Mr. Porcin

Mr. Porcin had read the books, he had learned from the stories and he had chosen to build his house, and the attached pig barn, from bricks. He showed his home off to all the villagers, who could only look at their own timber dwellings with longing and regret. How well Mr. Porcin’s home stood up against the gales and the mighty winds. The rest of the village had to repair their feeble houses with every change in weather as thatches blew off and boards were shaken loose.

Mr. Porcin’s pigs felt very safe in their brick barn, no amount of huffing and puffing could release them to the dangers outside. The pigs would settle down in the hay each night, warm and safe as brick houses.

The Pig keeper was so pleased with himself and the building that he placed a very impressive weather vane on the roof, some of the Iron Monger's finest work. No matter which way the strong winds blew the arrow on the vane, the house stood firm.

Mr. Porcin did not count on the lightning. The weather vane was just too tempting for thunderous skies. One night, in a fearful storm, the brick home was struck. The bolt hit the house with such force that the mortar shook and crumbled. The walls collapsed about Mr. Porcin’s ears and the pigs were exposed to the stormy night outside.

The pigs ran for their lives, down through the feilds and over a stream. Their terror spurred them on faster than any pigs had ever run before They took shelter in the woods, leaving their keeper in the middle of a steaming pile of bricks.

Mr. Porcin was heart broken and moved to the next village where he became a basket weaver. He built a home from wood and eventually learnt to enjoy making repairs in bad weather and painting the boards in the Spring.

Meanwhile, the pigs became accustomed to their wild new home. They grew thick bristles to keep out the cold and strong tusks to forage and fight. The pigs learned to defend themselves against the ferocious wolves. With each new fight the pigs became better combatants and eventually they took hold of the timber territory and drove their fierce predators far away. The wolves looked back at the ferocious pigs as they ran, this was not how they thought the story would end.