In this story, High John encountered a giant who was terrorizing the land. The giant claimed that anyone who could answer his three riddles could live in peace, but those who failed would be eaten. Brave and clever as always, High John decided to face the giant.
The giant’s first riddle was, “What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a bed but never sleeps, and has a head but never weeps?”
High John thought for a moment and answered, “A river.”
The giant was surprised but moved on to the second riddle: “I have keys but open no locks. I have space but no room. You can enter, but you can’t go outside. What am I?”
High John smiled and replied, “A keyboard.”
Flustered, the giant presented the third and final riddle: “What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?”
High John laughed and said, “The letter M.”
Stunned by High John’s quick wit and clever answers, the giant had no choice but to let him go. High John not only saved himself but also freed the land from the giant’s tyranny.
Chandra Martin 