Farmer John and his wife, Mabel, don't have a lot of money.
The summer is very hot and dry.
Most of their corn is dying.
But Mabel wants a new car.
"We don't have enough money," Farmer John says.
"You could sell your old tractor," Mabel says.
"I need that old tractor to plow the field, Mabel," Farmer John says.
"Maybe we can get a new car next year."
"But I need a new car now!" Mabel says.
"Sorry," Farmer John says.
They are both quiet.
It's getting late.
"We need eggs for breakfast tomorrow," Mabel says.
"Go get some for me, John."
Farmer John goes outside.
There are only three eggs in the chicken coop.
But one is different.
"Oh my goodness!"
Farmer John yells.
"Mabel! Come here!"
Mabel enters the chicken coop.
"What is it, John?" she asks.
"Why are you yelling?"
"I think this egg is made of gold," Farmer John says.
He shows it to her.
"Oh my!" Mabel says.
"It's so shiny."
She taps the egg hard on the chicken coop wall.
It doesn't break.
"I think you're right, John.
This is a golden egg.
Now we can buy a very nice car!"
"We have to be careful, Mabel," Farmer John says.
"Let's go in the house."
Mabel and Farmer John sit down.
The golden egg is on the table.
"Let's wait until tomorrow before we do anything," Farmer John says.
"I want to see if that chicken lays another golden egg."
They go to bed.
In the morning, there is another golden egg in the chicken coop.
"Oh, John!" Mabel screams.
"We could move to a much nicer house with this chicken."
She picks up the chicken and kisses it.
"We could be millionaires, John!"
"Just think," Farmer John says.
"We will be rich by the end of the week."
"John!" Mabel whispers.
"I know how we can get all the eggs right now!
We don't have to wait."
"How?" Farmer John asks.
"We can kill the chicken," Mabel says.
"Then, we can take all the golden eggs at once!"
So Farmer John kills the chicken.
But there are no golden eggs inside it.
"Oh no!" Mabel screams.
"Where are all the golden eggs?"
"I guess we should have waited," Farmer John says.
"Now, we won't get anymore golden eggs."
Mabel starts to cry.
"We'll never be millionaires," she says.
"Why do bad things always happen to us?"
"Bad things happen when people are greedy," Farmer John says.