Wed, Nov 25, 1981
Store Åby and Fiskerup are two towns in the countryside in the old days. The adults are busy making the two cities nice for the Queen's upcoming visit. Ane and Anders, however, are fishing in a stream by a bridge, each sitting under a tree. The children have it to themselves, they can enjoy the peace and quiet and sit and count clouds.
Wed, Dec 9, 1981
At her home at the castle, the Queen is getting ready for her carriage ride and the visit to Store Åby and Fiskerup. In both of the two small towns there is already singing and playing for the queen. There is also free serving of pancakes and doughnuts, the best of treats for Ane and Anders. However, the Queen's visit to the two cities brings this day to a slightly special end.
Wed, Dec 16, 1981
Anders has started wearing striped clothes, just like everyone else who lives in Store Åby - which has now been renamed Store Stribinge. Ane has to wear checkered clothes just like everyone else in Ternrup, because now there is no such thing as Fiskerup anymore. One day, when Ane does not come to their fishing spot under the trees under the bridge, Anders goes to Ternrup, the where Ane lives, . Everyone notices the striped boy who has come to the checkered town. After a lot of commotion, Ane and Anders sneak down to the spot by the bridge to fish, count clouds and enjoy the peace and quiet. However, not for long. Their parents bring them home, because when you're in checkers and stripes, you can't fish together. So the say.
Wed, Dec 23, 1981
Ane and Anders are no longer allowed to sit together and fish by the stream between the striped and checkered city. A striped and a checkered can't play together, say the adults. Anders is sad at home. He does not yet know that Ane has climbed up the Town Hall tower to send off a carrier pigeon with a letter for him. Ane has got the idea that the queen must be the only one who can decide the disagreement about the stripes and checks and what is nicest. After reading the letter, Anders luckily finds a herring barrel to sail him unseen across the stream to meet Ane, so they can carry out a plan to get the queen to speak.
Thu, Dec 24, 1981
Ane and Anders have persuaded the mayors of Store Stribinge and Ternrup to go to the Queen to make her decide whether stripes or checks are the prettiest. The citizens from both towns follow them to the castle and call all at once for the queen's opinion. And the Queen's answer comes as a surprise to everyone. At the end of the story, something happens to Ane and Anders that they didn't expect at all.