad, I will tell you a story. A story about a big, scary monster who loves salad."
Lily and Max looked at each other. They liked stories, especially scary ones. They wondered what kind of monster liked salad.
"Okay, Mom, we will eat some salad," Lily said. She took a small bite. "But only a little bit."
"Okay, Mom, we will eat some salad," Max said. He took a tiny bite. "But only a tiny bit."
Mom smiled. She was happy that her kids were willing to try something new. She began to tell them the story.
"Once upon a time, there was a big, scary monster who lived in the woods. He had sharp teeth and claws and horns and a long tail. He liked to roam around the woods and look for food. But he did not like meat or fruit or nuts. He only liked salad. He liked to eat all kinds of salad: lettuce, spinach, kale, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, and more. He liked to mix them all together and make a big salad bowl. He liked to add salt and pepper and vinegar and oil and make a tasty dressing. He liked to eat his salad with a big spoon and make loud noises. He liked to scream, 'Salad, salad, I love salad!'"
Lily and Max listened to the story with wide eyes. They imagined the big, scary monster and his big salad bowl. They wondered if he would eat them if he saw them.
"Did anyone ever see the monster, Mom?" Lily asked.
"Did he ever eat anyone, Mom?" Max asked.
Mom smiled. She had a surprise for them.
"Well, one day, a little girl and a little boy were walking in the woods. They were looking for berries and mushrooms. They did not know that the monster was nearby. They did not hear him scream, 'Salad, salad, I love salad!' They did not see him coming. They did not notice his big spoon. They did not feel his breath. They did not see his teeth. They did not..."
"Mom, stop!" Lily and Max screamed. They were scared. They did not want to hear the end of the story. They did not want to know what happened to the little girl and the little boy.
Mom laughed. She hugged them and kissed them.
"Don't worry, kids, it's just a story. The monster is not real. The little girl and the little boy are fine. They ran away and hid behind a tree. The monster did not see them. He only saw their basket of berries and mushrooms. He thought they were part of his salad. He added them to his bowl and ate them. He screamed, 'Salad, salad, I love salad!' And he was happy."
Lily and Max looked at each other. They were relieved. They were glad that the monster did not eat the little girl and the little boy. They were glad that he only ate berries and mushrooms. They were glad that he was happy.
"Mom, can we have some berries and mushrooms, too?" Lily asked.
"Mom, can we have some cheese and bread, too?" Max asked.
Mom nodded. She gave them some berries and mushrooms and cheese and bread. She also gave them some more salad.
"Here you go, kids. Enjoy your lunch. And remember, salad is good for you. Maybe you will grow up to be big and strong like the monster."
Lily and Max smiled. They ate their lunch. They ate some salad, too. They did not scream. They did not make loud noises. They did not say, 'Salad, salad, I love salad!' But they did say, 'Thank you, Mom, for the story and the food. We love you.'
Mom smiled. She loved them, too. She was proud of them. She was happy.
