"THAT'S GOOD—THAT'S BAD" SOURCES
(excerpts from posts)
(If you want to retell any of the stories listed below, be sure to obtain permission from the copyright holder if the material is not in the public domain)

1) Majorie Cuyler did a picture book called something like That's Good, That's Bad-- along that line.

2) Jane Yolen's collection of Favorite Folktales. It's in there called The Lost Horse of China or something like that.

3) There is the Chinese story (there are other variants I believe) called The Lost Horse. This is the story in which the man's horse runs away and his neighbors console him, but he says, "What makes you so sure it isn't a blessing?" Then the horse returns with a stallion by its side and the neighbors congratulate him. He says, "What makes you so sure that it isn't disaster?" Then the man's son rides the stallion and breaks his hip. So again the neighbors console him and again he says, "What makes you so sure that it isn't a blessing?" Then a year later an army of nomads came across the border and every able-bodied man was called into service. The Chinese lost 9 out of 10 men. Because the son was still recovering from his broken hip he was not called to war, and so the father and son survived to care for each other. This is found in Jane Yolen's Favorite Folk Tales from Around the World.

4) There is a version from India in which the King has a loyal advisor who has an annoying habit of responding to each event by saying"That is Goo.". He says this when the king loses his toe in a hunting accident. The king fires him from his job. Some months later the king is captured by a group of tribesmen who plan to use him in a sacrificial ceremony. On discovering that his toe is gone, they declare him unfit as he has "already been cut." The tribesmen let the King go. Once he is safely back in the palace he calls the advisor to him and reinstates him in his job. "You were right," he said," It was good that I lost my toe for it saved my life today. But why did you say it was good when I fired you from your job?" The advisor answered. "Your Highness, I cannot see the future, but I have learned to trust that some good comes from each event. Today I see what that was for me. For as you recall I was loyal to you, and had you not fired me, I would have remained with you when you were captured by the tribesmen. And because I am in possession of all my fingers and toes, I would have been next in line for the sacrifice!" This was published in a National Storytelling Magazine as a featured story; the source came from a book called, Stories Lives Tell: Narrative and Dialogue in Education, Witherall and Noddings, Eds. (Teachers College Press, Columbia Univ. l991). It is published in the book, Doorways to the Soul: Fifty-Two Wisdom Tales from Around the World (Pilgrim Press l998).

5) Remember the story that goes That's good and That's bad? The good news -- I convinced our state library association (ILA) to try a story swap at this year's annual conference. The bad news -- I'm in charge.

6) Tim Sheppard has two Fortunantely, Unfortunately games on his web pages:
http://www.timsheppard.co.uk/story

7) There's a That's Good/That's Bad science FACT-tale in my article in the May/June issue of Storytelling Magazine.

8) Heather Forest has a version of A Farmer's Horse Ran Off in her Wisdom Tales collection.

9) There was a comedianne who does the telephone, thinks she's talking to her daughter and offers to come over, bake for the PTA meeting, take 2 hours to drive there, take the kids to the doctor, and then asks, "By the way, how did Michael like the movie you went to?" Who? "Michael your husband." Michael isn't the name of my husband, it's David. Mother: Is this 305-666-6666, Daughter: No this is 305-6667. Mother: Oh, then you're not Iris? Daughter: Noo-ooo this is Patsy-----long pause--------does this mean you're not coming? It gets a big laugh and cute in tandem adding in all the things in your community, getting public transportation, transferring buses to make it a greater hardship, not having the ingredients at home but that's all right, I'll go shopping. I have a pain in my hip or back, but that's all right, I'll take the baby to the doctor.etc.

10) To go with the fortunately/unfortunately thread:
Good: Your wife is pregnant.
Bad: It's triplets
Ugly: You had a vasectomy five years ago.

Good: Your wife's not talking to you
Bad: She wants a divorce
Ugly: She's a lawyer

Good: Your son is finally maturing
Bad: He's involved with the woman next door
Ugly: So are you

Good: Your son studies a lot in his room
Bad: You find several porn movies hidden there
Ugly: You're in them

Good: Your hubby and you agree, no more kids
Bad: You can't find your birth control pills
Ugly: Your daughter borrowed them

Good: Your husband understands fashion
Bad: He's a crossdresser
Ugly: He looks better than you

Good: You give the "birds and bees:" talk to your daughter
Bad: She keeps interrupting
Ugly: With corrections

Good: The postman's early
Bad: He's wearing fatigues and carrying a shotgun
Ugly: You gave him nothing for Christmas

Good: Your son is dating someone new
Bad: It's another man
Ugly: He's your best friend

Good: Your daughter got a new job
Bad: As a hooker
Ugly: Your coworkers are her best clients
Way ugly: She makes more money than you do.

(This web page updated 8/9/03)