There are many variations on the old story. But here's our version...

Once upon a time, somewhere in Eastern Europe, there was a famine in the land. People were hoarding their food and hiding it from their friends and neighbors. One day three grandmas with a wagon (or soldiers, travelers, monks, peddlers, beggars, whatever...) came rolling into a village and began asking questions as if they meant to stay the night.

All the villagers told them there was nothing to eat in the entire province.

"We have most everything we need," said the grandmas. "In fact, we were thinking of making Stone Soup and sharing it with all of you." They pulled a big cauldron off their wagon and built a fire under it right in the middle of town. Then, with great ceremony, they drew an ordinary looking stone from a special bag and dropped it into the water.

Soon the rumor of food had spread throughout the village. Many began to show up in the square to watch. As the grandmas began to sniff at the broth and lick their lips in anticipation, hunger and belief began to win over skepticism.

"Ahh," one grandma said rather loudly, "I do love this Stone Soup. Of course, Stone Soup with a little cabbage is hard to beat."

Soon a villager approached hesitantly, holding a cabbage he'd retrieved from it's hiding place. He gave it to the grandmas to add to the pot. "Wonderful" cried a grandma, "I once had some stone soup with cabbage which had some onions in it that made it fit for a king!"

Soon a second villager appeared with some onions and garlic for the soup...and on it went, through "If only we had a few potatoes...How wonderful it might be with a couple of carrots..." and so on. At last there was a delicious meal for all. The villagers offered the grandmas a great deal of money for the magic stone, but they refused to sell it and traveled on the next day. They probably made Stone Soup at the next village, too. Soon the famine ended but the people of the village always reminisced about the finest soup they'd ever had.