Zipes - Speaking out: storytelling and creative drama for children

Have you ever thought about how the Twin Cities got their names? Minneapolis and St. Paul are strange names, and they certainly dont seem to be twinlike. But theres a story to all this, and what Im about to tell you is the unvarnished truth.

Years ago, years before the Mississippi River cut the cities in two, years before there were thousands of lakes, years before the cities even had names, there were two farmers who lived on some land with beautiful green meadows and rolling hills. One of them, old Minnie, well, she was a crusty widow who had outlasted her husband and five sons. Tall and willowy, she was a survivor and managed a large farm with forty cows that she milked every day by herself. The other farmer whose land was right next to Minnies property was called Paul. Not Saint Paul. No, he was a rascal, that one. He was always playing tricks and causing fun in the neighborhood. But he was also a hard worker, and over the years, he and Minnie had always been friends, though she frowned on his chasing after young women.

Why dont you get married and settle down? she asked him one day.

No fun in that, he responded. Besides youre the only woman I want.

Well then, Minnie joked. Lets get hitched, even though Im thirty years older than you. Ill settle you down.

Let me think a couple of years on it, Paul replied. Dont want to rush into things.

The truth is Paul was a bachelor and always wanted to remain a bachelor. So he kept avoiding the subject and having a good time with Minnie, helping her out, and swapping stories until one day Minnie came to him and told him she had lost a cow and asked him whether he had seen it.

Nope, he replied. Not seen a thing.

Well, if you do, youll tell me, wont you?

Sure, he said.

Well, for the next week Minnie kept losing cows until she had only twenty left from her herd. Finally, she went to Paul and asked him again whether he had seen any of her cows.

Are you playing one of your mean tricks again?

Well, he said, there are a few stray cows that Ive picked up on my fields this past week. And he took her into his barn and showed them to her.

Theyre mine! she said.

Afraid not, he replied. They were on my land, and whats on my land belongs to me.

Youre joking, Minnie laughed.

Not joking this time, Paul said. Times are tough, and I need more cows to keep the farm going.

What about me?

What about you?

I thought we were neighbors.

Sure we are, but youd better start looking after your cows much better.

Well, Minnie had no choice but to leave without her cows. There were no police in those days. No judges or courts of law because everything was open territory. That is, until Minnie went to a small lake on her land and opened it up so it began to flow like a stream between her land and Pauls. Then she went to some other small lakes that fed into hers and opened them up, and before you knew it, there was a gigantic river that split off her land from Pauls.

The womans crazy, Paul complained. Hey, it was only a joke, he yelled to her from across the river. Ill return your cows to you.

But Minnie wouldnt listen to him anymore. She was blinded by rage at his stupid joke.

Well, now Paul got angry, and he was especially angry because the river was making marshland out of his meadows, and he couldnt send his cows out to pasture. So, one day he asked around to see if there was a master carpenter who might help him build a fence to protect his property from the river. Soon, a strange man appeared. His name was Sam. Some people called him Simple Sam, because he dressed in overalls and a T-shirt and carried his carpenters kit wherever he went. Sam never said more than yes, sir or no, sir, and he never took money for payment, just food and lodging. Of course, I forgot to tell you, he was a huge man, Sam was, and it took a barrel of food to keep him going all day.

Paul told him to make the fence as strong and tall as he could. He didnt want to see Minnies face anymore, and he wanted to protect his land.

Yes, sir, Sam said.

How long will it take you? A week?

Yes, sir, Sam said.

So, off Sam went, and Paul could turn to some other things on his farm.

Finally, after a week had passed, Sam was finished, and Paul and Sam celebrated with a gigantic breakfast. Paul said, Now show me what my fence looks like.

The two of them strolled down to the river, and Paul could not believe his eyes.

What? What? he cried. Thats not what I asked for!

Right before him stood a bridge, a large wooden bridge that spanned the river from his land to Minnies land. On the other side was Minnie, who was just as astonished to see the bridge as Paul was.

Youre a saint, Minnie cried out to him and approached. Its a lovely bridge, and thanks for sending back my cows.

But, but, Paul stammered. However, he didnt finish because he melted when he saw Minnies smile and realized what a fool he had been. He had missed Minnies friendship more than he realized.

Hey, Sam, he shouted, look whos here. But when he turned around, Sam was gone.

Whos Sam? Minnie asked.

Just a friend, Paul remarked. I guess hes gone off to build some more bridges.

Well, now you know the truth about how the Twin Cities got their names. Paul went on to help people build a large city on his side of the river, and Minnie helped people on her side. People came from other countries and other parts of the United States. Many people came, and they built homes all over and used the bridge to visit one another just like neighbors. And Minnie and Paul made sure to build other bridges that crossed the river so they wouldnt miss each other anymore. They were friends for the rest of their lives, and some say Minnie and Paul kept building bridges even after they died.