Dear Little Red Riding Hood

One upon a time, there was a little gal name Red. She wanted to see her ill Grannie, but her mother was much to busy to leave. Mama dressed little Red in a Crimson Red cloak and sent her off with a wicker basket full of freshly baked bread and soup.

A little way down the trail, a wolf appeared. He was drawn by the scent of food and blood. The wolf got down low in the brush, letting little Red, pass. He carried on watching and waiting, until little Red stumbled on a rock. He trotted to her, snarling and drooling.

Curious, he asked little Red where she was going, and why she was alone. “My grandmother is sick, and I wanted to bring her soup. My mother couldn’t come.” She pouted.

The wolf replied, “The woods is not a safe place for a little one. Mind if I tag along dear?” Little Red graciously nodded, and wolf helped her to her feet.

The pair chatted the rest of the way. When they came up on the hill overlooking Grannie’s, the wolf stopped. Stalling, he talked little Red into picking flowers to add to her basket of goodies. Red took her time picking out the right ones, unaware that the wolf was now running toward Grannie’s.

When Red got what she wanted, she noticed the wolf was gone. Shrugging it off, she carried on and crept inside the cabin. She set her basket on the table next to the door and shed her cloak. “Grannie, I’m here!” Red called out. “I have fresh bread and warm soup. Picked a lovely set of flowers. Your favorite!”

Red slowly walked around the house, peaking in every doorway. She crossed the hallway and stepped on a creaky board. “Red. Red is that you dear?”

“Grannie? You sound awful. Are you okay?” Red cautiously stepped towards Grannie's bedroom. “The soup should help.” She stuttered, pushing the door forward.

“Grannie?” Her heart; beating hard in her chest. Something was not right.

Little Red approached. “I’m here dear.”

“My Grannie, what a deep voice you have.” The shadowy figure sat up, appearing eerily through the light. “My what big eyes you have!” Red began to tremble as the familiar voice crept closer. He licked his grinning teeth. “My what a big mouth you have!”

Red turned and screamed, bolting to the door. Wolf leaped at Red, pinning her to the ground. For a moment there was silence until he took a bite of her, Red yelped!

Wolf had finished her

There was no fairytale ending here. He used her cloak to wipe the blood from his mouth, then tossed it on a rocking chair. Wolf collected the flowers from her basket and threw them behind him... they landed on her cloak. He slurped down the soup, grabbed the bread and left.

The End.

But it wasn’t.

I left you in a patch of Daisies, to collect what would have laid your belongings. I galloped to Grannies, with a desperate belly full of hunger. This wouldn’t take long, I promised myself, but once I got there, something in me changed. Maybe it was our playful banter. Maybe it was you. I watched Grannie in the window; weak and frail moving about her room. I’ve eaten plenty of people and pigs, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it this time.

I found myself curled up on the doormat, waiting. I saw you skipping towards the house and IT wagged. I’ve never seen it wag before.

To my feet I stood, and you approached me, meeting my face and scratching my head then around to my chin.

It was such a feeling to be claimed, and by someone so innocent. You kissed my nose, and then I promised myself that I would be there to keep you safe from the Evils like me.

The Actual End