Paula Bunyan

Somewhere in Vermont lies a small town called Biggersville.

Legend has it that the town was founded by Paul Bunyan himself, in the footprint of one of his boots.

It's a story that the locals proudly claim, especially since his descendant still lives here today.

But before I tell you about her, it's important that I introduce myself.

My name is Bastien, I'm 22 years old, and I was born in Biggersville, where I spent my entire childhood.

I was six years old when I met Paula. She was a girl... who was different, to say the least.

She was the same age as me, but she was already seven metres tall.

From what I was told, she was born of normal height.

But over time, she grew at a strange, inexplicable rate.

Neither doctors nor her parents ever understood the cause of her excessive growth.

And since her surname was Bunyan, rumours quickly spread that she was a descendant of the famous giant.

It was a rumour she found difficult to live with at the time.

The children at school shunned her, made fun of her and refused to play with ‘the abnormal girl’.

I was the only one who approached her, the only one who wanted to play with her and get to know her.

We quickly became best friends.

But one day, we had to part ways.

I had to move to another town to start secondary school, and Paula had to stay here to attend classes tailored to her condition.

From then on, we didn't see each other for years.

On my 22nd birthday, I decided to return to Biggersville for the holidays.

To see my family... and Paula again. After all this time.

When I left the station, I decided to walk through the pine forest, as I used to do when I was a child.

I had told my family, and I guess they told Paula.

She must have been looking forward to seeing me, because she came out to meet me.

I knew she had grown up... that she had become a very tall woman...

But I was completely unprepared for what I saw.

She towered above the trees, forty metres tall!

When she caught me in her hand, my first instinct was to run away.

But that instinct vanished as soon as I felt her huge lips gently touch my head, before she tenderly hugged me against her cheek.

She was happy to see me again... and I must admit, I was very happy too.

And at that moment, I thought to myself:

This holiday is really going to be worth it.