The Tale of the Cursed Jellybean Jar
Once upon a time, there was a small and peaceful town called Sweetville. Its streets smelled like fresh pastries, and the people loved all things sweet—cake, chocolate, and, of course, jellybeans. But hiding among this sugar-filled happiness was a dark tale that the townsfolk rarely spoke of: the tale of the cursed jellybean jar.
The Unusual Jar
It began many years ago, when an old shopkeeper named Mr. Harrington ran Sweetville’s candy shop. It was the most popular place in town, with shelves stacked high with colorful sweets. But there was one jar that stood apart from the rest—a shiny glass jar filled with the most beautiful jellybeans anyone had ever seen. They sparkled in the light, with colors brighter than a rainbow. The jellybeans seemed almost magical, and kids would press their faces against the glass, begging for a handful.
Yet, Mr. Harrington never sold from that jar. “These jellybeans aren’t for eating,” he’d say, pushing the jar further back on the shelf. “Just admire them from afar.” When customers asked why, he would never explain. He only warned, “Bad luck comes to those who take even one jellybean.”
At first, people thought he was just being strange. Some said he wanted to keep the jellybeans to himself because they were special. Others believed it was just a trick to make people curious about his shop. But one day, a boy named Thomas decided he wasn’t afraid of Mr. Harrington’s warnings.
The First Curse
Thomas wasn’t a bad boy. He loved candy just as much as any kid, but he thought the curse was silly. “What’s the worst that could happen?” he mumbled to himself.
One rainy afternoon, when Mr. Harrington stepped outside to sweep the front of his shop, Thomas saw his chance. He sneaked inside, reached for the shiny jar, and grabbed one jellybean—a bright red one. Stuffing it into his pocket, he raced out of the shop before Mr. Harrington could catch him.
That evening, as Thomas popped the jellybean into his mouth, something strange happened. His tongue went numb, and he couldn’t taste anything. For days after, no food tasted sweet, sour, or salty—just plain, flavorless nothing. His favorite treats became boring, even chocolate chip cookies! By the end of the week, Thomas went back to the shop in tears to confess what he’d done.
Mr. Harrington didn’t seem surprised. “I told you, the jellybeans are cursed,” he said as he gently placed the jar back on the shelf. Thomas nodded solemnly, and the rumor of the cursed jellybean jar spread across Sweetville like frosting on a cake.
The Town’s Warning
Over time, the story of the jar became a cautionary tale. Parents would tell their children never to touch the jellybean jar if they were ever inside Mr. Harrington’s shop. Though many didn’t believe in curses, nobody dared to test it. What if the jellybeans really were cursed?
The jar began gathering dust as people avoided it entirely. Mr. Harrington, however, didn’t seem upset at all. He never wiped the dust away or encouraged customers to admire its beauty. Secretly, he was relieved—he didn’t like dealing with the consequences of the curse.
Years went by, and Mr. Harrington grew old. Eventually, he decided to retire and close the candy shop. On his last day, he packed up the shelves of candies and chocolates, but he left the jellybean jar behind. “This jar can stay here,” he said to himself. “It doesn’t belong anywhere else.” That evening, when he locked up the shop for the last time, no one realized the curse would soon awaken again.
The New Owner
A month later, the candy shop reopened under a new owner, Ms. Poppy. She was friendly, creative, and bubbly—a perfect fit for Sweetville. She filled the shop with new treats, hosted cupcake-decorating contests, and made sure every kid left with a smile. But unlike Mr. Harrington, Ms. Poppy didn’t know the jellybean jar’s dark history. To her, it was just an old decoration.
One day, she decided to move the jar to the front counter to make the shop look nicer. “Wow!” she said proudly. “This jar makes the place look so colorful.” But as soon as she did, curious kids started asking about it again. “Can we try those jellybeans, Ms. Poppy?” they pleaded.
Ms. Poppy thought it was harmless. After all, they were just jellybeans, right? So she opened the jar and began selling them. Little did she know, the curse was about to strike.
Sweetville’s Trouble
The first person to taste the jellybeans was a little girl named Lucy. She ate a blue jellybean and felt fine—until the next morning. When she woke up, she couldn’t stop hiccupping, no matter how much water she drank. Another boy ate a green jellybean and found that whenever he spoke, his words came out backwards. A teacher who tried the yellow jellybean couldn’t stop dancing, not even in her sleep!
The people of Sweetville quickly realized the jellybean jar truly was cursed. They rushed back to Ms. Poppy’s shop and begged her to get rid of the jar. Scared and confused, Ms. Poppy closed the candy shop for a week to figure out what to do.
Finally, she decided to seal the jar in a locked chest and bury it deep in the fields outside Sweetville. She hoped to never see it again—and thankfully, no one did.
The Lesson of the Jar
While the cursed jellybean jar may be gone for now, the tale remains a warning in Sweetville. People tell the story to remind each other: sometimes, things that seem tempting or harmless can lead to trouble. Although the jellybeans looked sweet and shiny on the outside, they carried a heavy price for those who gave in to temptation.
And so, the story of the cursed jellybean jar became a legend, reminding everyone in Sweetville—and maybe even us—that not every shiny treat is worth the risk.
