Heat Elaine

The Real Story of Little Red Riding Hood

I, I am wolf….tasked with bringing you a true story. I, I am wolf….. guardian of the great forest, constant companion and protector of the aged dweller who makes her home deep within the woods. The aged dweller is called The Grandmother or The Ancient One by all the creatures that live here. The Grandmother is friend to all, and all are welcome at her cottage door, except…her, for she is not what she appears…She is the Great Pretender. She is Little Red from the Hood, most often called Lil’ Red. She is dangerous and very powerful. But I, I am wolf…guardian of the great forest, constant companion and protector of the Ancient One. The forest is on high alert for rumors abound that Lil’ Red and her army of creepy critters, that is weasels, bats, snakes and rats have infiltrated the woods. Her mission…a coup d’e-tat. Yes! Lil Red, that villainous outsider, wants nothing less than to usurp our beloved Grandmother and take over as supreme ruler of this our great primeval forest. Red has heard that The Ancient One is old and frail. Easy pickings….. she thinks. But do not fear, for I, I am wolf guardian of the great forest, constant companion and protector of the Ancient One. I have gathered together my own army. From my mouth to Deer’s ear the word has gone out. Grandmother is in trouble! Come my furry friends, that is bunnies, bears, fawns and foxes. Come swiftly and be on the lookout. And look we did, I wolf and my great army, but we found nary a sign of Lil’ Red and her horde. Meanwhile, at Grandmother’s cottage deep in the woods. It’s impossible! But no! There is Lil’ Red. She knocks on the cottage door. “Who is there?” calls the Ancient One. “Tis naught but a weary traveler, come from afar.” Lies, lies, be careful Grandmother. “And what do you wish of me, my dear?’’ “I have heard of the Great Grandmother, the Beloved Ancient One and so have come to pay homage.” Oh, the lying little gutter snipe. “Do enter my child.” The Ancient One is too trusting. Lil’ Red enters the cottage. Grandmother is lying in her bed, looking very feeble indeed. This is going to be easy thinks the evil one. “I have brought you a gift ancient one.” Lil’ Red holds up her basket. “My, what a sweet voice you have, my dear.” “The better to greet you with ancient one.” “Such big black eyes you have.” But Grandmother has become suspicious-the eyes are flat-vacant. The lights are on, but nobody’s home. “The better to see and admire you with aged one.” The kid from the Hood steps toward the bed. I don’t think I like her, thinks Grandmother. She is very strange. She frightens me. Oh where oh where is Wolf? Grandmother’s heart is thump, thump, thumping. “What gift have you brought for me? Cakes, cookies, candy?” Grandmother’s voice is wavering. “No”, says the interloper. Sneering and jeering, Lil’ Red makes her way toward the bed. Again she holds up the basket. “Mushrooms…….magic mushrooms, I have picked from off the forest floor, just for you.” The Ancient One gasps for she knows what they are., but she is powerless to resist the black eyes. She is mesmerized, drawn by the hypnotic gaze. She reaches out for the deadly offering. “Yes, yes Grandmother. Soon you shall sleep, sleep and never wake. Heh, heh, heh.” Just as Grandmother is about to eat the poisonous mushrooms, the door is flung open. “It is I, I wolf, guardian of the great forest, constant companion and protector of the Ancient One. “Where the hell have you been? Some protector you are,” comes the voice from the bed. Lil’ Red knows the gig is up. Thrusting her hand into the basket, she grabs a handful of mushrooms and quickly swallows them before he, he wolf can gobble her up. And of course, the army of furry friends tackled the army of creepy critters and won. And Wolf, what of Wolf.? Well, the guardian of the great forest, constant companion and protector of the ancient one, had to eat some humble pie with a little grovel on the side. But they all lived happily for many more years. And that is the true story of Little Red Riding Hood.