Fairy tales all start the same. These days they do. Once upon a time. Blah, blah, blah. But, there was a time, long ago, fairy tales started differently. Each one, different from the other. Each one had a message.

They started, “Come children, hear.” And the stories. Oh, the stories. Scarey, monsterish, loving, frightening. No blah, blah, blah.

Parents teaching their children how to live in the world of Real. Real families discovered monsters under the bed. Real families were torn apart with no happily ever after. Real sent shudders down your spine.

And, so, once upon a time began.

———————————————
Fairy tales? Once upon a time? Velvet Verbosity challenges us with the word ONCE.