The people of Hamelin have a problem with rats. There are rats in their houses, their stores—even swimming in their stew! The rats don’t think they’re a problem. They just want to live their lives in peace. With the town’s approval, the mayor thinks of a clever way to solve the problem. He offers twenty gold pieces to a piper to rid the town of rats. He delivers only five.But he’s cheated the wrong piper, who’ll have to use both skill and wit to teach this town a lesson. Because there’s more than money at stake. An evil pattern is emerging in the way Hamelin treats any creature it considers inferior. And the Piper vows to put an end to it—once and for all.Think you know everything about this classic folktale of greed and cunning? In “Paying Piper,” you’ll learn what really happened the day a magical musician came to Hamelin—and why. Fans of fairy tales with a twist will delight in this tricky, witty middle-grade short story. (And if you’re a parent or teacher, stay tuned for bonus discussion questions at the end!)“Paying Piper” is approximately 5,000 words, or about twenty pages.“Stories that keep you guessing and beckon you to turn the page are my favorites. ‘Paying Piper’ fits this category.” –MomontheMake.com“I loved ‘Paying Piper.’ The quirky, conversational tone reminded me of Roald Dahl. The story has the kind of playful humor and subtler wit that make it a lot more than just another children's story.” -- PeskyPiksiPesterNomi.blogspot.com“Children’s stories are a fantastic tool for teaching, and ‘Paying Piper’ is no exception. Waters’ take on a folklore classic appears to be a solid story for parents to share with their kids.” --TheIndieMine.com“This was such a wonderful story. I could picture it playing out in my head. It was very well written, and had a great lesson too.” --AngiesAngelsRKids-Furkids.blogspot.com“This was a charming retelling of a classic. Waters twists the tale in a unique way.” --DabofDarkess.com