There was once an old woman who lived alone at the edge of town. She had no family left alive, yet she was seldom lonely, for she had many friends. Nan, as everyone called her, had a lush flower and vegetable garden. If ever there was a wedding or funeral, Nan would bring flowers, fresh baked breads and hot dishes of good food from her garden to share, saying,

"These flowers needed to be cut back" or "I don't know why I cooked so much of this, so I thought you might like to help me eat it."

The homeless and the hungry, whether they be two-legged or four-legged, could always find some food at Nan's table or shelter in her barn. The old woman seemed to know just the right time to pat a hand, give a hug, or to simply sit close and listen.

Nan's favorite visitors were the children of the town. Nan would teach the youngest boys and girls how to weave daisy chains as they sang songs that Nan told them were just right for braiding flowers. Nan's favorite times were when children of different ages would gather on her front porch, on rainy days. Everyone would bundle under Nan's lap blankets on the benches and porch swing, munching her famous hazelnut cookies. Nan always sat on the porch in what she called her "outside" rocker. She would chuckle as the children would ask her to tell them stories and say,

"Are you sure you want to listen to me tell stories?"

(Storyteller now addresses the audience)

What do you think they said? That's right. Yes!

So then, Nan would ask them,

"Well, what kind of stories do you want to hear?"

(Storyteller asks audience)

What stories do you think they asked her to tell?

(Gather several story suggestions... and later consider these as possible stories to use in the future with this group)

You know, she told them all those stories, just as you said, for Nan knew many stories. And then, a little girl crawled up onto her lap to snuggle.

"Well, what story do you want to hear now?" asked Nan.

"I want to hear the story of what heaven and hell are like," she answered, looking up at Nan.

Nan didn't know what to say. It was the first time she had ever been asked to tell a story that she didn't know. Just then, dinner bells began to ring, and parents could be heard calling their children's names down the street.

"We'll have to save that for next time, I guess," she said. "Now, all of you scoot on home before you get old Nan in trouble for coming home late."

Nan stood and watched the children scatter down the street.

Moments later, it started to pour. Nan slowly gathered up the blankets and cookie tray, thinking out loud to herself,

"I sent those children home in the nick of time."

Nan closed her eyes a moment, listening to the rain beat a rhythm on the porch roof. Then, she heard someone cough. Nan turned quickly to see a thin young women in torn and dirty clothes, standing in the pouring rain in front of her porch steps.

"Do you suppose, Ma'am,"she asked,"that I could sit on your porch till the rain stops?"

"You'll do no such thing!" said Nan. "You will come inside by the fire, and put on some dry clothes."

The old women led her guest into the house and sat her down by the wood stove. Nan stoked up the fire and then insisted that the stranger put on some dry clothes that Nan claimed,

"Don't fit me anymore anyway".

Nan heated up some stew, sliced some of her homemade bread and set it on the table with huckleberry jam. The young women ate hungrily, in silence. Nan put some more wood in the stove to keep the room warm enough to dry out the visitor's clinging strands of wet hair. When she came back to the table, the young women was fast asleep, her head leaning against the back of the wooden chair.

"Looks like you were sent here just in the nick of time, too." Nan said softly.

Nan covered the women with the lap blankets that she had carried in from the porch and sat herself down in her "inside" rocker. She rocked, facing her house guest, wondering what this young women's story was. The cottage was warm and cozy and in no time at all, Nan dozed off as well.

She was awakened by a bright light. Nan had to shield her eyes as they adjusted to the shining figure standing before her. It was a beautiful young woman, with flowing hair and dressed in a brilliant white robe.

"Who are you?" asked Nan. "What are you doing here?"

"I am the stranger you took in, Nan." said the radiant being. "You're goodness shall be rewarded. I can grant you a wish. Whatever you want will be yours."

Nan was so surprised, she didn't know what to say...

(Storyteller addresses the audience)

Now, if you could wish for anything, what would you wish for?

(Gather several suggestions)

I'd like some of these wishes too, but Nan said that she couldn't really think of anything that she needed.

"I've got all the food I need from my garden and cow and my little cottage suits me fine," Nan said. "I have lots of good friends. Let me think..."

Nan stroked her chin wondering if this was an angel she was speaking to. She didn't see any wings. She looked over at the chair where her guest had been sleeping. It was empty. Thinking about angels reminded Nan of the little girl's request when she was telling stories that day.

"I know what I want," said Nan. "I want to see what heaven and hell are like."

"Then you shall," said the glowing young women.

She reached out her hand to Nan, her white robes billowing about her even though there was no breeze in the cottage. Nan stood and took the offered hand in hers.

Instantly, Nan and her visitor were transported to another place. It looked like a great banquet hall. A seemingly endless table filled the room and great numbers of people were seated around it. Nan stepped closer to see better. The table was piled high with the most delicious foods that Nan had ever imagined. She took a few steps closer still. Oh, the scent of the feast made her mouth water!

(Storyteller addresses the audience)

What do you suppose were some of the foods that were set on that long table?

(Gather several suggestions)

That would be delicious! It must have been on that table. Nan was beginning to think she knew where she was.

She said, "This must be..."

But her guide interrupted her,

"Look closely, Nan."

As Nan stepped forward, she noticed that the people looked bony and pale. She realized then, that no one was smiling or speaking. They looked as though they hadn't eaten in a long time. As if they were slowly starving to death. Then she saw that the people's arms were locked straight so that they could not bend them at the elbow. Here the people were, seated in front of this magnificent feast, but they were unable to feed themselves.

"Ah," said Nan. "This is hell."

The woman in white nodded sadly and then held out her hand to Nan again.

Nan grasped her companion's hand, and immediately, she was whisked away.

They reappeared in another banquet hall which Nan assumed must be heaven, but it looked the same as where they had just been. Again, there was a great table, piled high with every kind of wonderful food and many people seated all around. And as Nan drew near, she saw that these people's arms were also locked straight, so that they could not bend them to feed themselves. Yet, these people were laughing and singing. They looked healthy and their eyes shone with contentment. For the people in heaven... were feeding each other.

"Of course," Nan said, nodding her head. "Of course."

Smiling, the shining woman offered her hand to Nan one more time and Nan grasped it tight.

Nan opened her eyes. She was sitting in her "inside" rocking chair. The room was empty. No stranger from the day before, not the one dressed in dirty, wet, rags or shining, white robes. The blankets Nan had used to cover her guest were folded in a neat pile on the chair by the table. The sun streaming in the windows meant that it was morning.

"But it was only just nighttime," Nan said shaking her head in confusion. "Could it have been a dream? Well, no matter," she chuckled. "Now I've got my story to tell."

Nan got up and went straight to the cupboard and began to take out all the ingredients she would need to make hazelnut cookies.

"Who knows when the children may come knocking," she said to herself.

And she began to sing a song to herself that was perfect for braiding flowers.